Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have said no!!!!!!

132 replies

noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:05

This is so cheeky and I am that I am being considered unreasonable.We agreed to take ds and 3 mates to barcelona when the exams are over for 3 days to skateboard.they are all 16.I have agreed it with the other parents and flights are easyjet £90 basic plus about 60 for an appartment." of the boys I know the 3rd I know but not teh parents.His parents have said they want him to fly BA as they have airmiles and tehy don't want to pay teh easyjet flight.His dad suggested we fly with tehm too and after realising they don't fly from gatwick and they are so much more £ I said no.He now wants his 16 yr old son to fly alone and meet us there!I have said no I don't want to have to track someone elses son down in a strange place he either comes as part of our group or forget it!

OP posts:
Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:06

Should say 2 of the boys i know

OP posts:
mayorquimby · 03/05/2010 15:10

nope. perfectly reasonable

Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:11

Thank you I can't believe they expect us to change our plans!

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 03/05/2010 15:12

hmm i can see it from both sides tbh
i can totally understand why they want him to go BA so they can use the airmiles, and i don't think it's too unreasonable to ask you to meet him there as long as that doesn't mean you hanging around for ages or going out of your way to fetch him

he is 16, it's not like he's a little child, he'll be fine on a flight by himself

nancydrewrocks · 03/05/2010 15:12

Perfectly reasonable. Your invite, your rules when it comes to those that you have to be responsible for.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 03/05/2010 15:14

Absolutely reasonable of you. ANd who knows, BA could strike again and where would htat leave this boy..... I suggest you ask teh parents to accompany this boy on the BA flight if they are so concerned and get him to you.

Hassled · 03/05/2010 15:14

You're being completely fair enough. Other parents are nuts.

The only thing you're being remotely inreasonable about is in taking four 16 year olds to Barcelona to skateboard. I trust there will be culture as well ?

compo · 03/05/2010 15:17

Well they obviously can't afford it
tbh I think your very brave taking them all
I'd leave it til after a levels and they can go interrailing by themselves and you won't need to organise anything

Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:17

We are flying on a weds at 6am he would be coming next day.I am not trooping back to the airport.I also have arranged a really good insurance policy taking into account i am taking other peoples kids.Plenty of culture and skating I hope!

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 03/05/2010 15:17

If his son is going to fly alone - then he can get a bus or taxi form the airport to the apartment - that way the father will have to arrange payment for taxi

Will the flights be different times?

Plus I wasn't aware that ba flew into barcelona - short haul?

Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:18

Gatwick airport is up the road from us and heathrow is miles plus flights double!!!!!!

OP posts:
FabIsGoingToGetFit · 03/05/2010 15:19

YANBU

Your rules.

thisisyesterday · 03/05/2010 15:19

well that's fair enough.
i don't think it would hurt to be a leeeeetle bit flexbile on it though? maybe say if they can arrange for a taxi to bring him to where you are staying then do that??? i dunno

BA do fly to barcelona yes, we flew with them a couple of years back

dinkystinky · 03/05/2010 15:22

You are not being unreasonable - they should get him to heathrow and on the flight and pay for him to get a taxi to your apartment if he's coming out the following day!

Dizzeee · 03/05/2010 15:23

I would say that's fine as long as he gets a taxi to the hotel or wherever you want to meet him and arranges his own insurance etc.

Ivykaty44 · 03/05/2010 15:25

You can all fly with the other airline and the airport close to you.

byt the time this father has paid airport parking, a taxi to the apartment - and back don't forget cause the flight willnot be the same time - and possibly a room for the night in the hotel - it aint going to be so cheap using airmiles

Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:25

I am not prepared to do that!I don't want the extra hassle as he will be left on his own becuase the flights home don't match either.I have said come with us or don't come at all.I would never start giving out orders for my ds I would either say we can't afford it or be grateful he was going at all!

OP posts:
NathanBarley · 03/05/2010 15:26

Don't punish the poor lad because of his parents (and yes possibly they can't afford it). Would it really be so bad to meet him in Barcelona? He can get a bus to the city from airport very easily and safely so you wouldn't even have to go to airport.

Ivykaty44 · 03/05/2010 15:27

sorry - you are not prepared to do what? lost now

thisisyesterday · 03/05/2010 15:28

what does your DS think? would he be upset if this boy couldn't come? are you banking on them just agreeing to fly with you? what if they say he can't go? will there be fall-out from that?

sorry, very question-y lol

i can't imagine that they can't afford it if they manage to collect air miles for flights!

pointydog · 03/05/2010 15:30

I think that sounds fair enough, noddy. If you are taking them, you need to feel completely comfortable with the plans

Original poster
noddyholder · 03/05/2010 15:32

They are not exactly skint! I am not prepared to let him go seperately and then interrupt my holiday keeping track of him.They are only 16 and I am keen to make it easy.He can't go unless he flies BA and his dad has said he has enough points for one other flight and then we can pay his hotel!!!!!!!!!!My ds wants him to go but its not a deal breaker

OP posts:
Monty100 · 03/05/2010 15:32

Noddy - yanbu, it's such a short stay to spend time angsting about the other boy's arrival is a big ask from the other parents I feel. As above, by the time they arrange separate trips to/from airports they might as well stump up the £90 if they can afford it. Shame if the poor boy loses out on the trip, I hope the parents see sense.

dinkystinky · 03/05/2010 15:34

Noddy -the other parents are clearly being unreasonable then. Shame for their DS but good its not the end of the world for your ds if he doesnt end up going because of his loony parents.

wannaBe · 03/05/2010 15:35

"Well they obviously can't afford it" I'd say that if they have air miles to use then chances are they've been able to afford to fly at some point in the not too distant past in order to accumulate enough air miles to give this kid a return ticket to Barsalona!

yanbu btw.

Swipe left for the next trending thread