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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:
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.

Butterme · 08/05/2026 19:52

Can you not get a train or bus most of the way?

I think £75 for his time is ridiculous.

Yes he’s spending 4 hours to pick you up but surely it’s as a favour and you’re not hiring him to do a job.

Fair enough cover his fuel and I’d have chucked him £20 on top of bought him dinner on the way home but I wouldn’t pay for his time.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:52

Dearg · 08/05/2026 19:50

Well the cost of running a car is much more than the cost of fuel - servicing, insurance, tax, wear and tear.

So , I would have possibly agreed to a mileage charge equal to the cost per mile of his car ( which you can find on any car magazine)

But reimbursing his time does not seem very brotherly . So I am somewhere in the middle. £75 is CF territory, but I would probably offer a ‘tip’ so it was between the £40 and the cost of a taxi.

If it’s gonna cost me £115+ I’d rather just get a taxi or the train and wait at the airport for hours 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:51

Blushingm · 08/05/2026 19:49

Are you suggesting his time is worth £0 - it will be 4 hours out if his day.

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

OP posts:
Dearg · 08/05/2026 19:50

Well the cost of running a car is much more than the cost of fuel - servicing, insurance, tax, wear and tear.

So , I would have possibly agreed to a mileage charge equal to the cost per mile of his car ( which you can find on any car magazine)

But reimbursing his time does not seem very brotherly . So I am somewhere in the middle. £75 is CF territory, but I would probably offer a ‘tip’ so it was between the £40 and the cost of a taxi.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:49

WallaceinAnderland · 08/05/2026 19:48

Wait a minute, you are starting to sound like the CF here OP

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”

OP posts:
Blushingm · 08/05/2026 19:49

Are you suggesting his time is worth £0 - it will be 4 hours out if his day.

WallaceinAnderland · 08/05/2026 19:48

Wait a minute, you are starting to sound like the CF here OP

WallaceinAnderland · 08/05/2026 19:47

Does it matter why? Just go for the cheaper option.

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:47

Northernrunnerwife · 08/05/2026 19:47

If he’s on zero hours, I assume he needs the money.

I would never expect a family member to drive me somewhere but it seems reasonable to offer him the same as the cost of a cab, and then he can decide.

He makes more than I do, he’s one of the most senior members of staff so gets a lot of flexibility

OP posts:
unistress · 08/05/2026 19:47

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

YANBU

Original poster
alexandrasm · 08/05/2026 19:47

Womanofcustard · 08/05/2026 19:46

Looks like a taxi will be cheaper!

I’m just so baffled about why he’s said yes and then added charges on top! I think we came into this with different ideas 😂

OP posts:
WallaceinAnderland · 08/05/2026 19:47

Although get an actual quote, because FB posts are unreliable.

Northernrunnerwife · 08/05/2026 19:47

If he’s on zero hours, I assume he needs the money.

I would never expect a family member to drive me somewhere but it seems reasonable to offer him the same as the cost of a cab, and then he can decide.

Womanofcustard · 08/05/2026 19:46

Looks like a taxi will be cheaper!

WallaceinAnderland · 08/05/2026 19:46

No, it would be cheaper to get a taxi so do that.