How would you handle this one???

[TLHB70]

My cousin (second cousin actually) wants to come for a visit the week after Easter. She lives in Louisiana and plans to fly. She usually comes for a visit about once a year. She is in her mid 20s and enjoys a little get away time. She is a school teacher so she doesn't have a lot of money. We normally go to the mall, Carowinds, etc. Her boyfriend recently broke up with her so this trip is a get away to "heal" basically. She has the week off from school. Well, she booked her flight yesterday. She plans to fly in on Monday and out on Friday. I will be picking her up from the airport because she is saving money and not getting a rental car. I don't mind picking her up since her flight arrives at 2:52 PM on Monday. However, she booked a departure flight for 6:10 AM on Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it!!!!!! That means she really needs to be at the airport by 4:30 AM or so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That means we need to leave my house by 4 AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to get up and go that early!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have two kids. I don't want to get them up and out that early either. I can ask DH to do it, but I feel responsible since she is my relative. I don't know how I should handle this one. Should I just tell her that I don't mind her coming but I don't want to drive her that early. I would never ask someone to do that for me. I am surprised that she has done this.



ETA: We are not really close at all. As a matter of fact, I had only seen her a few times up until we moved to Charlotte. Basically I am her only relative that lives out of state. She is young, single with an apartment on a teacher's salary. She really can't afford vacations. So she uses her trip here as a vacation. We have Carowinds (an amusement park) nearby. We are only a few hours from the Biltmore so we have gone there, etc. I normally don't mind her coming at all. I don't mind being her "cheap" vacation. However, this time the 6:10 flight is a bit much for me. I understand that she wants to save money and apparently the earlier flight is cheaper. I just think it is a bit much to ask someone to drive you to the airport at 4 AM. Am I wrong? I don't want to be ugly.

 

[ElizaB39]

Taxi Cab!

 

[MareQ]

YIKES!!!! I would tell her that you cannot do it and call a shuttle service and give her the quote.

 

[Bonnie40]

That's certainly early, but couldn't you just get up, leave the kids sleeping at home with Dad, run her there and be home by 5:30-6:00 a.m.? I certainly wouldn't mind doing that under those circumstances...

 

[ntburns22]

I would ask her if there is anyway she could get a later flight. If not she will have to budget for a cab. You can't have your kids getting up that early. I would just talk to her.

 

[hentob]

That's certainly early, but couldn't you just get up, leave the kids sleeping at home with Dad....QUOTE]

That is what I was thinking.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

Maybe that was the cheapest fare. I wouldn't mind doing it for family or a close friend. I guess you could suggest a cab though.

 

[mommasita]

That's certainly early, but couldn't you just get up, leave the kids sleeping at home with Dad, run her there and be home by 5:30-6:00 a.m.? I certainly wouldn't mind doing that under those circumstances...

I have the exact same viewpoint.

 

[dodukes]

I would do it for my family if they were coming in, granted I know I wouldtn want to but on my part we live in different countries so i take every chance I get. However if she is a frequent visitor maybe you can jsut do a shuttle for her. I dont see why your dh wouldnt do it, just ask him see what he says or as somebody said let him stay home with the kids and take her drop off and leave. I dont see the big deal but i love to go to airports and I dont have kids so i see where kids can be a factor in this.

 

[Royalbear]

While it may be inconvenient for me, I would be more than happy to drive her to the airport, no matter what the time. If my dh was home, I'd keep the kiddos tucked in bed, otherwise we would have a middle of the night adventure!

I enjoy having company, so I am willing to extend myself for them.

 

[m&m's mom]

I too would do it w/out a complaint. A family member is worth it.

 

[ckay87]

Oh I get what a pain that would be with kids, but since it's just this once, why can't kiddos stay at home with dad? Or can't DH do it, just this once? Or do you have a DH like mine who has trouble straying from his regular routine?

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

That's certainly early, but couldn't you just get up, leave the kids sleeping at home with Dad, run her there and be home by 5:30-6:00 a.m.? I certainly wouldn't mind doing that under those circumstances...

Me either.

