Booking Flights - Son's Girlfriend

[xipetotec]

So every two years, we have a huge family Disney trip. My mother is a DVC member and she likes to save up points to take a gang.

We agreed that my son could take his girlfriend along. But they've had... a rocky relationship. He swears they are good, he wants her to come. She wants to come. But here's my dilemma. We're staying DVC so whether she ends up coming or not is not the issue there. What IS the issue is we usually book our flights as far out as possible to get the best prices.

Now a bunch of us are already booked. And we're just waiting to book my oldest daughter and son ( and their respective BF and GF ). Considering we're talking about March Break ( 1st week of March for us, so still not AS busy as second week of March ). How long do you guys think I can afford to wait before flight prices start balooning out of control? WE're thinking by September AT LEAST we have to pull the trigger. What do you guys think?

 

[Gigi22]

I like to buy airfare early too, so I'm with you, particularly since March break is such a busy time. (Heck, I have already purchased tickets for next June).

 

[xipetotec]

I like to buy airfare early too, so I'm with you, particularly since March break is such a busy time. (Heck, I have already purchased tickets for next June).

Oh yeah, we're a BIG group. Some of us are taking care of their own thing. But I'm the unofficial travel agent for most of us.

My wife, myself, my youngest, my brother and his girlfriend have all been booked since APRIL for NEXT MARCH ... But we couldn't do my oldest daughter and son because they are in college and boyfriends and girlfriends might be coming, so all this uncertainty left us having to wait... but as time ticks closer, I am getting more and more nervous.

 

[myzel]

I would book for your son/daughter for the savings and wait on the significant others. Cheaper to pay a small upcharge than to lose a n/r ticket.

 

[formill]

We always book as soon as flights are released. My daughter and her then boyfriend were told that if I book his tickets he is out the money if they split up......about 2 months before the trip they split up........I did get him the credit for the tickets knowing he would never use them.....but he was told that was the risk.........the difference in price was huge if we had of waited to buy the flights for they were for Christmas time........

 

[pigletto]

We always book as soon as flights are released. My daughter and her then boyfriend were told that if I book his tickets he is out the money if they split up......about 2 months before the trip they split up........I did get him the credit for the tickets knowing he would never use them.....but he was told that was the risk.........the difference in price was huge if we had of waited to buy the flights for they were for Christmas time........

I think this is the best way to do it. Have her pay for her own flight. It's very nice of you to bring her, but you shouldn't have to be out money if they break up.
I know my brother (20) and his girlfriend break up every other week. We wouldn't plan anything with her more than a month or two out and even that seems generous. I think they might be broken up right now actually. At least they were last Saturday but that doesn't mean anything lol.

 

[xipetotec]

I think this is the best way to do it. Have her pay for her own flight. It's very nice of you to bring her, but you shouldn't have to be out money if they break up.
I know my brother (20) and his girlfriend break up every other week. We wouldn't plan anything with her more than a month or two out and even that seems generous. I think they might be broken up right now actually. At least they were last Saturday but that doesn't mean anything lol.

Hilarious . It's just about the same situation here. And to the other posters, we *are* making her pay her own way for sure. It's just a question of wanting to make sure that she and my son can get on the same flight and not cost too much. I don't want her to have to pay 1200 for a flight to orlando with us.

 

[TagsMissy]

Are your son and his girlfriend adults with job? A simple fix is they can buy their own tickets so it's their own responsibility?

 

[xipetotec]

Are your son and his girlfriend adults with job? A simple fix is they can buy their own tickets so it's their own responsibility?

Well yes. But I'm sort of the defacto travel agent for the whole family. ( When I say the whole family, I mean the whole group my mother likes to bring to Disney every two years with her DVC... depending on the year, that can include cousins, or my brother and his GF, my own kids, and of course, my parents ). We all want to fly together, which is the trick here.

I mean it IS simple as far as the money goes. WE'RE not booking anything for him and his GF until they have money to pay for the ticket. But I'm just not sure what the safest wait out they can afford to wait and not end up paying through the nose... ( myself, my wife, brother and his GF and my youngest are all booked already )

 

[dsneygirl]

Are your son and his girlfriend adults with job? A simple fix is they can buy their own tickets so it's their own responsibility?

I also wonder how old. If they are 16 I wouldn't be rushing out. If they are 30 it's a bit different.

 

[xipetotec]

I also wonder how old. If they are 16 I wouldn't be rushing out. If they are 30 it's a bit different.

20 and 24. Them traveling alone is not a huge deal. We just try to keep the family together. Of course, if it comes down to it, they *can* travel alone.

 

[maplevale]

I say book. Depending who you are flying - maybe there is a 'cancel for any reason' policy (not cheap - but Sunwing does offer it we have used it for package vacations).

But - you just never know what can happen (GF/spouse splitting, people getting PG, loosing jobs etc.).... my sister and her DH just split. 6 months ago they didn't think they had any problems.

I would rather book a great deal and eat it then fork out extra $$ in the end.

 

[bankr63]

They're all young. Reserve them a car, and say "See you there". Then you have ground transportation while you're down there. Added bonus - if the relationships can survive 48 hours together in a car, then they can survive anything!

Note: if all 4 drive, that's 2 three hour shifts each driving, each way. Hardly a great hardship!

 

[TagsMissy]

Well yes. But I'm sort of the defacto travel agent for the whole family. ( When I say the whole family, I mean the whole group my mother likes to bring to Disney every two years with her DVC... depending on the year, that can include cousins, or my brother and his GF, my own kids, and of course, my parents ). We all want to fly together, which is the trick here.

I mean it IS simple as far as the money goes. WE'RE not booking anything for him and his GF until they have money to pay for the ticket. But I'm just not sure what the safest wait out they can afford to wait and not end up paying through the nose... ( myself, my wife, brother and his GF and my youngest are all booked already )

Time to cut the strings and let your son work it out as an adult in this case I think. It's just a flight, not a big deal if he needs to make is way down on his own. The issue is his and his girlfriends and not yours, don't dwell on what you can't control and let him hold the reigns. If you plan 100% on bringing your son and paying for him no matter what buy his ticket so he's arranged, it's not your responsibility to worry about his on and off again girlfriend who happens to be an adult.