To be really annoyed at DH and his work

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

He has to go away for meetings (which last 1 1/2 days) most months, usually to Holland. That's easy - flights to Amsterdam are easy to come across any day and any time. He tends to leave very early one day and get home late evening the next day

Next month he has to go to Spain for a meeting which is from 9.30am Monday until 2pm Tuesday. The best flights that he can get means leaving home at 5.30am on the Sunday and not getting back until about 6pm on the Wednesday - so 4 days away for a 1 1/2 day meeting.

Now I know it's not his fault, but it's really, really annoyed me and he can't see why. I think it's because we're losing half of our weekend and also that I know because he's away from the office for 3 days, he'll end up working really late and bringing work home for the rest of the week and the following weekend too. I know that DS1 will miss him dreadfully too.

DH reckons IABU to feel so annoyed at this. What do you think?

The timings of the flights seem a bit odd to me as well.

DH travels away a lot with work, but they let him book the most convenient flights for him not what works out cheapest for them, and they certainly don't expect him to use public transport.

There's no way he would get time in lieu for leaving on a Sunday though, which he occasionally has to do if there's an early Monday morning meeting.

I've got a similar situation here and I've pretty much decided I am being unreasonable. I do just wish he'd say, yeah it is crap that I work from 8:30 - 10pm every day even weekends. Yes, I do miss you and DD and I wish I could help in the house and change the stupid flickering lightbulbs in the front room and give you a sunday lie in since you are 4 months pregnant with awful SPD. But we also need money and I have to work like this in the short term.
It is annoying!!! He will also be pissed off at situation though and seeing you pissed off won't make him feel any better and won't stop him having to do what he has to do.

KristinaM I'm sure DH is not messing me about, if something like this happens again soon, I might start to wonder!! Unfortunatley our local airport is not a major one.

mum23monkeys I'm not after any sympathy!! I do feel very sorry for you and your DH though. That's a long time to be apart because of work. I know forces families have an awful lot to cope with too. Iam not trying to compare my situation with anybody elses.

Litchick You're right about a job being a job atm. We're keeping our fingers crossed that DH's company (manufacturing) can keep weathering this storm.

OK, so IABU. I think I knew that deep down!

Sorry for all of you whose husbands are away a lot. I'm really not trying to make my lot sound tough.

well in that case its his company! my Dh travels a lot and often with no notice and these timings are nonsense

as you say, times are hard and he probably doesnt want to make a fuss. but he needs to make his own travel arrangementst next time

According to my DH, who suffers similarly, you are being completely reasonable!

In our defence, the credit crunch means that most companies are trying to control costs. A lot of destinations are now only served by the low cost airlines - and our convenience is very rarely factored into their timetabling decisions.

But even the ordinary airlines are cutting connecting flights. I travelled from Edinburgh to a small town in Alabama last month. The return journey took me 23 hours - which included 7 hours hanging around Memphis airport (and no, I am not an Elvis fan) and 5 hours at Schipol. It was cheap though. Boy was it cheap.

Still not entirely sure why I put up with it though. I am too old and too cranky for this crap on a regular basis.