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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:
BIossomtoes · 08/05/2026 20:37

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:34

Is it not Cambridge? I thought it was. It’s miles away from bloody London!

Show quote history

It’s even more miles away from bloody Cambridge.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:37

DuskOPorter · 08/05/2026 20:31

2 hours to the airport and 2 hours back. That is right into CF territory.

Don’t ask don’t get 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t think it’s cheeky to ask, it would be cheeky to demand

OP posts:
Flamingojune · 08/05/2026 20:37

Just be independent

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:36

Do you live with your brother out of interest?

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:34

EstrellaPolar · 08/05/2026 20:30

Are you flying into Cambridge on a private jet or do you mean Stansted Airport? Because that’s nowhere near Cambridge (or London 😂).

There’s a Premier Inn with a free shuttle very close to the airport, although worth checking if National Express operate an evening route to your closest city, if you’re not landing too late.

Is it not Cambridge? I thought it was. It’s miles away from bloody London!

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:34

AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 08/05/2026 20:32

I'm more shocked you think you're getting a taxi driver to do a four hour round trip for £100. I was recently quoted £350 for a two and a half hour trip. That was to Manchester Airport.

Good lord I take it you can’t read the posts where I’ve explained why it’s cheap.

OP posts:
AlwaysLookOnTheBrightSideOfLife · 08/05/2026 20:32

I'm more shocked you think you're getting a taxi driver to do a four hour round trip for £100. I was recently quoted £350 for a two and a half hour trip. That was to Manchester Airport.

asdbaybeeee · 08/05/2026 20:31

Op it’s completely normal to ask a sibling for a favour and totally reasonable to cover their fuel only.
id say no thanks and be picky about any future favours he may ask.

DuskOPorter · 08/05/2026 20:31

2 hours to the airport and 2 hours back. That is right into CF territory.

EstrellaPolar · 08/05/2026 20:30

Are you flying into Cambridge on a private jet or do you mean Stansted Airport? Because that’s nowhere near Cambridge (or London 😂).

There’s a Premier Inn with a free shuttle very close to the airport, although worth checking if National Express operate an evening route to your closest city, if you’re not landing too late.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:29

Bjorkdidit · 08/05/2026 20:28

Twisty turny country roads and/lots of 20/30 mph limit urban roads?

Or you looked during rush hour?

I think the taxi will probably cost more than £100. Would you rather spend 2 hours in a car with your brother or a tax driver?

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I think it’s the fact you don’t hit the motorway for a good while.

I’ve explained twice now why taxis can be so cheap.

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 08/05/2026 20:28

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:59

It’s only 93 miles too, I’d love to know why it takes so bloody long!

Twisty turny country roads and/lots of 20/30 mph limit urban roads?

Or you looked during rush hour?

I think the taxi will probably cost more than £100. Would you rather spend 2 hours in a car with your brother or a tax driver?

openended · 08/05/2026 20:28

My brother offered to do drop me off to the airport with the kids and then come back and get dh and our luggage. He wouldn't have dreamt of asking for fuel but if i had taken him up on it I would have offered. I said it would be easier to get a taxi so we could just all go in one go but I appreciated him offering.

My dh did a 40 minute trip to pick up my mil, sil, nephew and niece and drop them home and then went back to get his brother from the airport. He wouldn't have dreamt of asking his brother to pay him. Instead he got McDonald's on the way back for his niece and nephew as they were hungry.

Your brother is tight.

XelaM · 08/05/2026 20:27

unistress · 08/05/2026 19:47

I'd be so upset if one of my dc treated the other like that.

YANBU

Exactly. I would drive my sibling for free 🤷‍♀️

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.

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:26

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:26

Reliablesource · 08/05/2026 20:25

Hang on. In your OP you said he ‘offered’ a lift and you accepted. Now you are saying you asked him a favour and he agreed. Which is it? If you instigated the request, you absolutely should have offered a tank of petrol plus a meal to say thank you.

If he offered off his own bat, then he’s a CF to charge for his time.

I wouldn’t charge a family member for a lift to the airport but I’d accept a tank of petrol if they offered. Can’t believe how grabby some people are.

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Yes he offered! I asked and he said yes, in my head that’s an offer.

OP posts:
catipuss · 08/05/2026 20:25

Brother asking you to pay for his time is a bit rich unless he has paid for yours in the past. Just get a taxi if it's cheaper..

Reliablesource · 08/05/2026 20:25

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:49

How?

I asked him for a favour, he said yes. I said “cool, thanks, I’ll pay for a full tank of petrol, and if you want to stop on the way up/down, I’ll pay for food”. He’s then gone “thanks, and £75 on top please”

Show quote history

Hang on. In your OP you said he ‘offered’ a lift and you accepted. Now you are saying you asked him a favour and he agreed. Which is it? If you instigated the request, you absolutely should have offered a tank of petrol plus a meal to say thank you.

If he offered off his own bat, then he’s a CF to charge for his time.

I wouldn’t charge a family member for a lift to the airport but I’d accept a tank of petrol if they offered. Can’t believe how grabby some people are.

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:24

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:59

It’s only 93 miles too, I’d love to know why it takes so bloody long!

Presumably that’s at 8.30pm

what time is your flight?

Error404FucksNotFound · 08/05/2026 20:24

He wants money for 4 hours of his time, fair enough. I wouldn't but if thats his terms he's allowed thrm.

If you dont want to pay him thats also fair enough. Book a taxi instead.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 08/05/2026 20:24

Slightyamusedandsilly · 08/05/2026 19:57

Be blunt.

"Thanks for the offer, but a taxi is cheaper so I've booked one."

This!

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:22

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 08/05/2026 20:21

Honestly that’s so normal in my family. I don’t know why people are so scandalised. My DFIL and DM have both given us lifts to the airport. I have driven 2 hours to pick up DGP to drive another 2 hours to a funeral that was important to them, they paid for breakfast as a thank you. I didn’t charge £20ph lol

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I just can’t get my head round it 😂 I’d not charge anyone for a lift, but he has always been a bit tight

OP posts:
Kokonimater · 08/05/2026 20:21

You said he ‘offered’ and then you said you ‘asked’ him.
if he offered then it’s his choice. But you asked him so it’s different. But a brother charging his sister for his time is not very nice. Sad. Get a cab.

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 08/05/2026 20:21

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:18

Sure, which is why I didn’t sit down and say “on X date you’re taking me to Bristol airport at Y time” - I asked if he’d be up for it and he said yes!

Show quote history

Honestly that’s so normal in my family. I don’t know why people are so scandalised. My DFIL and DM have both given us lifts to the airport. I have driven 2 hours to pick up DGP to drive another 2 hours to a funeral that was important to them, they paid for breakfast as a thank you. I didn’t charge £20ph lol

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