Missed my holiday to Majorca yesterday :(

roundasapound

2006-02-13 10:57:50

Hi everyone

Yesterday, left the house at 8am to go to Stansted airport. Latest check in was 09:45 but when we got to the airport, the check in staff said that they never closed the flight until 10:15am. So anyway.. 09:30am approaching the exit to come off the motorway to Stansted airport. Then my brother-in law decides he wants to overtake the lorry infront. Before I can say hey, keep in the lane, he is overtaking the lorry and we miss our exit. No more exits for miles. Then, coming back he misses the exit again and by the time we get to the airport it's 10:30am.

No more flights that day, had to come home last night. My daughter was really disappointed, but I had to thank her for being so strong and not crying or making an issue out of it. Infact, she was hugging me, telling me not to worry.

Checked out all flights for today and they are ridiculous prices. The flights, hotel (HB) and car rental for 1 week came to £450.00 for both of us, so I had to weigh it all up and decide that paying £300 + for tickets was not worth it, kinda like throwing good money after bad.

So here I am today, so ticked off, when I should be in Alcudia. When I got home yesterday, I had to go lie down for a few hours, had a splitting migraine last night. I really feel like my brother-in-law owes me the money for this holiday.. what do you guys think?

I always watch this kinda situation on airline and luton airport documentaries, never would I have thought this would happen.. haha.. I laugh but I still have a bitter taste in my mouth.

luci HT Mod

2006-02-13 11:04:28

I am so sorry to hear that you have missed out on your holiday.

Have you checked your travel insurance to see what it says about missed departure? I don't know if the circumstances would be covered, possibly not, but there's no harm in checking.

Let us know if you go down this route.

luci :wave

Pippa

2006-02-13 11:39:36

If you were approaching the exit for Stansted at 9.30 and you thought the latest check in time was 9.45 you were not really allowing yourself enough time. You could have had a puncture or there could have been an accident and you would have missed your flight. When you have a journey that involves a motorway you must allow yourself enough time for delays - on an ordinary road you may have an option to take a detour.

I know it is boring having to wait a long time at the aiport but better than missing your flight surely. We flew from Stansted just over a week ago and got to the airport before 8am for a 10.45 flight.

I would have thought that the insurance company will say that the reason you missed your flight was of your own doing rather than something out of your control.

Pippa

Acorncup

2006-02-13 11:53:39

So sorry to hear you've missed out on your holiday, raap.

Have you flown much before? because I have to agree with pippa and luci that it is best to get there in good time. Most package flight check-ins end 2 hours before take-off, and it is best to get there well before the last check-in time, as you never know what delays there might be on the way.

It is a difficult situation for you because your BIL was doing you a favour giving you a lift but it was his fault he missed the turn-off. Had you both discussed what time to allow for the journey and did he know when your flight was?

Still it's easy to be clever afterwards. I guess there's no more cheap flgihts because it's half term week in a lot of areas.

Hope your headache has gone at least, I'm not surprised you had one. Your daughter does sound as if she's been really good about it all.

Waterford2005

2006-02-13 14:04:57

I am sorry to hear your tale of getting to your holiday destination or rather not. But I am afraid I have to agree with the others and that you were cutting it way too fine in getting to the airport. I will always arrive at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure. You need to allow for the unexpected.

With regard to the matter of your brother in law paying you the price of the holiday. Was he doing you a favour. Who decided what time you left the house at. If I had brought someone to the airport and they missed their flight partly because of my mistake but partly because they were cutting it very fine in getting to the airport and they mentioned that I owed them the price of the holiday, I know what I would be telling them the next time they were looking for a lift somewhere.

roundasapound

2006-02-13 14:24:53

Thanks guys

I know I should've left more time, I usually am at the airport at least 2.5 hours before departure. I just kissed my holiday goodbye when I saw my BIL driving past the exit.

BIL was doing me a favour, even though I paid him £30.00 to take me there. I still think he owes me some money though, even if not the full 100% .. lol

Believe me though, I've learned my lesson.

doe

2006-02-13 15:22:11

raap

So sorry about your hols. It sounds like your daughter was really good about it. How old is she? sometimes kids can really be amazing when things like this happen.

