Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Allisnotlost1 · 08/05/2026 20:49

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:46

I’m not too sure, I’ve never done Bristol by public transport before, lots of London and Liverpool but not Bristol 😂 I think the reason I’m hesitant about it is because I went to uni up that way and I just remember hours and hours stranded on the way to and from Bristol temple meads

Show quote history

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?

JontyGentooey · 08/05/2026 20:48

If my sister asked to be driven a really long way and I didn't mind the drive/fancied a chat in the car I'd say yes and ask for some money towards fuel, considering the distance. If I didn't want to do it I'd just say no sorry, can't that day.

Wouldn't dream of asking for any cash beyond petrol money tbh, that's just weird.

DappledThings · 08/05/2026 20:48

PicaK · 08/05/2026 19:53

But you've only offered to pay for petrol - not wear and tear on the car. And he has to drive home too.
So 4 hours - c240 miles. 40p a mile is £96.
I think expecting anyone to give you 4h of their time for nothing is CF territory tbh.

I can't imagine accepting any money from a sibling I was giving a lift to. Not petrol money at all and certainly not random costs added above that.

OP has been perfectly reasonable offering to pay for the petrol. Treating family like a private taxi hire by charging them mileage rates on top is really unpleasant.

Daisylove1 · 08/05/2026 20:48

Metromayhem · 08/05/2026 19:56

Insane way to treat family. Can’t imagine being so transactional with a sibling! So weird, mumsnet isn’t real 😂

Show quote history

Mental isn’t it! It’s a sibling! I picked my brother and his wife up from the airport last week, he offered me petty money and I said don’t worry about it, it’s what sisters are for. It’s not like I’m chauffeuring him about every week! It’s a favour to a family member and I know he’d do the same for me.
I understand not everyone can afford not to take petrol money, but she’s hardly a CF asking a sibling for a favour!

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:48

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.

Show quote history

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.

SapphireOpal · 08/05/2026 20:47

I don't disagree that your DB is being a CF, but you absolutely cannot say he "offered" when what actually happened was you asked him 😂

Allisnotlost1 · 08/05/2026 20:47

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.

Show quote history

We all drive each other, it’s much more relaxing.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:47

DejaMooo · 08/05/2026 20:45

I can’t imagine ever charging family for my time, that’s so weird. YANBU.

Have you looked at national express, depending of course on where you live? They do a lot of coaches to airports at all sorts of times - I’ve used them a couple of times.

The national express leaves at midnight the night before and gets me there for 5am, which is all well and good but my flight isn’t until 6:30pm 😂 even for me that’s a long time to wait at the airport 😂

OP posts:
QueenOfHiraeth · 08/05/2026 20:46

I'm afraid is my brother tried that with me I'd pay any amount for taxi, train, bus, etc rather than give him the money.
I'd never be helpful to him going forward and I'd make sure everyone else in the family heard about it too!

Rainbow1901 · 08/05/2026 20:46

Not sure whereabouts you are travelling from - but there are quite few commercial bus companies that go to Bristol starting from around a fiver. There's National Express, MegaBus and Flixbus too. You might get another bargain yet to go with your cheap Ryanair Flight 😁

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:46

Allisnotlost1 · 08/05/2026 20:45

I think there’s a shuttle bus isn’t there? I flew into Bristol once when I got bumped off my flight so it’s a bit hazy, but it was easier than I thought.

Show quote history

I’m not too sure, I’ve never done Bristol by public transport before, lots of London and Liverpool but not Bristol 😂 I think the reason I’m hesitant about it is because I went to uni up that way and I just remember hours and hours stranded on the way to and from Bristol temple meads

OP posts:
DejaMooo · 08/05/2026 20:45

I can’t imagine ever charging family for my time, that’s so weird. YANBU.

Have you looked at national express, depending of course on where you live? They do a lot of coaches to airports at all sorts of times - I’ve used them a couple of times.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:45

user1471522044 · 08/05/2026 20:44

There is a Bristol Airport bus that runs around every 15 minutes from Temple Meads station and journey takes some 30 minutes. If you have a railcard you can get a ticket that covers the trip from your start station to the Airport so the 1/3 off would apply to the bus element as well. Not sure where your start point is but if it from SW then it is also possible to only travel to Weston Super Mare and take an airport bus from there,

Oh! I didn’t know I could do the ticket through to the airport

OP posts:
PyongyangKipperbang · 08/05/2026 20:45

So you bend over backwards for him but you have to give him cash to do one favour back?

Nah. Get a taxi and next time he wants a a 4am lift, you are busy!

Allisnotlost1 · 08/05/2026 20:45

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:06

I’m looking at trains now, just wondering how much time I actually need to give myself to get from Bristol temple meads to the airport 😂

Show quote history

I think there’s a shuttle bus isn’t there? I flew into Bristol once when I got bumped off my flight so it’s a bit hazy, but it was easier than I thought.

user1471522044 · 08/05/2026 20:44

There is a Bristol Airport bus that runs around every 15 minutes from Temple Meads station and journey takes some 30 minutes. If you have a railcard you can get a ticket that covers the trip from your start station to the Airport so the 1/3 off would apply to the bus element as well. Not sure where your start point is but if it from SW then it is also possible to only travel to Weston Super Mare and take an airport bus from there,

dapsnotplimsolls · 08/05/2026 20:43

Get a taxi or a train, he's being an arse.

PullTheBricksDown · 08/05/2026 20:43

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:54

I don’t expect it, I’ve asked a favour. Do you really do that? The number of lifts I’ve given over the years and not kept count of!

Show quote history

So from now on, no more lifts without him paying you for fuel and your time as well

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Nope, just a small town where airport runs aren’t common and taxi companies rely on good word of mouth to keep running in the quiet season. If they’re already going that way they’d rather offer a cheap airport run and give a good customer experience than go up empty.

OP posts:
Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:40

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.

Show quote history

That’s just the way it goes though isn’t it depending on where you live? There’s no direct bus to the airport from where I live

OP posts:
nocoolnamesleft · 08/05/2026 20:39

I’d be gobsmacked if a two hour taxi journey came in with much change from £200. I’ve had two places quote me £140 for about an hour and twenty minutes.

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

DuskOPorter · 08/05/2026 20:38

Frazzledinmyforties · 08/05/2026 20:27

This is one of those times that MN seems bonkers. In the real world, most people I know get lifts to or from airports from extended family. At most, we might accept petrol money if we desperately needed it but never charge. I think he’s taking the piss and would tell him so.

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.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:38

BIossomtoes · 08/05/2026 20:37

It’s even more miles away from bloody Cambridge.

Show quote history

Oh fuck me 😩 first and last time I fall for the Ryanair £27 air fare 🤣

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread