Does she owe me the money?

Totally agree - any reasonable person would offer (or insist) to reimburse you.

I think because you messaged Friend 1 explaining you had offered your ticket for free to Friend 2 to take anyone of their choosing - Friend 1 assumed it wouldn’t be a problem if they chose someone who could take it, after finding out Friend 2 couldn’t come. It is right that she should have asked your permission as I would not want someone like Friend 1’s sister benefitting from this generosity when she is tight and stealing money - I think YANBU because it’s the principle

If someone asked me if I wanted to go to the theatre because was a spare ticket I would say great, who do I owe? I'd never expect someone else to be out of pocket. It's just courtesy surely?

As soon as you pulled out, that ticket was lost money. It would be different if you were the one arraqnging everything, but as it was, your friend organised the evening out and bought the tickets.

You paid her, you couldn't make use of the ticket and nor could the person you offered it to. Rather than have a useless empty seat, she gave it to someone she was happy to have join her and her husband on the night out.

How you feel about her sister, whether or not she's a sponger, all that is irrelevant. The ticket was going unused, and now it wasn't wasted.

Yeah it's the fact sister hasn't even offered, just grabbed herself a freebie

Her sister was only going to accompany her because you and your other friend were no longer going and because you weren't using your ticket. It would be totally unreasonable of you to ask her to pay the full ticket price for a show she didn't choose to see and quite rude to ask for any money at all. You didn't do her a favour.

@Firawla its not about 39 quid it’s the point of how cheeky to not even offer the cash. I wouldn’t accept the money but the offer would be appreciated.

So who missed out on the ticket by her using it? Did you have a buyer lined up? Another friend who had wanted to accept?

I wouldnt worry about it. You didn't sell the ticket so the money was lost to you at that point. Whether her sister went or then ticket went in the bin is irrelevant.

Her sister won't pay so I wouldn't push my friend to compensate my loss.

I've paid more than £30 at the theatre for a much less convoluted plot.

Anybody with a bit of decency would at least offer to give some money for the ticket, knowing it's been paid for and they're going to use it!

Sister sounds the tight one here.

I think this is one misunderstanding I would just let go. Yes, you could have sold it but you most probably wouldn't so I would just be glad that someone got use out of it. Sister might not have been that bothered for £30 but for free, gave it a go. I say move on and don't give it another thought.

Is it not exhausting to be this tight??? You were ill and couldn’t make it so she just gave it away to avoid wasting. I don’t think it’s a big deal and personally for the sake of just 30 quid I wouldn’t give it a second thought
I would never ask someone to reimburse me for that

Well this is as clear as mud 😂

So at the theatre there was friend 1, her husband, her sister and an empty seat? Because you and friend 2 were sick but friend 1 passed one ticket on to her sister?

Why didn’t you let friend 1 know that you were trying to find a taker for the ticket? Why didn’t friend 1 also let you know that she was doing the same?

This kind of situation comes up all the time and most people don’t have an issue because they let each other know what they’re doing, I don’t know why you and your friend have made things so complicated.

Sorry op I’m unclear too-did you offer it to the sister? Or did she give your ticket away without asking?
If you offered I’d say suck it up. If you’d already paid her and she just gave the ticket away, then she owes you the full cost and I’d ask for it.

It would really annoy me.

I'd have to drop it into the conversation....'so what's happening about the theatre ticket, did sister say she was going to give me the money for it or what?' with a confused expression.

She's cheeky for not asking you if she could give the ticket to her sister because for all she knew, you could have given it away. You paid for it and it was your seat so she had no right to it at all, especially as she offered it to her sister before even talking to you about it.
The difficult part is whether she should have given you money for it. Overall I think she should because she basically took over your ticket. However it is difficult because you would have lost the money because you didn't go so you haven't incurred an additional loss. If she's a good friend then I'd let this one go but I would ask her to talk to me first if a similar situation occurs in the future.

Sorry your OP was really confusing OP! What did you reply to her message though?

But you already lost it. Does it matter it was given away?

It was cheeky of her not to ask you, but either way, you’re in the same position - money spent on a ticket that you couldn’t use and didn’t sell.