tengo que irme

In lesson 3.2 Amy says "tengo que irme." I was watching Destinos (thanks Dan) and Raquel used "tengo que ir." What's the difference or are they both the same? Is there a certain situation when the reflexive is required or more appropriate?

It seems that when you say "tengo que ir"...I have to go...you must finish the sentence with a place: Tengo que ir al cine. Tengo que ir a la casa. (Although if the listener knows where you are planning to go, "tengo que ir" might be sufficient?) But if you just want to say that you are going, without specifying a place, you use "Tengo que irme." I stand more than ready to be corrected if I am wrong.

Both "tengo que ir" and "tengo que irme" translate to "I have to go", but the second just seems more correct. It is probably as Dan says, that the second form just says we are going without specifying where.

I should get a notebook and write all these forum discussions, so when I see Diana, I could see what she thinks, if it really makes a difference.

I quite often note things that we talk about here, or that I see in the lessons or in the book I am reading to discuss with Sara.

Thanks for the responses. That makes a lot of sense.