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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be upset my husband lied about his flight being overbooked?

385 replies

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 12:13

Need some perspective on this and whether my head needs a wobble.

So me and DH have been together for 10 years, we have 3 kids together. We met in London and moved to a small town for his work after our first DC was born.

Recently he went away for a planned lads holiday to Malaga with his uni mates as they’re all turning 40. I don’t know the mates well, they all bar 1 came to the wedding, one was his best man who was incredibly drunk and didn’t do the best speech due to this. I’m only mentioning this because heavy drinking is the norm when these guys get together.

They went to Spain for 4 days, due to fly back on Sunday lunchtime. Originally he had booked to come back on a flight to get him home for 7pm, I had said that was later than I thought he would be back. He then booked a different flight that would have him home for 4pm - this is important.

I didn’t hear from DH much at all, I hadn’t expected to tbh because he was with his friends although it would have been nice to have the odd text checking in as the kids were being very hard work! On Saturday he phoned from his mates phone to tell me he had been mugged the previous evening, he was very drunk and got pushed over and his phone stolen. He thankfully wasn’t hurt and nothing else was stolen. I asked him to buy a cheap phone while he was out there so he wasn’t impossible to reach, I had his mates number but that’s it. I was not having the best time with the kids, they were being very hard work and the crap weather and no car didn’t help.

Saturday lunchtime we speak and I told him what a rough time I was having, the kids were being unusually difficult and I was exhausted. He made sympathetic noises, the call ended. I survived the day (!) and Sunday came. DH hadn’t bought a phone, he called me from his mates phone at about 10ish local time and told me he was heading to the airport shortly (flight departed 12pm local time).

4pm rolled around, not home. Check arrivals, flight landed and he had only hand luggage but traffic etc. 5pm, nothing. 6pm, nothing. I start getting worried, where is he? Is he okay? Did he get on the flight? Did something happen? We live 30-40 minutes from the airport, no traffic showing. I try contacting his friend just to make sure there hadn’t been any issues in Spain, he doesn’t answer. Go out for a walk with the kids as I’m anxious and on edge. Get home at 7.30pm and he walks in about 7.45pm. Says he had to get the second flight of the 2 he booked, the first one was overbooked.

I’m confused now because why didn’t he just call/text me to tell me? I had spent half the afternoon worrying for nothing! His friend had been at the airport with him for a bit, why not just let me know? I was annoyed about this as I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t have just got in touch as he knew I was expecting him on the first flight. I’m just confused because nothing is making sense. DH keeps repeating the story, flight overbooked and I asked what he did while waiting, he said he was just sat in the airport waiting for the second flight. I asked him why he didn’t try to reach me somehow, there would have been ways.

His friend comes back to me on Monday and says DH’s flight was after his and there were no issues. Now I’m more confused because that would mean DH friends flight was before 12pm but I spoke to him at 10am local time and they weren’t at the airport. I called DH on this and said BULLSHIT I think you and your mates decided you coming home on the first flight ruined the fun so you decided to just not get on the first flight and didn’t tell me because you knew I’d be annoyed.

Eventually he admits yes. He had got to the airport for the first flight and didn’t want to leave so he decided fuck it I’ll get the later flight and knew I’d be pissed so didn’t tell me. Had a couple more beers with his mates till they all got their flights and then he got the later one and decided to tell me the first one was overbooked.

I am very hurt by this. Am I being a dick? He knew I had had a tough weekend, he knew I was exhausted, he knew I thought he would be back earlier and he knew I’d be hurt he opted not to get back sooner (I appreciate it’s only a few hours) and decided to lie to me and keep lying. As far as I know he’s never done anything like this before he’s usually a shit liar and wears his heart on his sleeve. We’ve been through a lot together and I really am hurt by it.

I’m less bothered by the fact he had had a lovely time with mates and didn’t want the holiday to end versus the lying to me and not communicating to me, knowing I hadn’t had the easiest weekend. It just feels out of character.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Autumngirl5 · 11/08/2026 13:38

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:13

His friends went to the airport with him for the earlier flight, when it was supposedly overbooked I was surprised he didn’t use a mates phone to say ‘hey flights overbooked I’m getting X flight see you later’ he tried to make out he was alone while he waited, I was confused why he didn’t then let me know. Turns out he was drinking with his mates, had a way to say something and didn’t.

