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Original poster

My DC have never asked for a lift to the Airport..

144 replies

Pebblepoppy · 14/10/2025 09:03

We live within 1.5 hours of several major airports. When I go, I either drive (and pay extortionate parking charges) or go by public transport, which is also pretty straightforward, and cheaper if I'm travelling alone.

Most of my friends seem to be regularly doing airport runs for their adult children, often in the early hours.

I'm not saying I wouldn't do it, if I was asked, or it was necessary, but it's occurred to me mine have never asked.

Hopefully that's because they prefer to be independent, rather than they don't feel they could...?

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 14/10/2025 09:44

We live less than 1.5 hours from major airports. It would never occur to us to ask a family member to take us. DC are in their 20s and live with us and have never asked either. When DS was a teen we took him a few times. Other than being a young or inexperienced traveller or having some impairment or at an emotionally difficult time, I think it's a bit off to deliberately put someone else out.

PixieandMe · 14/10/2025 09:49

'Hopefully that's because they prefer to be independent, rather than they don't feel they could...?'

How can anyone except your children possibly know the answer to this! Ask them.

Slothlydoesit · 14/10/2025 09:53

It sounds like your children are independent, self sufficient adults. And yes, it could be that you’re a widow. My children have a very disabled sibling who I care for and they also try to work things out themselves rather than asking me as a first option- I’m constantly proud of how able they are to solve their own problems and find solutions to things. So it may be that your also have this mentality.

But you could always offer!

Tigerbalmshark · 14/10/2025 09:54

Honestly it would never have occurred to me to ask DM for a lift to the airport. She offered once, when DH had broken his leg skiing, but the most of the time we are honestly better off on the train.

We don’t take 9 million suitcases, don’t fly at silly o’clock in the morning, and we live somewhere with decent public transport. So a lift would be more hassle not less tbh.

TappyGilmore · 14/10/2025 09:56

I am mid 40s and my mum still gives me lifts to the airport! She offers. The alternative is extortionate parking charges. Public transport isn’t really an option from where I live. Driving, it is probably a 90 minute round trip, longer in peak traffic times but usually it would be early morning or late night rather than peak times. She’s a shift worker so quite happy to drive at odd times.

When I’ve travelled for work I have driven, because work would reimburse the parking costs.

notacooldad · 14/10/2025 09:56

Ds runs me and dh to the airport and back on a regular basis.
Weve only taken ds a couple of times because he tends to go as part of a bigger group and its cheap to share a minibus.

We are all happy to help each other out.
Parking is really expensive if you book at short notice and with the exception of a main holiday all our trips are quite spontaneous.

Trains are often unreliable on our network. Last year I got myself to the airport on a train ok but when I was in the airport co.ing home I got an email saying that the train home was cancelled after a certain town.
We don't have a flix or megabus that goes through our town.
I have friends that have offered to take us but I prefer to keep it in the family.

Cynic17 · 14/10/2025 09:56

That's great news that they are perfectly capable of looking after themselves! Who wants mollycoddled kids who expect mummy and daddy to run round after them? You've done a good job, OP.

DingDongJingle · 14/10/2025 09:57

Mothership4two · 14/10/2025 09:44

We live less than 1.5 hours from major airports. It would never occur to us to ask a family member to take us. DC are in their 20s and live with us and have never asked either. When DS was a teen we took him a few times. Other than being a young or inexperienced traveller or having some impairment or at an emotionally difficult time, I think it's a bit off to deliberately put someone else out.

Sometimes family members offer though. I’ve never once asked my dad for a lift to the airport, but he offers every time. Sometimes we take him up on it, sometimes we don’t. We offer to take him and his wife when they go away too (which is far more often than we go on holiday!)

Notagain25 · 14/10/2025 10:00

I think it’s a nice thing to do. I would take my adult dc to our local airport as it’s only half an hour drive.

I remember asking my parents when I was a student if they would drive me to Gatwick which was about three or four hours away. They said no, it was too far. As we were discussing it, I suddenly felt really hot and passed out on the floor! When I came to, they were fanning me and saying, yes they would take me which they did.

In op’s case I think your dc are quite capable of making their own way but you could offer if you don’t mind.

Treesandsheepeverywhere · 14/10/2025 10:07

Pebblepoppy · 14/10/2025 09:08

Yes, they go on fairly regular tips with friends and GFs, but always sort it out without involving me.

Show quote history

You've raised them well.

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:09

I would never have dreamed of asking me parents for a lift to the airport! How entitled. If you can’t afford to get a taxi to airport then you can’t afford to go on holiday.

