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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

For not wanting to drive to the airport and then drive home again after my holiday?

32 replies

HorsePoo · 15/07/2012 21:55

Going to Turkey with Ex-MIL in August. Idea was we'd get an airport taxi from Hull to Manchester like we always do. She's now saying that will be too expensive and she wants me to drive us there and park my car there for a week and then drive home again when we land.

I'm very reluctant because:

a) I only have a little Ford Focus - 4 suitcases, 2 adults and 2 teenagers are NOT going to fit in easily!
b) I'm not a confident driver and would hate to drive to Manchester at the best of times, never mind around an international aiport with 3 excited people in my ear.
c) The stress of flying and airports etc tires me out, I'll be knackered after landing and will not feel safe driving!!
d) It's my holiday too! I don't want to start it and end it with stress!!

Yes I know it will be more expensive but AIBU to say "tough, I'm not driving"?

OP posts:
germyrabbit · 15/07/2012 21:57

how much would it be? surely it would be just as expensive to park there for a week

LRDtheFeministDragon · 15/07/2012 21:58

Given you are driving I think it's fine to say, no, thanks for the suggestion but I won't.

squeakytoy · 15/07/2012 21:58

YANBU at all. And you are right, it will be a struggle to put all that lot in a small car.

By the time you have paid for a weeks parking, is it really going to make a lot of difference anyway?

Bluestocking · 15/07/2012 21:58

Not unreasonable at all. As germyrabbit says, airport parking is not cheap either. Just tell her you aren't going to do it.

candr · 15/07/2012 21:59

Is there a bus you could get that may be cheaper? You def won't fit everything into your car and as someone who really stresses about driving in busy/unknown areas this is not a nice way to start and end your holiday.
Work out how much cabs would be then compare it to petrol and parking fees and ask for her share - she may feel cab is cheaper after all.

tryingtonotfeckup · 15/07/2012 22:00

Look on M'cr airport website for parking prices and then compare to taxi fare, may not be that much difference anyway.

No one should make you drive if you don't want to.

Original poster
HorsePoo · 15/07/2012 22:01

To drive there and back would cost roughly:

Petrol £80
Parking £40

Total £120

Taxi return would cost around £190

OP posts:
Stardust01 · 15/07/2012 22:02

YANBU - it's your holiday.

tryingtonotfeckup · 15/07/2012 22:03

Horsepoo, I thought you said you had a fiesta, £80 on petrol, are you a boy racer?

I'm surprised the parking is that low, thought it was much more.

It is your holiday, why doesn't she drive?

Original poster
HorsePoo · 15/07/2012 22:05

It's a 1.6 Focus, 10 years old so not great on petrol.

She does have a drivers license but hasn't driven for years so says she never will again. I am going to say no, sick of having to put everyone elses wishes before my own lately.

OP posts:
BelieveInPink · 15/07/2012 22:07

The answer is easy. There is no way on God's green earth that all those cases and humans will fit inside a ford focus.

Sirzy · 15/07/2012 22:08

Yanbu to say no as long as you are willing to pay for the taxi.

Sirzy · 15/07/2012 22:09

To pay the extra for the taxi even

squeakytoy · 15/07/2012 22:10

I would find a friend with a 5 seater car who is willing to drive you there for the fuel money (say £50), and then get a cab back. That way it will only be a tenner more.

germyrabbit · 15/07/2012 22:11

tell her something is going wrong with the car so you have to take a taxi Grin

the difference saved is not worth the stress it would cause you!

i have to drive all the time and would hate to be told to do that on my holiday to save £50!

germyrabbit · 15/07/2012 22:12

£70

MrsMangoBiscuit · 15/07/2012 22:12

I'd say the fact that you are worried you won't be safe to drive after landing is reason enough. Sirzy, are you suggesting that the OP should have to fork out the additional £70 by herself? Confused

ilovesooty · 15/07/2012 22:12

tell her something is going wrong with the car so you have to take a taxi

I don't think lying would be helpful.

Just say no.

holyfishnets · 15/07/2012 22:13

train?

thenightsky · 15/07/2012 22:14

HorsePoo... I live at the same end of the M62 as you. The drive to Manchester Airport is dead easy and takes about 2 1/2 hours. I always book Meet and Greet parking, which is just off the motorway/airport junction and dead easy to find.

On the other hand... we have a big estate car and struggle to get 4 cases in.

travailtotravel · 15/07/2012 22:19

Is she conveniently forgetting that she'd still have to pay her share of the petrol and the like in her "head maths".

I'd try for no, and the cases/holiday argument. £190 divide by 4 is not that bad for airport transport.

TBH, is there not a direct train though that would be even easier? As my dear MIL says, if you can't carry it, don't pack it!

HeathRobinson · 15/07/2012 22:21

Just say that you booked the holiday on the basis that you were getting a taxi and that you wouldn't have agreed to go if you knew you had to drive.

tabulahrasa · 15/07/2012 22:22

We're 2 adults and 2 teenagers and we all fit in a fiesta with luggage, in fact I drive to Manchester airport like that and I live near Edinburgh...but if you want to get a taxi, get a taxi.

Tell her if she wants to drive she can, but you're not doing it.

beanandspud · 15/07/2012 22:23

For me it would depend on the flight times. If i was departing and arriving at a civilised time during the day I would be more than happy to drive (it's not a bad journey although you might be a bit pushed for space).

However, the thought of a flight arriving back in the UK at 2am followed by a 2.5 hour drive - it would definitely be a taxi.

Springforward · 15/07/2012 22:23

YANBU. And anyway, I really don't see you all fitting into a Focus.