Doesn't excuse the fact that's its really shitty and disgusting. If he kept postponing, that's actually even worse. To send your kid away on an expected vacation far away from home, then, near the end of it, reveal to him that he's not going back, without ever discussing it with hhad is just despicable. "Oh hey, your entire life and all the friends you had? Yeah, you dont get to go back to that. Hope you havent spent all this time excited to do so." That's the kind of shit that could lead to your kid cutting you out of their life.