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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not want to pay above a full tank of petrol for a lift to the airport?

541 replies

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:45

I fly from my “local” (2 hours away!) airport at the end of summer. My flight is in the early evening and I have an appointment in the morning.

My brother offered to give me a lift, it won’t affect his work as he’s on 0 hours and can just request a late start/no hours on that day (he usually doesn’t work on a Friday anyway).

I said yes please, and said I’d be happy to cover a tank of fuel as it would probably use about that to get there and back, and have some left over. (So I’m thinking about £40, he has a hybrid so it doesn’t use a ton of fuel).

He’s now said £40 plus £75 on top for “his time”

AIBU to think sod it, I’d rather just pay a taxi (about £100 according to local Facebook groups) because he’s being a CF?!

OP posts:
Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 21:07

SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 21:06

Then why are you surprised he's asked you for money for a 4 hour drive to the airport?!

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Good point

SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 21:06

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:06

To be fair this is the man who, at Christmas, looked up how much a £25 M&S gift card would be with a blue light discount and sent me that amount of money so I could get myself the gift card 😂😂😂😂 he is just that tight

Then why are you surprised he's asked you for money for a 4 hour drive to the airport?!

SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 21:06

PyongyangKipperbang · 08/05/2026 21:03

Just remembered, years ago my sister and BIL got a really delayed flight back from....Turkey I think. It was either fly back into Manchester or wait another two days for our local airport, so DSis asked if I would pick them up (2 hours each way) and of course I did. My parents had to miss a train to their UK holiday many years later due to a potential medical emergency, so Dsis and BIL drove them there, stayed over and then drove back. When I came back from honeymoon, Dparents picked us up.

Surely its just what you do?

I find it sad that some people would clearly assign a cash value to helping a family member who would help you out in return. It evens out over the course of a lifetime for most people. That said, in my family its ok to say "Any chance of a lift for our 5am flight?" and the favour givee is free to say "Fuck off, get a taxi!" with no offence meant or taken!

See I would happily do your first two examples because it's weird unplanned emergencies.

However I would be quite surprised to be asked to do a planned 4 hour drive there and back to the airport for a family member who could get the train (and would probably say no, other than my kids and partner but they wouldn't ask...)

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:06

To be fair this is the man who, at Christmas, looked up how much a £25 M&S gift card would be with a blue light discount and sent me that amount of money so I could get myself the gift card 😂😂😂😂 he is just that tight

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:04

PyongyangKipperbang · 08/05/2026 21:03

Just remembered, years ago my sister and BIL got a really delayed flight back from....Turkey I think. It was either fly back into Manchester or wait another two days for our local airport, so DSis asked if I would pick them up (2 hours each way) and of course I did. My parents had to miss a train to their UK holiday many years later due to a potential medical emergency, so Dsis and BIL drove them there, stayed over and then drove back. When I came back from honeymoon, Dparents picked us up.

Surely its just what you do?

I find it sad that some people would clearly assign a cash value to helping a family member who would help you out in return. It evens out over the course of a lifetime for most people. That said, in my family its ok to say "Any chance of a lift for our 5am flight?" and the favour givee is free to say "Fuck off, get a taxi!" with no offence meant or taken!

This is how I see it! If he’d said “nah get to fuck”, fair enough 😂 but it’s saying yes then asking for £££, especially now that he’s told me he’s able to take it as annual leave, so he’d be paid for the day and then also by me! He’s such a tight git 😂

OP posts:
Feis123 · 08/05/2026 21:04

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:51

No, but I also think that as siblings that’s never really something I’ve even considered when doing him a favour? I’m just surprised that he sees it as very transactional when I’ve done a lot of favours and lifts all over the place for him

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You poor thing. 'Sibling' my arse. Noone would fuck you over the way a sibling would. Welcome to the real world.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:03

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 21:02

Does your brother have kids? A partner?

Edited
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No and no.

Why are you so obsessed

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 08/05/2026 21:03

Just remembered, years ago my sister and BIL got a really delayed flight back from....Turkey I think. It was either fly back into Manchester or wait another two days for our local airport, so DSis asked if I would pick them up (2 hours each way) and of course I did. My parents had to miss a train to their UK holiday many years later due to a potential medical emergency, so Dsis and BIL drove them there, stayed over and then drove back. When I came back from honeymoon, Dparents picked us up.

Surely its just what you do?

I find it sad that some people would clearly assign a cash value to helping a family member who would help you out in return. It evens out over the course of a lifetime for most people. That said, in my family its ok to say "Any chance of a lift for our 5am flight?" and the favour givee is free to say "Fuck off, get a taxi!" with no offence meant or taken!

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 21:02

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:01

I don’t have children.

I am clearly very happy to get myself there (and back again, as I’ve demonstrated) but if you don’t ask, you don’t get

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Does your brother have kids? A partner?

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 21:01

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:59

Ha, my husband is everyone's go-to for favours because he is practical, strong, has all the tools and a truck that can tow. I have no doubt my own little family has helped other more than most. But like a pp, I assume I'm making my own way to an airport just as I make my own way anywhere in life - it's part of being an adult, surely? And as soon as you have two kids, there's too many of you for anyone to give your family a lift anyway so you have to figure it out yourself.

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I don’t have children.

I am clearly very happy to get myself there (and back again, as I’ve demonstrated) but if you don’t ask, you don’t get

OP posts:
Frazzledinmyforties · 08/05/2026 21:00

DuskOPorter · 08/05/2026 20:38

No one I know gets lifts to the airport from family. We live an hour from the airport everyone drives and parks up or gets an airport bus.

