wh1 Posted May 20, 2012 Posted May 20, 2012 A few months ago, I met someone though a dating site. We have progressed to the stage where we are e-mailing and chatting on Facebook. She lives in Switzerland and was planning to come over to England, but she decided at the start of May that she would pay for me to fly to Switzerland instead. She was keen for me to book it soon, and I have now booked a weeks' flight with easyjet without thinking about the practicalities. She is unwilling to cancel it as it will cost her more money, but is now expecting me to pay for the flight in return for arranging everything else. I am aware there are scammers out there but I think it is unlikely that her profile is made up. The way the easyjet rules work mean that a flight cannot be refunded 24 hours after booking, so if she is genuine it will be her money wasted if I don't go. What do you think is the best thing to do?
january2011 Posted May 21, 2012 Posted May 21, 2012 Go, but make sure you have enough money to pay for your own accommodation and other expenses. If nothing else, you can have a holiday in Switzerland.
TMichaels Posted May 21, 2012 Posted May 21, 2012 ...she decided at the start of May that she would pay for me to fly to Switzerland instead. ...She is unwilling to cancel it as it will cost her more money, but is now expecting me to pay for the flight in return for arranging everything else. ...The way the easyjet rules work mean that a flight cannot be refunded 24 hours after booking, so if she is genuine it will be her money wasted if I don't go. What do you think is the best thing to do? I don't understand. Who's paying for what? One minute you say she's paying for the flight, the next you say she expects you to pay for it. (?) What does "arranging everything else" mean? Have you definitely decided not to go? Best, TMichaels
Author wh1 Posted May 21, 2012 Author Posted May 21, 2012 I don't understand. Who's paying for what? One minute you say she's paying for the flight, the next you say she expects you to pay for it. (?) What does "arranging everything else" mean? Have you definitely decided not to go? Best, TMichaels At first, she booked the flight and paid for that. I later decided that, as it is the first time we are meeting, it would be better to cut down to a few days. She got rather annoyed and told me it would cost extra money to change the flight - I have looked at the easyjet regulations and this is true. She would still like to carry on with the original idea of a week in Switzerland but is now expecting me to pay for the flight. "Arranging everything else" means in return for paying the flight she will arrange accommodation, places to go, and so forth. She claims that she will let me stay at her house but I would like to stay in a hotel before I consider this. I will also need a way of getting back or staying somewhere else if we fall out with each other. I would like to go, but will need to make certain of everything before I commit to it.
Professor X Posted May 21, 2012 Posted May 21, 2012 At first, she booked the flight and paid for that. I later decided that, as it is the first time we are meeting, it would be better to cut down to a few days. She got rather annoyed and told me it would cost extra money to change the flight - I have looked at the easyjet regulations and this is true. She would still like to carry on with the original idea of a week in Switzerland but is now expecting me to pay for the flight. "Arranging everything else" means in return for paying the flight she will arrange accommodation, places to go, and so forth. She claims that she will let me stay at her house but I would like to stay in a hotel before I consider this. I will also need a way of getting back or staying somewhere else if we fall out with each other. I would like to go, but will need to make certain of everything before I commit to it. Why are you so heavy? Go there for a week, I can't see how it can be a scam if she paid for the ticket. If you guys won't get it working, just find a hotel or an inn to stay at, should be easy this time a year, so it's not something you should plan ahead. Flow with it man, it's just a week.