He wasn’t cutting the holiday short, and I never asked him to. The flight he booked of his own volition left at 12, his mates flights were 2-2.30ish I think, the flight he ended up getting left at 4? I’m not sure. We’re talking about a few hours of beers in an airport bar

Sorry but you sound very controlling. He was probably glad to escape for a few days!

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:38

Viviennemary · 11/08/2026 13:34

You sound a real fuss pot. That's why he lied because whatever he does is examined with a fine tooth comb. You have him on such a tight rein with you checking up on flight times arrivals who did what and when.

So if your husband wasn’t home hours after you thought he would be you wouldn’t look at arrivals to check if there was a delay? You wouldn’t worry, oh well?

OP posts:
BerryTwister · 11/08/2026 13:38

I'd be more annoyed about him losing his phone than getting a later flight. Getting so drunk he's not capable of keeping his possessions is teen behaviour. And of course he wasn't mugged, he just lost his phone. He seems to lie quite readily doesn't he.

Offherrockingchair · 11/08/2026 13:38

Compensation should be somewhere if he was bumped off a flight…

outerspacepotato · 11/08/2026 13:39

What else has he lied about?

Arran2024 · 11/08/2026 13:40

He and his mates are heavy drinkers - his best man was so drunk he couldn't give his speech.

Your husband was so drunk, he got pushed and mugged and his phone was stolen.

He delayed his flight, and lied to you about it, so he could keep on drinking with his mates.

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, but I do think your husband needs to grow up and stop drinking so much. His drinking is already getting him into trouble.

Are you ok with this?

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:40

Please elaborate? How am I controlling? Controlling would have been booking the flights and hotel myself, demanding he drop me a pin when he got to where he was saying so I knew where he was. Asking questions to establish what had gone on is not controlling. I’ve also given loads of details in the OP to explain so I wouldn’t drip feed or miss anything.

OP posts:
susiedaisy1912 · 11/08/2026 13:40

he didn’t book the earlier flight and only said he did to shut you up from moaning about the kids.

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:40

Arran2024 · 11/08/2026 13:40

He and his mates are heavy drinkers - his best man was so drunk he couldn't give his speech.

Your husband was so drunk, he got pushed and mugged and his phone was stolen.

He delayed his flight, and lied to you about it, so he could keep on drinking with his mates.

I don't think you are being unreasonable at all, but I do think your husband needs to grow up and stop drinking so much. His drinking is already getting him into trouble.

Are you ok with this?

No I’m not but if I say that here I’m sure I’ll be accused of being controlling and the reason he drinks!

OP posts:
AMurderofMurderingCrows · 11/08/2026 13:41

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:38

So if your husband wasn’t home hours after you thought he would be you wouldn’t look at arrivals to check if there was a delay? You wouldn’t worry, oh well?

OP you're getting a hard time. It's always the same in AIBU and in fact getting worse. People seem to get a kick out of piling on and leaving shitty comments.

YANBU - he should have let you know he was getting the later flight.

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:41

susiedaisy1912 · 11/08/2026 13:40

he didn’t book the earlier flight and only said he did to shut you up from moaning about the kids.

He booked the earlier flight before he even left.

OP posts:
BitterTits · 11/08/2026 13:42

This seems like a lot of drama over a very minor thing. If you went away for a long weekend with your friends, would you expect your husband to be unable to cope and to stipulate your return time? It's not even as if he was back in the early hours.

knottywig · 11/08/2026 13:43

You knew you would be looking after the kids for a weekend and it could be tough, as it was. I’m assuming nooone had to be rushed to the hospital they were just being PITA. So why try to guilt him into coming home early and not just accept original flight? He probably doesn’t see his mates very often hence them all on different flights, and it was only for 4 nights. You trying to shorten his weekend is being unreasonable.
Him lying isn’t OK. Also complete waste of money if he did actually buy an earlier flight.

purplecorkheart · 11/08/2026 13:43

I am curious as to how old the kids are?

