AITA for refusing to let my fiancé come on my trip & instead taking someone else?

Picture a 27-year-old German woman in America, eagerly planning her annual summer trip home, funded by her mom. Her fiancé, a regular companion for three years, shocks her by declining to join this time, even after she bought tickets. Heartbroken but practical, she invites a Ukrainian work friend to use the extra ticket, with her mom’s blessing. But when her fiancé flips and wants back in, she holds firm—it’s too late. Now, he’s fuming, claiming it was “his” ticket, leaving her guilty and torn.

This Reddit saga is a sharp tangle of love, loyalty, and last-minute changes. Was she wrong to move on, or is her fiancé reaping his choice? It’s a story that buzzes with travel dreams, hurt feelings, and the sting of poor communication.

‘AITA for refusing to let my fiancé come on my trip & instead taking someone else?’

This Reddit post unveils a woman’s clash with her fiancé over a trip gone awry. Here’s her story, raw and unfiltered:

Me (27F) and my fiancé (29M) have been together for 4 years and got engaged last September. I am German and moved here (America) 9 years ago, so my whole family is back home. Because of this every year my mama gives me money to fly back home for the summer. I always tell her I can pay for tickets myself but she always insists on paying so she “can guarantee I come and visit her”.

Last week she sent me money for me and my fiancé to come visit this summer. He has been coming with me for the past 3 year and we always leave and return on the same days each year. So I bought the tickets and then told him. He said that he actually didn’t want to go this year which made me upset because it would be the first time we visit engaged. I tried convincing him but gave up after a bit cause I can’t force him to go.

I told my mama what happened and she was sad and said that I can either use the ticket to take a friend or refund it. At work on Monday I was talking to my work friend (24F) about how I was visiting home this summer. She said that it would be nice to visit home and that she usually does too but is unable to this year (she’s from the Ukraine).

I suggested she come to Germany with me since I have an extra ticket and she won’t be doing anything. After some talking, planning etc she accepted. When I got home I was going to tell fiancé but before I got a chance he told me that he’s changed his mind and he’ll come.

I told him it was too late and I just promised the ticket to someone else. He got upset and started saying that it was his ticket from my mama and that it was only a couple days how could I replace him like that. I told him that he’s the one that declined and he just left. Ive been feeling really bad and am wondering if AITA?
This travel tiff is a classic case of communication gaps and consequences. The woman’s fiancé had every right to decline the trip, but his abrupt reversal after she made alternate plans—without consulting her first—puts him in the wrong. Her decision to buy tickets before confirming his plans was a misstep, but his clear refusal gave her reasonable grounds to invite a friend, especially with her mother’s approval. His claim to “his” ticket ignores the fact that her family funded it, not him.

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Relationship therapist Dr. John Gottman notes, “Clear communication prevents resentment; assumptions breed conflict” (Source). A 2023 study in Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy found that 57% of partner disputes stem from unilateral decisions (Souce). The fiancé’s tantrum reflects poor accountability, while her guilt shows care for the relationship.

She should stand by her friend’s ticket but offer to help her fiancé buy his own if he’s serious, fostering a talk about future plans. “Compromise builds trust,” Gottman advises. He needs to own his indecision and clarify his initial refusal. Both should discuss trip planning protocols before marriage.

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Here’s what Redditors had to say:

Reddit chimed in with takes as bold as a boarding call. Here’s what the crowd had to say:

jrm1102 − NTA. He declined. If he wants to come he should buy his own ticket.

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BatDamon1 − NTA. He declined so you invited someone else, on top of that you actually tried to get him to change his mind, if he gets mad now that he can't that's on him. You should go ahead and continue with that plan to bring your friend and if he really wants to go then he can buy his own ticket there and back.

I'm not gonna tell you to rethink your engagement like some of the comments are, but I do think you should in the future you should encourage your s/o to make sure he's 100% of his plans as you shouldn't be expected to wait for him to suddenly change his mind.

Dork86 − NTA. He doesn't feel like going and when you ask a friend to come, he suddenly changed his mind? Suspicious. His ticket from your mama? Heck no, not anymore if he's unwilling to go. Your mama even told you to bring a friend instead. He refused, so you got a friend to join. If he still wants to come, he can buy his own ticket.

Capathy − ESH. It’s weird to me that very few people are talking about how you bought the tickets *before* confirming anything with him. Going on the same dates the last few years is not a good basis to assume he would be willing and available this year, and you really should have had that conversation with him before making commitments.

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If you had done that like you should’ve, he would have had a few more days to think it over. He’s an a**hole for throwing a tantrum when he already said he didn’t want to go, but the entire situation could have been avoided if you didn’t take his availability as a given.

mse − There's a saying 'When you play dumb games, you win stupid prizes'. He played a dumb game by saying he did not want to go, and his stupid prize is that he .... doesn't get to go!. NTA.

[Reddit User] − Info: did he tell you why he didn't want to go initially?

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SydneyS0717 − NTA. The ticket was offered and your fiancé declined so, you made different plans. He changed his mind too late and must accept the consequences.

PeggyHW − NTA.. It's a shame... but all on him.. He didn't want to go.. He's not going.

Agik4890 − I'll say NTA but you guys both have some serious communication issues that you need to sort. You bought tickets without DOUBLE CHECKING that he was available. You offered another person a ticket without asking your partner if he was sure. Whilst the second example is simply a polite thing to do and you're technically not in the wrong as he had said no once, I still think you two need to sort some s**t out before you marry.

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[Reddit User] − OP NTA. You asked your fiance, he said no. You asked your co-worker, she said yes. There's an American saying 'You snooze, you lose'. In other words, the fiance should have thought about his answer before saying no and now he's screwed.

These Reddit opinions are as sharp as a passport stamp, but do they miss the woman’s oversight in buying tickets early?

This story is a lively mix of freedom, fidelity, and fumbled plans. The woman’s choice to take a friend to Germany honored her fiancé’s refusal, but his late change lit a fuse. Could a joint ticket hunt or better talk have saved the day, or was her move the only fair play? What would you do if your partner bailed then backtracked? Share your thoughts—have you ever faced a travel plan fallout?

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