Here is the situation.
Our daughter flew across country after attendeing a conference.
Since it is Spring Break for her college, she was meeting up with a classmate in another state.
This classmate invited our daughter to join her family and another classmate for the rest of the week.
So last night there was a stop in SC. During this lay over.. the Airline offered a flying voucher for $500. to anyone willing to take the following flight..
Our daghter really wanted to do this, but did not because it was already going to be very late,
for this friend to pick her up (1:30 am).
If our daughter had taken the next flight, it would have been arriving at 3:30 am. She could have called and aske dher friend, but did not feel it was appropriate.
I told our daughter, I can understand, but that we were in agreement, that from now on, IF someone is coming here to Austin and flying in and we are picking them up, we will let that person know, if they ever want to take advantage of a situation like this, we will TOTALLY understand and be willing to make the arraingements to pick them up later or the next day, to please not hesitate to just ask us.
What do you think?
Would you be willing to change your plans so a friend or family could take advantage of a free flight or a fligjht voucher?
Ok to give more info.
The college friend she was visiting, does not have her own car and so her boyfriend was driving the friend to pick up our daughter. And drive them back to this girls fathers home.. No young children in the house, but our daughter had never met anyone other than this classmate.
The friend is the one that told our daughter to take the flight that would arrive at 1:30 am.. So our daughter already felt this young lady had been very kind about this visit.
I think it was around 10:00 pm when this offer was made, but our daughter felt like, since the boyfriend was already doing this huge favor, there was no way she was even going to mention it.
Our daughter is already pretty anxious about these social situations. She never wants to be a burden or put people out, even though she herself is very accommodating.. But it was a good moment for her to consider this for the future.
Thanks everyone for responding. I do know it would make a difference if you had young children, proximity to the airport.. all sorts of things...But for a college student $500 in air travel is a really big deal.
Oh hell yes! I'd be all over it. The difference between 1:30 am and 3:30 am is nothing! But then again I'm a super bargain hunter and slightly cheap. I love love love knowing I got a great deal... This would be one of those deals. Bums me out that she didn't get the voucher and I don't even know her!
Hmmm, sounds like another clear cut case of the Apple and the Tree to me.
She's a very considerate person who does not expect others to adjust to suit her needs.
Just like her Mama.
:)
Yes, I would completely change my plans so a friend could get the voucher!! Love, love free flights and upgrades.
If my picker-upper were willing, I'd sure do it. If I were the picker-upper, I'd honestly say whether I could do it or not.
I hope you're thanking your daughter for being so thoughtful! Sounds as if her parents have raised her right.
I agree that you can't ask someone to pick you up at that time. At 1:30 you can still get in a nights sleep - at 3:30 you are really disrupting the night. If your daughter really wanted to do it, she could ask the friend to pick her up early in the morning - maybe 6 am. It would be her waiting a while for her ride, but if it's worth it, then she should be the one to sacrifice her time.
What do I think....I think your daughter has exceptional consideration for other people. :)
Way to go !!!
Yes...within reason. In your daughter's case, I would have hung out, had breakfast & waited for a "decent" hour for my friend to pick me up....
after all, if they're willing to have their plan for picking me up changed, I would be flexible enough so that it wasn't in the wee hours of the morning!
Hey, my son ended up spending the night in the airport because he didn't pay enough attention when they called for the flight to board. He was playing a game on his computer!
She could have stayed up for a few hours and her friend could have picked her up in the morning. That would have been easier than all the hours my kid stayed awake!
So yeah, I would have done that if I had been her! She'll jump at the chance if there's a next time, now that she has thought it through!
Dawn
No way I would pick anyone up in the middle of the night. We need sleep.
I think your daughter was considerate to not ask. Many people would say they don't mind, then steam silently.
A cab would solve the dilemna.
Of course! I mean I would always want my friend to be able to save money. But then I am at home with kiddos and can usually move my schedule around if needed. But I say yes, for sure I would want them to save the moola. But your daughter was super considerate for doing what she did ;)
Yes, I would change my plans in a heartbeat, but I think your daughter was being very considerate. :)
yes, totally!!!
