Man abandons girlfriend at airport after she forgets her passport at her, couple’s vacation to Japan becomes solo trip: ‘I’m not going to miss out over your mistake’

Welcome, tea-sippin' sisters. All well-seasoned travelers have their own rituals to ensure that they will not forget anything on their trip. Some people write lists so that they can check off items one by one as they pack them up. There are even checklists available online that can be printed out and adjusted to the traveler's preferences. While it is certainly inconvenient to leave your tooth brush at home, it is not the end of the world if you do because you can buy a replacement pretty much everywhere — even if it's not the one that you're used to. However, there are some things you simply cannot travel without — namely, your passport. 

In our story today, a woman realizes far too late that she has left her passport at home. Her boyfriend, not wanting to waste money or miss out on a long-awaited adventure, decides to go to their planned Japan trip on his own. While she may have left some important documentation behind, he left his partner behind, and this relationship may not make it through to NYE in 2026. Get all the details down below!

Author image for Ely Bulnes Ely Bulnes
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  • 01
    "We were both obviously upset, but I checked in anyway and told her that I'll still go without her. She got upset and asked me why I'd abandon her over a simple mistake, and I told her that I wasn't going to miss out on a trip just because she planned poorly."
    Via Aarti Pawar
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  • 02
    r/AITAH u/Aitahgftravel • 2d AITAH for going on a trip without my girlfriend since she forgot her passport?
    Via u/
  • 03
    My girlfriend (23F) and I (25M) planned a week-long trip overseas in Japan during this winter. I reminded her the day before we left a few days ago to remember to pack her passport and she said she would. Anyway, the first airport we left from (the airport in our home town) was domestic meaning it only served flights in our country, the United States, so we both just showed our state IDs for that and flew through just fine. When we were checking in for

    I cannot imagine going on a trip abroad and not patting down my pocket every five minutes to make sure my passport's there.

    Via u/
  • 04
    the second flight though, the international one, (we booked tickets for the two flights separately for some reason) they asked to see her passport. She said she didn't have it and told me she realized midway during the first flight that she forgot to pack it. Since we were far away from our home she couldn't just go home quickly to grab her passport.

    Homegirl realized halfway through the flight and kept it to herself? Surely the sooner you address the issue, the easier it is to solve.

    Via u/
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  • 05
    We were both obviously upset but I checked in anyway and told her that I'll still go without her. She got upset and asked me why I'd abandon her over a simple mistake and I told her that I wasn't going to miss out on a trip just because she planned poorly. I told her that since we had a mutual friend (24M) who lived in the city we were in currently and she could ask him if she could stay with him and explore for a week, and then I'd catch her when flying back and we'd go home. She agreed but was
    Via u/
  • 06
    A few hours ago | FaceTimed her and we talked for a bit and our friend joined in the call and said he was shocked I'd abandon her like that and that he was disappointed in me. My girlfriend agreed with him. Am I really a bad boyfriend for still going on this trip? Like, if I chose to not go anyway it wouldn't even be benefiting her at all really, it would only be hurting me. AITAH for this? 5,205 3,560 4 ☑

    His logic is sound, but it sounds like they are not really on the same page. He's not wrong for going on the trip, and she's not wrong for being upset. They have different values. 

    Via u/
  • 07
    theglossiernerd. 2d Why can't she fly home, get the passport, and meet you in Japan? ETA: I'm in a position where this would just be an expensive mistake but everyone saying that she could just have her passport FedEx'd overnight to her and rebook the Japan flight from the city she's already in makes much more sense, my bad. Still think the gf should just take the L and meet him in Japan though, if this is a legit post. They can always extend their trip by a few days. Reply 3 9k

    Ah, yes, everyone just has an extra $2000 lying around. 

    Via u/theglossiernerd
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  • 08
    HuMcK⚫ 2d I'm guessing that would be an extra $1000 or so, minimum, if they even had any flights with empty seats available since it's around a major holiday. 236

    It would definitely be more than $1k given the holidays and the last-minute nature. 