TMichaels Posted May 22, 2012 Posted May 22, 2012 (edited) At first, she booked the flight and paid for that. I later decided that, as it is the first time we are meeting, it would be better to cut down to a few days. She got rather annoyed and told me it would cost extra money to change the flight - I have looked at the easyjet regulations and this is true. She would still like to carry on with the original idea of a week in Switzerland but is now expecting me to pay for the flight. "Arranging everything else" means in return for paying the flight she will arrange accommodation, places to go, and so forth. She claims that she will let me stay at her house but I would like to stay in a hotel before I consider this. I will also need a way of getting back or staying somewhere else if we fall out with each other. I don't understand why there was some discussion beforehand about your trip as far as how long you'd visit, who's paying for what and so on. But, none the less... I wouldn't stay at her house. You haven't even met this woman. If she wants to take issue with that, let her. I *don't think* you're being overly cautious. However, I would pay for the cost of your hotel yourself as she offered you accommodation and it's your choice/decision not to take her up on it. You might want to consider not telling her where you are staying ahead of time and just tell her you haven't made a decision yet, but will call her after you arrive and meet up somewhere for a coffee or something like that and you can take it from there though I have a feeling she's going to insist in meeting you at the airport -- after all, she will know when your flight arrives as she booked your ticket. I would offer to split the cost of the flight with her. I checked Easyjet and even the most expensive tickets both ways (return) from London to say, Geneva are only the equivalent of 224 US dollars or 142 pounds so it's not like the ticket is costing a ton of money -- even less if you split it. I don't understand, though. How exactly are you supposed to get the ticket if she paid for it? Has she sent it to you? What's to say that she can't cancel the return in a fit of rage in the event the two of you don't hit it off, or you decide you want to bail out early? As far as not getting stranded, do your homework ahead of time in terms of wherever it is you're going. You ought to be able to get a cheap Easyjet flight back home. No matter where you're going there will be a way to get from the city centre to the airport -- shuttle bus, train, taxi, etc. Be sure to take a credit card and/or ATM card and make sure they will work where you're going. You may need access to some extra cash to tide you over if things go south. If you don't like how things are going, then don't be silly. Either spend the rest of the week seeing the sights by yourself, or book a flight home. You don't need to tell her your plans if you don't want to. Finally, no matter what, make sure you make someone aware of your travel plans as well as give them contact information for this girl before you leave. I know all of this may sound paranoid, but better safe than sorry. I would like to go, but will need to make certain of everything before I commit to it. Agree 100%. Do your homework ahead of time and think through what your game plan will be depending on various scenarios including enjoying yourself if things go well. It is possible "to go with flow" but also have a "Plan B" just in case. I think you'll feel more comfortable if you do. HTH, and keep us posted on how it goes. TMichaels Edited May 22, 2012 by TMichaels
Author wh1 Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 Why are you so heavy? Go there for a week, I can't see how it can be a scam if she paid for the ticket. If you guys won't get it working, just find a hotel or an inn to stay at, should be easy this time a year, so it's not something you should plan ahead. Flow with it man, it's just a week. I did not realise that it is easy as that. Thanks for letting me know.
Author wh1 Posted May 23, 2012 Author Posted May 23, 2012 I don't understand why there was some discussion beforehand about your trip as far as how long you'd visit, who's paying for what and so on. But, none the less... I wouldn't stay at her house. You haven't even met this woman. If she wants to take issue with that, let her. I *don't think* you're being overly cautious. However, I would pay for the cost of your hotel yourself as she offered you accommodation and it's your choice/decision not to take her up on it. You might want to consider not telling her where you are staying ahead of time and just tell her you haven't made a decision yet, but will call her after you arrive and meet up somewhere for a coffee or something like that and you can take it from there though I have a feeling she's going to insist in meeting you at the airport -- after all, she will know when your flight arrives as she booked your ticket. I would offer to split the cost of the flight with her. I checked Easyjet and even the most expensive tickets both ways (return) from London to say, Geneva are only the equivalent of 224 US dollars or 142 pounds so it's not like the ticket is costing a ton of money -- even less if you split it. I don't understand, though. How exactly are you supposed to get the ticket if she paid for it? Has she sent it to you? What's to say that she can't cancel the return in a fit of rage in the event the two of you don't hit it off, or you decide you want to bail out early? As far as not getting stranded, do your homework ahead of time in terms of wherever it is you're going. You ought to be able to get a cheap Easyjet flight back home. No matter where you're going there will be a way to get from the city centre to the airport -- shuttle bus, train, taxi, etc. Be sure to take a credit card and/or ATM card and make sure they will work where you're going. You may need access to some extra cash to tide you over if things go south. If you don't like how things are going, then don't be silly. Either spend the rest of the week seeing the sights by yourself, or book a flight home. You don't need to tell her your plans if you don't want to. Finally, no matter what, make sure you make someone aware of your travel plans as well as give them contact information for this girl before you leave. I know all of this may sound paranoid, but better safe than sorry. Agree 100%. Do your homework ahead of time and think through what your game plan will be depending on various scenarios including enjoying yourself if things go well. It is possible "to go with flow" but also have a "Plan B" just in case. I think you'll feel more comfortable if you do. HTH, and keep us posted on how it goes. TMichaels Thank you for the advice. With regard to the ticket, she has sent me a booking confirmation, but I will need to find out more about how this works.
carhill Posted May 23, 2012 Posted May 23, 2012 EasyJet terms and conditions IMO, don't make this more complex than it is. Simply be aware of how to get home and make a cancel-able hotel reservation in the destination area. Verify that your mobile phone works at the destination. Since she offered to book the flight, and has done so, that's on her. She was proactive about it. Appreciate it appropriately. Travel is fun. Don't make it 'work'. Enjoy 2
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