When I travel for work it ends up being pretty wall-to-wall. I do at least text my wife randomly and try to FaceTime with the kids every couple of days but it’s not “just like office work”. Once conference events are over for the day I try to meet up with someone I wouldn’t normally get to see face to face, catch up on email so I’m not buried after getting back, etc. It’s fun but exhausting.

OP’s mention of even thinking about hopping on a plane makes me wonder if he’s so over-the-top that she doesn’t want to risk getting pulled in and spending her work trip as an emotional basket case herself.

If he trusts her he should apologize, wish her a good trip, and give her some space.