It's not everyday that these things happen. I would totally let people take advantage of an offer like that.
As long as I could get some advance notice, I wouldn't mind. I am with your daughter, though, I wouldn't feel comfortable asking a friend to pick me up even later in the middle of the night like that. I can see staying awake to pick someone at 1:30, but it would be tough for them to stay awake or have to wake up in the middle of the night to pick you up at 3:30. I probably wouldn't mind bothering my parents or sister, but they are immediate family. I think that was very considerate of your daughter!
Probably not. My time is worth something to me, and I don't usually pick people up in the middle of the night.
My response would have been,. fine, I will be there around 7 to pick you up.
Sure why not.
As long as they called and gave me a head's up.
Then, did it.
I would only do this for certain people/my kids/husband and their CLOSEST friend.
No hitchhiking friend who happens along willy nilly.
As far as getting phone calls at odd hours or late at night... I would assume it was my child. Calling for a reason.
If the lay over, was only for a short, time, then well they could wait at the airport. Not necessitating my picking them up.
I have done this soooo many times! The airline always provides a hotel room if its over-night. I fly back and forth to Indiana 4 or 5 times a year. I was telling my sis the other day that now that my daughter is 5 and a "seasoned" traveller, if they offer it on our flights from here on out, we are doing it! Totally worth it and I would never hold it against someone for taking advantage of a great opportunity.
What time did she find out about this offer?? that would affect it for me. I usually don't take calls after 10 pm ( or i should say i don' t take them happily) so if someone called me at midnight and said they where taking the next flight and could i come at say 7 am instead of 9 am I'm not sure i woudl have been happy. but i;'m an old lady lol, if it was a teen picking me up that might be diff.
What your daughter did was good. She is very kind hearted. She made the right decision. As for you. That is a good idea.
Updated
Your daugher made the right decision. You did also if the time comes.
I think 3:30 am is way too late/early to expect someone to pick you up at the airport (and I wouldn't let anyone I love hang out at the austin airport until I could pick them up. It is pretty creepy after 10). I think it would be selfish to take the flight dollars when it inconveniences someone else. Just my opinion, I think your daughter is a very thoughtful person and she did the right thing. Congratulations on raising such a wonderful daughter.
OMG 3am that is reserved for family and really close friends or emergencies. Even then it better be a real good reason. Only under certain circumstances like my daughters flight from Utah was due to arrive at midnight and it was late like after 1am. There was no other flight and she is my daughter. That sort of inposition should not be fostered on friends
I am like your daughter and never want to put anyone out, however, my husband tells me all the time, not to guess what other people are thinking and don't decide for them. That is, the only way you know if someone is willing to do you a favor is to ask, but don't be offended if they say no.
I personally would pick up a friend anytime of the day or night, because $500 is a lot of money. But you know, another option is to pay for an airport shuttle, which may have only cost $30-$50, and you'd still come out way ahead! That would be for a drop off location about 30 min away, depending on the city. May be something to check out the next time ahead of the trip.
No. I would not want someone to expect me to pick them up at the airport at 3am. It is also too late for your daughter to be out. It would make her too tired the next day and she would not be good company. It is not worth the money. She is already getting there late enough.
You gave a lot of info, but I can't give a definitive answer. Like many of the other folks who have responded... within REASON I would be fine with it. But:
a) Who was actually picking her up? Her friend, or their family/parents?
b) How far in advance would she have been calling to ask them about this (might they have already been walking out the door en route to the airport?)
c) Did they have plans the following day that would be affected? --work? an event before noon? driving anywhere?
d) Are there small kids in the home? Waking a baby or screwing up a sleep deprived mom's sleep for that on short notice, I would not do.
e) How tired was she already from traveling? Would she have felt safe or would she have felt vulnerable hanging out a few extra hours in the wee hours, alone, and tired? Was she afraid she might fall asleep there? That would be kinda scary---to be asleep ALONE someplace in public like that.
If it was me, and I was asking my husband to pick me up later to earn some flying credit/cash... that would be one thing. But if I was already asking (and receiving) a favor of someone else to begin with--that would color my opinion about asking for further accommodation.