 

[DVCLiz]

If it's really that inconvenient, just get her a room at an airport hotel on the last night. Then neither of you will have to get up.

 

[RickinNYC]

It wouldn't bother me in the slightest, regardless of the circumstance. I'd just assume that, due to her strict finances, the super early return flight was her only choice that allowed her to save the most money. I'd just give her the lift, give her a hug goodbye, head on home and go right back to sleep or simply enjoy the morning to myself until the rest of the household woke up.

 

[TLHB70]

Sorry, I forgot to explain that there is a slight chance DH may be out of town for work that day. If not, I can ask him to bring her or stay with the kids. Right now there is that slim chance though, and that is what I am worrying about as far as the kids go.
I did edit the op to explain that we are not the closest of relatives. Normally I pick her up and drop her off and don't mind. I just wouldn't ask or expect someone to do that for me.

 

[horseshowmom]

I'm like most of the others. I'm not a morning person, so I understand what you mean about the timeframe, but I would either get her a towncar (or cab) or an airport hotel with a shuttle if I didn't want to go that early.

ETA: I just saw your latest post, and I do agree that I wouldn't ask somebody to do that for me either, but it doesn't sound like she has a lot of experience traveling and probably didn't think about just how early it was going to have to be.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

ETA: We are not really close at all. As a matter of fact, I had only seen her a few times up until we moved to Charlotte. Basically I am her only relative that lives out of state. She is young, single with an apartment on a teacher's salary. She really can't afford vacations. So she uses her trip here as a vacation. We have Carowinds (an amusement park) nearby. We are only a few hours from the Biltmore so we have gone there, etc. I normally don't mind her coming at all. I don't mind being her "cheap" vacation. However, this time the 6:10 flight is a bit much for me. I understand that she wants to save money and apparently the earlier flight is cheaper. I just think it is a bit much to ask someone to drive you to the airport at 4 AM. Am I wrong? I don't want to be ugly.

Does she feel the same way about not being close?? I just have a hard time imagining somebody choosing to go spend a week with family that they didn't want to spend time with, regardless of their budget. Also, I would feel weird having a guest in my home, family or not, that I didn't feel close to. I guess I just can't relate to this and I'm feeling bad for your cousin wondering if she really looks forward to spending time with you and your family and doesn't know that is how you feel.

 

[TLHB70]

Does she feel the same way about not being close?? I just have a hard time imagining somebody choosing to go spend a week with family that they didn't want to spend time with, regardless of their budget. Also, I would feel weird having a guest in my home, family or not, that I didn't feel close to. I guess I just can't relate to this and I'm feeling bad for your cousin wondering if she really looks forward to spending time with you and your family and doesn't know that is how you feel.

I see your point. I guess I am coming off sounding harsher than I mean too. Yes, we do have good times when she does come. When I say that we are not the closest, I mean that I had only seen her a couple of times (at a funeral and a wedding) before we moved. When she called and asked to come the first time (back in 2004), she got my number from my mom. She did explain on that phone call that she knew that we weren't that close. She didn't want to be an inconvenience, but that she would like to take the vacation. I didn't mind and explained that. DH and I have always been very hospitable. We pay for her all of her food when she is here. We take her out to restaurants and treat. We get her in to Carowinds on our passes, etc. I am not a rude hostess. When I say that we aren't close...................well, I don't really hear from her at all other than right before a visit. That is all. Seriously. She normally contacts me about a month before she thinks about coming. She checks the calendar and asks me how certain dates work. This time is fine. DH just said last night that he may have to go into Canada that week (Wednesday - Friday) for a job, but it is not a definite.
I promise I am not a mean person. Normally the trips are fine with me. Shopping is always fun. I was just surprised by the 6 flight. But I will bring her and ask DH to stay home with the girls if he is home. If he is in Canada I will ask her about a cab.

 

[helenabear]

I would probably gumble, but I sure would do it. I think since your DH is home, it would be easy to slip away while everyone is still sleeping.

Or if you like, as a treat for her (since she is healing) spring for a car to come get her and take her to the airport. She might enjoy that.