Guy Takes An Imaginary Flight To Italy, His Story Falls Apart As GF Checks The Flight Tracker

Relationships should be built on trust, love, and care. Obviously, some of these pillars won’t always be as strong as they should be, but ultimately, the couple decides whether to work on them.

But some things can’t be fixed with time, patience, and hard work. Some people wave big red flags and then try to hide them at the last minute. That’s what happened in a story shared on r/relationship_advice, where a woman discovered that her boyfriend’s supposed family trip didn’t even show up on flight-tracking websites, leading to some rather unfortunate conversations. Here’s what happened.

Relationships between people from two different countries come with their own hurdles

View from an airplane window over clouds during a flight to Italy at sunset

Kai-Chieh Chan / Pexels (not the actual photo)

But a woman never expected that her boyfriend, who was supposedly going on a trip to visit family, would lie about his whereabouts for the entire trip

Screenshot of text post about a boyfriend taking a flight to Italy

Screenshot of text post detailing boarding times and flight plans for a trip to Italy

Screenshot of text post discussing looking up departures on a flight tracker app

A worried woman checks her phone to use a flight tracker app

wayhomestudio / Magnific (not the actual photo)

A text story explaining there were no flights to Italy scheduled around the time the boyfriend claimed to travel.

Text snippet describing a phone call with a guy who claims he landed at Brindisi airport on a redirected flight.

Screenshot of text detailing how the girlfriend checked the airport arrivals site to verify a flight tracker story.

Text post describing a woman checking an airport website to see if a flight tracker listed any trips to Italy.

A man in a denim jacket checking a flight tracker board at an airport terminal before taking a flight to Italy.

standret / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Online post text discussing missing flight tracker info and relationship doubts about an imaginary flight to Italy.

Social media text question asking if an unlisted flight tracker result means being lied to about a trip to Italy.

The man was a pitch-perfect example of a manipulator, according to experts

While the trip was the biggest indicator of a lie, the couple was apparently reaching what experts call the “90-day mark,” when they claim the mask starts to slip. According to this theory, during the first 12 weeks of dating, people tend to behave their best, often while still in the honeymoon phase. However, after three months, red flags may show up, and hidden lives become obvious.

Moreover, the boyfriend also showed behavior psychologists call “trickle truth.” This is when someone reveals the smallest possible detail of a lie after being caught with undeniable evidence, then invents another lie to cover up the rest, and so on. In this case, every time something new came to light, he changed his story using a “yes, but…” strategy.

And, of course, there was also the obvious gaslighting. Psychologist Jennifer Freyd developed the DARVO concept, which stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. This manipulation tactic involves denying their actions, attacking the person confronting them, and shifting the roles of victim and offender. The boyfriend followed this pattern when he immediately told the woman she had trust issues.

Worried woman sitting at a table with a laptop, looking anxious while using a flight tracker for an imaginary flight.

Drazen Zigic / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Geographically, the man’s lies didn’t even make any sense

If it weren’t for the narrator’s sleuthing skills, which came from a place of concern rather than suspicion, the man might have kept up the lie, even though none of it made sense. Apparently, a train journey from Nice, France, to Calabria in southern Italy would take at least 15 to 20 hours. This made his claim that he flew to France just to take a day-long train ride to the tip of Italy even less believable.

Plus, the man tried to explain why the flights weren’t showing up on flight-tracking websites, though that excuse didn’t make much sense either. Aviation experts say aircraft tracking relies on systems like ADS-B transponders, while public flight schedules provide additional information. A last-minute destination swap from Ibiza to Brindisi without any schedule changes would raise serious operational issues in European airspace.

And from here on out, experts recommend that when dealing with chronically dishonest partners, it’s often better to cut off all contact completely. This helps prevent hoovering, a manipulation tactic in which someone tries to draw a former partner back into a relationship. But tell us, Pandas, would you have handled this situation as gracefully? Let us know!

Netizens were quick to point out that non-trackable flights just are not a thing in Europe

Comment thread from a flight attendant explaining that zero flights take off without being visible on a flight tracker.

Online forum response explaining why a missing flight on a flight tracker indicates an imaginary flight to Italy story.

Reddit comment analyzing an imaginary flight to Italy route and questioning untraceable planes.

Reddit user joke about ending a relationship after checking a flight tracker for a fake flight to Italy.

Comment discussing redirecting planes and verifying details on a flight tracker for an imaginary flight to Italy.

Online discussion suggesting asking for a location and using a flight tracker for an imaginary flight to Italy.