LaChouette · 14/10/2025 10:11

Within 1.5 hours is not exactly close and asking for a lift would be a 3 hour round trip. I wouldn't ask someone to do that for me. That is what public transport, or taxis or car parks are there for.

DingDongJingle · 14/10/2025 10:15

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:09

I would never have dreamed of asking me parents for a lift to the airport! How entitled. If you can’t afford to get a taxi to airport then you can’t afford to go on holiday.

There’s nothing to suggest that they asked though. Their parents may have offered.

thisishowloween · 14/10/2025 10:19

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:09

I would never have dreamed of asking me parents for a lift to the airport! How entitled. If you can’t afford to get a taxi to airport then you can’t afford to go on holiday.

Why are you assuming it’s a case of not being able to afford it?

Sometimes people offer lifts because it’s the nice thing to do.

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:20

thisishowloween · 14/10/2025 10:19

Why are you assuming it’s a case of not being able to afford it?

Sometimes people offer lifts because it’s the nice thing to do.

Show quote history

@thisishowloween

i dunno, some parents may obliged to because otherwise their kids may go no contact with them. It’s not that they really want to. So I think the son or daughter should say “no, it’s ok, thank you but we’ll sort ourselves out”

DingDongJingle · 14/10/2025 10:25

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:20

@thisishowloween

i dunno, some parents may obliged to because otherwise their kids may go no contact with them. It’s not that they really want to. So I think the son or daughter should say “no, it’s ok, thank you but we’ll sort ourselves out”

Show quote history

Haha, that’s the last reason my dad would offer a lift. He offers because he likes to help us out and make our lives easier. Just like I offer to help him out to make his life easier/nicer. Some families just like doing things for each other!

Delatron · 14/10/2025 10:26

I think you’ve brought them up well OP. Some people are just a bit cheeky.
It’s obviously putting people out making them drive 3 hours in the middle of the night. Even if parents offered I’d still say no.

They are just kind, thoughtful and independent (adult) children.

PrincessofWells · 14/10/2025 10:30

I often took my parents to the airport - about 90 minutes, or to the bus station 30 minutes. It was a pleasure.
I'd happily take my adult children.

QuickPeachPoet · 14/10/2025 10:33

Our local airport is 45 mins away and another about 1 hr 10. I have usually had lifts if I need to go, and in turn I have always given lifts. There is no kudos in always being 'Miss Independent'. It's just inconvenient and makes peoples' lives easier to help out. I have no issue with giving a lift (as long as not while I am at work) and in turn am grateful to have one.

FuzzyWolf · 14/10/2025 10:33

I’ve had lifts from lots of people to airports and regularly reciprocate. Surely it’s nothing to do with independence but just being kind and considerate to one another?

I gave my brother a lift to the airport recently. He’s perfectly capable and independent but we enjoyed being able to chat for longer in the car and a drive didn’t inconvenience me.

ErrolTheDragon · 14/10/2025 10:36

how easy public transport is to use can depend a lot on exactly where you live, and also the time of day of flights. Early hours airport runs suggest they’d have to go the day before if they had to use public transport.

many people’s adult kids don’t live near them and so of course sort out their own travel arrangements. My dd does. But if she was for some reason staying here and needed to get to the airport we’d take her - it’s a pain to get to the station from here.

thisishowloween · 14/10/2025 10:49

Cherrytree86 · 14/10/2025 10:20

@thisishowloween

i dunno, some parents may obliged to because otherwise their kids may go no contact with them. It’s not that they really want to. So I think the son or daughter should say “no, it’s ok, thank you but we’ll sort ourselves out”

Show quote history

How weird. Are people not allowed to accept favours or help once they’re over a certain age then?

youalright · 14/10/2025 10:57

I would never ask someone to take me to tge airport in the middle of the night taxis do exist

HeartbrokenCatMum · 14/10/2025 10:59

Lifestooshort71 · 14/10/2025 09:15

I think the obvious answer is that you've produced children who are excellent at adulting and mine are the same. It's got nothing to do with reliability etc etc, but all to do with sorting themselves out as responsible adults. I'm sure they know that, in a proper emergency, you'd be there for them.

This
I’ve never thought to ask anyone for a lift either, I just do it

Mammyloveswine · 14/10/2025 10:59

I’m almost 40 and my dad takes me to the airport! He lives at 15 minute drive away so we stay at his and I by takeaway and leave him a bottle of wine! I only do this if it’s an early morning flight just in case there is an issue with a taxi, daytime flights we just get the Metro in!