Regardless I suspect you are being lied to. I would bet that he was refused boarding to the first flight as he was drunk and told to sober up and put on the second flight.

I bet he lost his phone.

I don't understand he drove to the airport. Then flew into another one so he would have to get public transport back. Or did he leave the car at the return airport and drove home over the limit?

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:43

BitOutOfPractice · 11/08/2026 13:25

It’s quite obvious you didn’t want him to go, that you begrudged him going in fact, and that when he did call, you spent the whole time moaning.

it was a really silly lie. But I get why he did.

And where are you that the weather was crap?

Scotland! It was so rainy. Typically the sun is shining now!

OP posts:
gotmyselfintoapickle · 11/08/2026 13:44

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:40

No I’m not but if I say that here I’m sure I’ll be accused of being controlling and the reason he drinks!

Drinking does appear to be an issue - I would be concerned he was over the limit when he drove too.

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:45

BitterTits · 11/08/2026 13:42

This seems like a lot of drama over a very minor thing. If you went away for a long weekend with your friends, would you expect your husband to be unable to cope and to stipulate your return time? It's not even as if he was back in the early hours.

I didn’t stipulate his return time, he booked an earlier flight.

If I went away for a weekend I sure as shit wouldn’t lie to cover up wanting to carry on drinking leaving my DH to worry as he expected me at a different time and didn’t know why I was hours later.

OP posts:
Icanrelate · 11/08/2026 13:45

Leaving your wife at home with 3 children and no car is selfish, given that the car was sitting unused for the whole weekend. He should have used alternative transport to and from the airport.
Lying is also not acceptable. I don't blame you for being hurt and feeling let down OP.

OrangeSlices998 · 11/08/2026 13:45

purplecorkheart · 11/08/2026 13:43

I am curious as to how old the kids are?

Regardless I suspect you are being lied to. I would bet that he was refused boarding to the first flight as he was drunk and told to sober up and put on the second flight.

I bet he lost his phone.

I don't understand he drove to the airport. Then flew into another one so he would have to get public transport back. Or did he leave the car at the return airport and drove home over the limit?

7, 5 & 1.

OP posts:
FlatCatYellowMat · 11/08/2026 13:46

I think the accusations of being controlling are weird - the rare occasions I've been away from my kids, I've wanted to hear how they're doing/speak to them. It wouldn't occur to me not to talk to the kids, not to expect the occasional call from a partner when away to catch up/see how they're doing!

And I absolutely would have been worried if he didn't turn up on the plane I was expecting him on.

I would have driven him to the airport rather than not had a car for 5 days though.

ginasevern · 11/08/2026 13:50

@OrangeSlices998 Blimey what a palaver OP. He only went away for 4 days and was 3 hours later home than you expected.

Jerrybalanitis · 11/08/2026 13:51

Hi lied. You sound like you go on about the kids all the time. Saying he will be back for bedtime like its a family event is icky. Going away with the lads is icky when a grown man. I get having young kids isnt fun but its not an illness, you presumably wanted this life. As for him, he just sounds like a weakling who didnt think having a family through.

Kitkate21 · 11/08/2026 13:52

If he stayed at the airport drinking, how was he driving the car back and how is the car coming back if he went to a different airport?? That makes no sense. Why would he do that? It's crap when you are left solo parenting sometimes but it sounds like you need to carve yourself out some time off too.

cestlavielife · 11/08/2026 13:52

When you go away for your weekend (book it now!) you wont want to hear how tough it is (you both know that) just that kids are fine see you on sunday have a good time
Yes he should have let you know "getting a later flight see you after 7 30"

Travsmam · 11/08/2026 13:52

I don’t understand the car bit. If he drove to one airport to fly out and flew back into another airport how did he get the car? By the way I think you should have just let him enjoy his holiday. It really wasn’t that long. Get yourself one booked. Only fair 👍🏻

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