Reddit thread advising to request live location after caught lying about an imaginary flight to Italy.

Online discussion about relationship lies and using a flight tracker to verify travel plans.

Reddit comment thread discussing aviation regulations and how a flight tracker exposes dishonesty.

Social media comments highlighting gaslighting accusations after checking a flight tracker.

User explanation of aviation tracking systems and flight tracker technology in a online thread.

Online commentary offering advice and support after a lie is exposed via a flight tracker.

Screenshot of online comments about a guy who took an imaginary flight to Italy

Comments discussing a guy whose story about an imaginary flight to Italy fell apart

Thoughtful guy sitting on a train, representing a fake flight to Italy story

tdyuvbanova / Pexels (not the actual photo)

In an update, the woman shares that the man kept trying to contact her, but ultimately, she didn’t fall for his manipulation tactics and lies

Update post about the guy who lied about taking an imaginary flight to Italy

Text snippet explaining details after GF checks flight tracker on guy fake trip to Italy

Text snippet where a gf checks the flight tracker and realizes her guy lied about taking a flight to Italy.

Text snippet explaining plans to return items before a guy arrives back after taking an imaginary flight to Italy.

Text snippet promising an update about Friday following a story about a guy who took an imaginary flight to Italy.

u/karmaismybff

Stressed woman holding her head while working, illustrating how gf checks the flight tracker on a guy.

yanalya / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Many readers were concerned about the dog’s well-being, but the author assured them that the pup was safe with plenty of food and water at the man’s home

Comment thread about pet care after a story where a gf checks the flight tracker on a guy lying about his trip.

A comment about a guy who takes an imaginary flight to Italy discussing checking the flight tracker.

Online comment advising a girlfriend to investigate after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Social media comment telling a girlfriend her partner is cheating after taking an imaginary flight to Italy.

Detailed comment explaining airline routes to Brindisi after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Comment reacting to a girlfriend playing detective after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Online comment advising to send a pet sitting invoice regarding a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

User comment pointing out a fake trip and lie in a story about a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Comment discussing flight numbers and tracker details after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Encouraging comment to move on after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy and lies to his girlfriend.

Comment advising to end the relationship after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy and continues lying.

A comment supporting a woman whose boyfriend lied about taking a flight to Italy.

A guy making a confused expression while talking on his phone, related to an imaginary flight to Italy story.

shurkin_son / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Yet in another update, the woman shared all the lies the man ended up telling to try to make sense of his whereabouts

A story update post about a guy lying about taking a flight to Italy.

A post update where a girlfriend confronts a guy lying about his flight to Italy via text.

A post update detailing angry texts from a guy whose imaginary flight to Italy lie was exposed.

A screenshot of text recounting a confrontation about a suspicious flight to Italy and an imaginary flight story.

Confused woman talking on the phone in her living room while suspecting a fake flight to Italy story.

benzoix / Pexels (not the actual photo)

Text post describing a boyfriend offering excuses about taking a flight to Italy and a long train ride.

Text excerpt expressing emotional difficulty in thinking clearly after discovering a fake flight to Italy.

Screen capture of text detailing how a boyfriend lied about his flight tracker info and location in Italy.

Text post update where the gf checks the flight tracker after her boyfriend lies about taking a flight to Italy.

Confused guy talking on his phone while on a laptop, symbolizing a fake flight to Italy story.

benzoix / Magnific (not the actual photo)

Text post about breaking up with a boyfriend who lied about an imaginary flight to Italy.

Text post reassuring readers about dog safety after gf checks the flight tracker on her lying partner.

Final text update concluding the story of a guy taking an imaginary flight to Italy.

A final status update post related to a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy drama.

u/karmaismybff

A relaxed woman sitting at an office desk symbolizing relief from GF checks the flight tracker story.

benzoix / Magnific (not the actual photo)

People online were happy she didn’t fall for his lies, and that she prioritized her own boundaries

Online comments supporting a woman after a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Comments discussing flight details and airports in a story where a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Supportive online comments validating the GF checks the flight tracker situation.

Online discussion about a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy and lies to his girlfriend.

User comment criticizing deceitful behavior in a story where a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Comment suggesting checking public arrest records related to the story of a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

User sharing personal experience about deceit in response to a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Comment advising to ignore calls from a lying partner in the story where a guy takes an imaginary flight to Italy.

Reddit comment wishing good luck after GF checks the flight tracker and exposes imaginary flight story.

Reddit user praise after GF checks the flight tracker and exposes a fake flight to Italy.

Supportive online comment regarding a relationship breakup over an imaginary flight to Italy.