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

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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To be fair we’ve all done it in our family, my uncle takes my mum and dad up and down a lot! I think some families are just like that and others aren’t

OP posts:
Butterme · 08/05/2026 20:19

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:14

Asking someone to drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back is more than asking for a lift in my opinion. That's a pretty massive favour.

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

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:19

What time is your flight? Holidaying alone?

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:18

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:14

Asking someone to drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back is more than asking for a lift in my opinion. That's a pretty massive favour.

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!

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:17

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:17

I asked him for a favour, he said yes.

he didn’t remotely offer!

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🐶 🦴

OP posts:
Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:17

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:14

I asked, he said yes - ergo he offered. If he doesn’t want to, just say no!

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I asked him for a favour, he said yes.

he didn’t remotely offer!

Bridesmaidorexfriend · 08/05/2026 20:16

Honestly, mumsnet is baffling. Paying someone for a favour? And replies are saying you’re the CF?? Then it’s not a favour is it? It’s a taxi. Which OP can pay anyway and her DB can just go to work. Hope he doesn’t ever need a favour from you

Gingercar · 08/05/2026 20:16

I think he sounds a miserable, grabby bastard. I’d make other arrangements. Tell him to piss off the night before!

ShetlandishMum · 08/05/2026 20:15

Renember it then he asks for a favour.

0hSigh · 08/05/2026 20:14

Asking someone to drive 2 hours there and 2 hours back is more than asking for a lift in my opinion. That's a pretty massive favour.

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:14

alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:13

Jesus Christ you’re like a dog with a bone, I’ve explained twice now why that’s not the case.

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You need a holiday 🤭

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:14

Rasell · 08/05/2026 20:13

Sorry Op, I'm not clear on whether you asked or he offered? Either way, you're obviously coming at it to save taxi fares and he's coming at it to get some money as he's on zero hours. On the one hand, he's free amd could take you as a kind brother; on the other, he's not in a great financial situation and you could take the chance to give him some cash, as a kind sister. No-one is wrong or right, just different perspective!

I asked, he said yes - ergo he offered. If he doesn’t want to, just say no!

OP posts:
Dearg · 08/05/2026 20:13

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 😂

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Well I didn’t say I agreed with the £75 , but honestly, if you had a family like my DHs, you would run out of charity pretty dammed fast.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:13

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:13

100 mile journey,, 2 hour, you’ll be looking £180 for a taxi min

Jesus Christ you’re like a dog with a bone, I’ve explained twice now why that’s not the case.

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:13

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:10

So will be about 4.5 hours for him.

100 miles will be way more than £100 taxi op!!

Again, I’ve explained why companies give lower quotes - we live a long way from the airport and picks ups are very sporadic. They offer lower cost drop offs, on the basis of you taking a funny time (I.e., dropping off an hour or two before you need to be there), as they’ll be journeying up for a pick up anyway.

OP posts:
Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:13

100 mile journey,, 2 hour, you’ll be looking £180 for a taxi min

Rasell · 08/05/2026 20:13

Sorry Op, I'm not clear on whether you asked or he offered? Either way, you're obviously coming at it to save taxi fares and he's coming at it to get some money as he's on zero hours. On the one hand, he's free amd could take you as a kind brother; on the other, he's not in a great financial situation and you could take the chance to give him some cash, as a kind sister. No-one is wrong or right, just different perspective!

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:12

Pippa12 · 08/05/2026 20:10

Manchester/Liverpool are both around 45/50 minutes from my house, it costs me £120 return. Is he picking you up to?

I wouldn’t relish driving for 4 hours tbh, maybe he’s hoping you’ll just get a taxi instead if he makes the cost extortionate. Suppose it means he’s not the one to be seen saying no!

No, I’m flying home into London (still trying to figure out what I’m doing there as it’s not actually London but bloody Cambridge!), I think a cheap hostel then the bus home the next day!

OP posts:
Pippa12 · 08/05/2026 20:10

Manchester/Liverpool are both around 45/50 minutes from my house, it costs me £120 return. Is he picking you up to?

I wouldn’t relish driving for 4 hours tbh, maybe he’s hoping you’ll just get a taxi instead if he makes the cost extortionate. Suppose it means he’s not the one to be seen saying no!

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:10

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Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:10

So will be about 4.5 hours for him.

100 miles will be way more than £100 taxi op!!

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:09

TheCurious0range · 08/05/2026 20:08

Are you sure he's not joking? It's the kind of thing my brother would say, my usual reply (on family chat) would be yeah that's fine mum said she's paying. Then want for my mum to catch up a day later and start asking what she's paying for or telling him his driving isn't good enough to be paid for 😁

To be fair if it was on the main chat I’d have just called him a twat, he’d have called me a knob and it would all be done 🤣 I think he’s being serious and eyeing a good little payday but he won’t be getting it!

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 20:09

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:08

Why? When you were willing to pay £75 for your bro before the bump up and a taxi is £100?

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Because I’d not realised just how cheap the trains are when booking this far out! I’ve always travelled up to Bristol fairly last minute and it’s been £££. Not sure why you’re so upset to be honest

OP posts:
TheCurious0range · 08/05/2026 20:08

Are you sure he's not joking? It's the kind of thing my brother would say, my usual reply (on family chat) would be yeah that's fine mum said she's paying. Then want for my mum to catch up a day later and start asking what she's paying for or telling him his driving isn't good enough to be paid for 😁

Waitingatlidl · 08/05/2026 20:08

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 😂

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Why? When you were willing to pay £75 for your bro before the bump up and a taxi is £100?

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