Real life MMD: She dumped my son - should I make her pay for the holiday

LE3

I would definitely see about changing the ticket to a friend's name & asking the friend to cover any costs to do this - they get a very cheap holiday, you aren't out of pocket.
It's all very well saying "make the girlfriend pay" but actually you won't be able to so best to just leave it and make the best of a bad situation!

Itismehonest

No, you don't ask her to cough up.
You don't interfere in your son's relationships particularly on this sort of level & when she didn't ask you to pay.

You're the adults in this scenario. You've been through the days of young on/off relationships. These things happen & you should have factored in the possibility before booking.

If your son hasn't got a friend who can step in then you just accept the loss.

Surfer

What do people not understand about reclaiming the tax? No one will be out of pocket except for airmiles!

DustD

Firstly, why would you, and especially your son, want the ex-girlfriend going on the holiday still anyway? Have you considered how your son feels about spending the holiday with her after being dumped? Awkward!

Or are you both hoping for a reconciliation or are they still friends? If there're not still friends, I would be telling her the holiday is off for her as it would be so awkward.

If you still want her to go for whatever reason, I don't see as you can now charge her now. But it would be dubious on her parents part if this is the first time the subject of money has cropped up - I wouldn't expect a child of mine to be whisked away on holiday without offering some cash towards it.

Personally, I am utterly bemused why the ex would still want to go and why you, and especially your son would want her there! I'd have thought he'd want a holiday to get over her.

pennypinchUK

And what chance do you think you've got of actually getting the money? Sounds like you took a risk booking her ticket, and it didn't work out. Another one of life's little lessons...

Check with the airline, who may be willing to swap her for another person, although they'll charge an admin fee, which is often an outrageous sum.

YORKSHIRE_GUY

If I were you I would not ask her for anything. It would have been far worse for her to stay with your son, blag a free holiday and then dump him.

But if her were her, I would offer to compensate you for the lost cash.

But if I were you and she did that, I wouldn't accept.

Everyone needs to retain their dignity!

The idea about a freind stepping in is a good one.

Talent

No. Simples.

Mzdaisy

How old is your son? Florida sounds lovely

Athens2012

I was in the same situation and many people suggested I should ask the ex-girlfriend for the money but this made me feel really weird. First, since I wasn't asking her to pay in the first place why should I ask for it when she broke off with my son. I am sure your son's girlfriend didn't do it on purpose to waste your money. I would just swallow the loss. Maybe he'll have a better time without her and she's done you a favour.

milvusvestal

It sounds as if the holiday was a treat for your son and his ex-girlfriend, as you hadn't asked them to contribute beforehand, so you have no right whatever to seek reimbursement, no matter how much it is. Maybe this will be a lesson to your son to choose his girlfriends more carefully.

If nothing else, this lesson will have taught you to be more wary when dealing with short-term relationships. After all, if the girl was your son's fiancee or wife, there would have been very much less likelihood of her running off as she has.