I know what you mean about you see stuff on TV and think how could people be so daft etc. However years ago (possibly 17 or 18?) Me and Hub were going to Rhodes. On Gatwick express I looked at our tickets and couldn't beleive my eyes, we were late. Yes you've guessed it 24 hours too late. We had turned up on the wrong day!!!!

Probably been abroad 40 times since and guess what I've never done it again. You'll have to spend the week on HT trying to enjoy other peoples hols. :shock:

roundasapound

2006-02-13 15:42:52

hi doepsmc :wave

thanks for sharing that with me

My daughter is 6 years old. I think that if she had started crying, maybe I would've joined her..lol but she's taken it really well, she is such a rock of strength that girl

We are going to Tunisia in April, easter half term for 1 week and for that one, I will call a taxi as I usually do.

doe

2006-02-13 22:27:03

The taxi sounds sensible to me. Hope you have a great time in Tunisia.

Robbo11

2006-02-13 22:39:47

If nothing else, your brother-in-law should at least hand back the £30 you paid him seeing as he failed to get you to the airport in time. Maybe he did - you didn't say - but few people would have the gall to lose someone even more money knowing that their mistake was the main reason for them missing their holiday. I would feel so guilty, even if it was accidental, that my conscience wouldn't let me keep the fare. Expecting him to pay for your missed holiday is pushing it though, especially as you left no leeway time for unexpected problems so I think you will just have to settle for him feeling bad about it. Somehow, I doubt if he will ever offer to take anyone ever again even if asked.

totp

2006-02-13 23:14:49

Oh I feel for you, how dissapointing.

But shame on your BIL for even taking any money off you in the first place! I wouldn't dream of charging friends/family for taking them to the airport. Mind you, I don't ask anyone to take me and always book airport parking as I hate relying on other people - even a taxi! :roll:

Enjoy your Tunisia holiday

roundasapound

2006-02-14 08:26:38

I think you're right guys, I will have to settle for him just feeling bad, I haven't heard from my BIL since Sunday and I'm not calling him, I don't think I'm in the right frame of mind to do that.

I suppose I can count my lucky stars, it could've been worse, imagine if it was a long haul flight :shock:

BenidormHereICome

2006-02-17 01:09:58

I really feel like my brother-in-law owes me the money for this holiday.. what do you guys think?

I think you should discuss this with your BIL, yes. I feel you have some grounds for compensation. At the very least, you ought to be entitled to your £30 back, clearly your BIL's decision to overtake depite you asking him not to went some way to making you miss your flight. However, as for the time you chose to leave your home, well as has been said higher up, I don't believe you allowed yourself enough time. So as for your BIL reimbursing you the total cost of your holiday, well in my humble opinion this sounds to me like a suitable case for Judge Judy :arrow:

Edited to remove copyright protected image. Please do not reproduce material taken from other websites.
David HT Mod

sydney

2006-02-17 08:41:16

It is always best to allow as much time as possible to get to the airport.

I never let friends or family take me to the airport for the very reason why you did not get there. There will always be bad feelings.

Your brother in law has not contacted you as he probably feels guilty (as he should do). He obviously is one of those people who wont listen.

rachie-m

2006-02-17 13:45:17

I'm paranoid about missing my flight. We live 15 mins from Gatwick and still arrive 3 hours before the flight just in case the car breaks down and we have to walk there! I really feel for you, you can bet that if you'd given yourself loads of time you wouldn't have missed the exit...sods law!! Tunisia is a lovely place and the weather at Easter will be so much warmer than Alcudia this week!!!

roundasapound

2006-02-17 14:49:16

Believe me y'all it's taxi cab fromnow on to the airport. Still haven't heard anything from the BIL.

As the week is passing on I am not really that ticked off at all.

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate some grounded opinions because sometimes I get so fixated on the issue at hand I don't see things from other perspectives so thanks again

stewartwilkie

2006-02-27 12:45:02

I still cant work out how even missing the exit for the airport it took an extra hour to get back. The next exit isnt that far away and even missing the exit on the way back it is 2 minutes then turn around again.

I cant see how your BIL owes you money although I am sure you wont be using him again.

Kind Regards
Stewart

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