[Grammar] Are you going to travel this/next Friday?

[beachboy]

First question - Suppose today is Saturday. Is it natural to ask somebody Are you going to travel this Friday? It sounds strange to me, I'd rather ask Are you going to travel next Friday?
Second question - Suppose today is Wednesday, February 12. If somebody asks me beachboy, are you going to travel next Friday?, do they refer to Friday this week (Feb 14) or Friday next week (Feb 21)?

 

[jutfrank]

We would naturally understand two different things.

Confusingly for learners, this Friday means the next one and next Friday means the one next week, i.e., the one after the next one.

They would mean February 21.

 

[Yankee]

First question - Suppose today is Saturday. Is it natural to ask somebody Are you going to travel this Friday? It sounds strange to me, I'd rather ask Are you going to travel next Friday? Agree.
Second question - Suppose today is Wednesday, February 12. If somebody asks me beachboy, are you going to travel next Friday?, do they refer to Friday this week (Feb 14) or Friday next week (Feb 21)? Depends. I would usually ask for clarification.

My shot.

 

[Tarheel]

I agree with Yankee. I would ask the speaker to be more specific so I could be sure.