How to handle an inconvenient but expensive and unrefundable gift?

Ooh, boy.

I think you need to tell them exactly what you are telling us here. To foist an expensive trip on you without your permission is not very nice, when it comes right down to it.

Your brothers are always on your case to travel more. That is telling; they are pushing their agenda on you.

Be calm; be nice; but tell them straight-out that they should have asked you first (ditto for family friend.)

Can they afford to swallow the hefty refund or exchange fee? If not, they should have thought of that before they went ahead and made big, costly, plans (particularly with time constraints) for you.

Have there been similar incidents or is this a one-off?

The brothers who purchased the trip (the twins) are a little bit more impulsive and likely to impose than us older brothers (me and one other). They are true planet-hoppers but also carry the air that many young adults do having everything figured out and thinking they can teach older people a thing or two.

Not that they’re bad guys, I just think they’re so involved in their own perceptions that they have a hard time seeing the world through other people’s eyes and understanding that not everyone shares the desires and goals they have for their own lives.

Well, now’s your chance (lucky you…just what you’d choose to do today) to educate them. It’s called a” solipsistic” view of the world and the sooner they stop, the better off they (and their nearest and dearest) will be.

Do it asap. Glad it’s you and not me…confronting well-meaning but misguided family members is not fun, but remind yourself that they will never pull this particular “generous suprise” on you again.

Contact the airline and see if you can fly at a later date, next year. It may cost a few dollars ( up to $150 ).
Remind the twins that is your life to live and not their perception howt you should living.

Craigslist sell it away. Use the cash to buy your brothers some manners.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies The ticket in @drdoombot‘s name is NOT a Craigslist item. It must be used by the person with matching identification.

There are charities that use tickets for deserving people. The airline might be part of that program.

Any gift that’s meant to force a life change on someone is apt to be unwelcome, whether it’s a puppy, an inconveniently timed vacation with major hidden costs, or an intended “replacement” for an item that the owner doesn’t want to give up. (“Your old purse is so raggedy that I was sure you’d like a new one.”)

Regardless of their good intentions, they were not really thinking of you when they came up with this. You can be sure that it wasn’t their intent to make you unhappy, but they own this completely, and you are not responsible for their possibly hurt feelings when you decline to accept.

I agree with Gail. You must be kind but firm.

And come back and tell us what happened.

Meh I’d change my plans and go. Sometimes we put thing’s off and forget to live in the now. Do it and have fun!

Be candid, but not “in your face” with your brothers. You might not enjoy the forced trip as much as you should. That would be a pity.

Tell them. Exactly as you have here. You could plead with the airline to allow you to transfer the tickets to oen of them and maybe they can use the tickets and get you some for a time that suits you. You said they do travel. I hope it works out.

Pity they bought tickets that are so rigid in terms of alterations.

Checked with Hotwire; tickets cannot be refunded, exchanged or transferred to another person. And they’re not non-stop either!

I really think you should transfer this problem back to the source.

I think it depends on the reason. My grandson recently had to cancel tickets purchased by his girlfriends family because her physician said she wasn’t able to take the pressure. She is under treatment for depression. After many phone calls, and a note from her doctor, the family got a refund.