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Public transport is quite awkward to and from the airport from where we live so public transport is an option but so much hassle. We have driven on occasions but generally we take each other. Siblings, parents, friends; we’ve all done it for each other and it’s never been seen as a big deal.

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:59

TakeALookAtTheseSwatches · 08/05/2026 20:53

Well I'm glad my family isn't like yours, weird that you wouldn't do each other favours like this.

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Ha, my husband is everyone's go-to for favours because he is practical, strong, has all the tools and a truck that can tow. I have no doubt my own little family has helped other more than most. But like a pp, I assume I'm making my own way to an airport just as I make my own way anywhere in life - it's part of being an adult, surely? And as soon as you have two kids, there's too many of you for anyone to give your family a lift anyway so you have to figure it out yourself.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:56

SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 20:55

Do you live in Cornwall OP, just based on rurality/journey time to Bristol? There are direct flights from Stansted to Newquay just in case that helps with your journey back, but I think they are only a couple of days a week.

Down that way, yes! I actually have the chance to refund the flight in a couple of days as Ryanair have changed the time massively, so I am considering just staying the night at the airport and travelling home on the Tuesday

OP posts:
SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 20:55

Do you live in Cornwall OP, just based on rurality/journey time to Bristol? There are direct flights from Stansted to Newquay just in case that helps with your journey back, but I think they are only a couple of days a week.

Rainbow1901 · 08/05/2026 20:54

OP you could book into the Airport Lounge and enjoy peace, quiet and free food all day!! You could even plane spot!! 🛫

Freakyfriday777 · 08/05/2026 20:54

Butterme · 08/05/2026 20:19

It is a big favour and I don’t know many people who would do it but he could have said no.

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My best friend offered like actually offered not asked to drive me and my oh nearly 2hrs to the airport at 6am, when she already lives 45 minutes from me, in my own car, and then also picked us back up! She REFUSED any reimbursement as we have always done big big favours for each other without question as true lifelong best friends. She also had my car valeted before picking us up as car was a bit grubby! People remember big favours and if you have the right people around you they will do it. It’s all swings and roundabouts as she is always so good to me I recently lent her £000’s she needed towards a house without being asked.

CrispySquid · 08/05/2026 20:54

Cocktailglass · 08/05/2026 20:06

Ouch! Whenever, as family, we pick up from airports, wouldn't dream of even asking for petrol money and no way time costs. A gift and reciprocated favours.

Same. Lots of comments on here are bizarre to me. I would never dream of asking a sibling/family member for petrol money for a lift to the airport (however long), let alone for my time.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:53

TokenGinger · 08/05/2026 20:52

YANBU. I would never charge my siblings anything for my time. I’d do them a favour, just like they do me a favour.

God, if we’re paying for our loved one’s time, then I’m on a ton of debt with my brother! He’s my go-to to call upon for building flat packs, painting fences, any kind of heavy lifting, and even watching the kids so I can wash my hair when DP is away.

Equally, there’s things I’ll do for him in return, happily, because he’s my brother.

Yeah I can’t lie I find it quite odd that people don’t ask their family for favours

OP posts:
TakeALookAtTheseSwatches · 08/05/2026 20:53

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:48

Same, I'd never ask anyone to give me a two hour lift, family or not. I think it's really rude. We live within perhaps 90 minutes of several airports and I can't imagine asking my parents for a lift to any of them rather than paying for a bus/taxi/airport parking. I can't think of ever hearing of family or friends being given a lift to them either when they talk about their plans.

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Well I'm glad my family isn't like yours, weird that you wouldn't do each other favours like this.

TokenGinger · 08/05/2026 20:52

YANBU. I would never charge my siblings anything for my time. I’d do them a favour, just like they do me a favour.

God, if we’re paying for our loved one’s time, then I’m on a ton of debt with my brother! He’s my go-to to call upon for building flat packs, painting fences, any kind of heavy lifting, and even watching the kids so I can wash my hair when DP is away.

Equally, there’s things I’ll do for him in return, happily, because he’s my brother.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:50

Allisnotlost1 · 08/05/2026 20:49

I think it’s better now, but I also see you’re talking about Cambridge so this may not be useful - or is that your flight back?

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That’s back - but apparently it’s not Cambridge. It’s London Stansted and it looks like it’s in the middle of bastard nowhere 😂

OP posts:
mindutopia · 08/05/2026 20:49

I probably would have just said no to you, but roughly £100 for probably 5 hours of someone’s time, 4 hours driving to airport, plus coming to collect you, plus waiting around, plus food costs on the way. I mean, it is probably what it costs.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:49

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:48

Same, I'd never ask anyone to give me a two hour lift, family or not. I think it's really rude. We live within perhaps 90 minutes of several airports and I can't imagine asking my parents for a lift to any of them rather than paying for a bus/taxi/airport parking. I can't think of ever hearing of family or friends being given a lift to them either when they talk about their plans.

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Really? It’s really common in my group of friends & family. My uncle, for example, won’t hear of his sisters (my mum and aunt), getting to the airport via any other way than him

OP posts:
AlasIsUnderused · 08/05/2026 20:49

Would never occur to me to ask someone to take me to the airport. I assume I am getting myself there and factor that in to the total cost of the trip and/or inform the time of flight I choose.

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