    Via u/HuMcK
  • 09
    Main-comp1234 • 2d Because they prob didn't have $1K to waste on another plane ticket. Most young people these days book the cheapest flights which includes no refunds/alterations. 41
    Via u/Main-comp1234
  • 10
    Squeezinthejuice69 • 2d Who leaves the house on a international trip and doesnt check to see if they got your passport on the way out. Phone keys wallet passport lets go Reply 12k
    Via u/Squeezinthejuice69
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  • 11
    Martin_Z_Martian • 2d Yep. We always do a last minute passport check in the car before we leave. Everyone has to physically touch their passports before we pull out of the driveway. 394

    And another check while checking in, and another check at security, and another check while getting an overpriced sandwich, and another check in the bathroom, and at least 3 more checks while sitting at the gate…

    Via u/Martin_Z_Martian
  • 12
    Lady-of-Shivershale ⚫ 2d We physically show each other our passports. Twice. Once while in our home and then again just before we get in the taxi. Too big of a mistake not to. 212
    Via u/Lady-of-Shivershale
  • 13
    Big DadNads420 • 2d My grandpa was an airforce vet and DRILLED this idea of having pre flight style checklists into me. Every time I leave the house I subconsciously do a little pre flight inspection checking to make sure my pockets are in order. This goes double and triple for any special occasion like international travel. 41
    Via u/BigDadNads420
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  • 14
    the_myleg_fish • 2d I check my passport like every 5 minutes because I'm so paranoid. In the house, at the door, inside the car, on the way to the airport, outside of the airport, inside of the airport, after security, on the plane, etc. Like my brain never stops Imao 100 B

    I found my fellow anxious traveler. 

    Via u/the_myleg_fish
  • 15
    Professional_Pop8867 • 2d I mean if I was her I would be annoyed you went, but also like... I'd be annoyed at myself. If I was her and really thought about it, I wouldn't want my partner to miss an international trip bc of my mistake. NTA Reply 2.2k
    Via u/Professional_Pop8867
  • 16
    Lilpanda21 2d Yeah unless OP booked a refundable ticket they'd lose money and an experience because gf didn't care to double check passport was packed. 543
    Via u/Lilpanda21
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  • 17
    BakeMaterial7901 • 2d Yeah, for sure, plus like........she figured it out halfway there but didn't say anything? That would me off the most. They could have looked at a resolution sooner if she'd said something. It also didn't occur to her to speak to people in the airport the minute they landed and look at what options she had to resolve the situation?
    Via u/BakeMaterial7901
  • 18
    She could have hit the customer service desk for both airlines she'd flown with and organised to go home ASAP and changed her Japan flight for however many hours into the future once she had her passport. And lost maybe a day and some money rather than most of the trip.
    Via u/BakeMaterial7901
  • 19
    23 and either so used to being babied, she doesn't think OR was trying to be manipulative, I have no idea. I have textbook ADHD but I am all over where my passport is when I go on an international flight - I'm looking for it and doing the bulk of my packing in the week before I travel. ... ← 128
    Via u/BakeMaterial7901
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  • 20
    Retot⚫2d Honestly I dont think the relationship will survive this ← Reply ☑ 147
    Via u/Retot
  • 21
    Talk-O-Boy 2d 100% this. I mean sure, she was the one who messed up. But like... now you get to explore Japan alone. You can't really share your experiences with her because it'll just remind her of the fact that you left her alone, and all of the activities she missed out on.

    There's no way she'll be able to think of this New Year's without remembering the sting of being left behind. 

    Via u/Talk-O-Boy
  • 22
    She has to spend a week with another dude who already agrees that what you did was messed up. Moving forward, she now knows that if she makes a mistake, she will have to deal with that on her own. She can't rely on you to be there for her. You got your trip to Japan, but like... just do to your relationship?? did you 843

    His decisions wasn't wrong, and it had logic, but it was selfish and cold. 

    Via u/Talk-O-Boy
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  • 23
    bluegemstar ⚫ 2d Unpopular opinion, but the whole point I travel now is to share it with my best friend and life partner, who happen to be the same person. She would be devastated and really hard on herself for this- No way in h | I'm leaving her. We laugh about it eventually, and I take her home so we can plan our next adventure. Reply Д e 13
    Via u/bluegemstar

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boyfriend passport new years toxic reddit story relationships girlfriend couples Travel love entitled breakup reddit thread red flag Reddit airplane dating vacation
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