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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Re airport pick up

21 replies

Bluerose27 · 27/09/2017 18:45

It's rather a moot point as I'm not free to do it anyway but it just got me wondering - family members are away on holiday and are back tomorrow. I was asked today if I could pick them up from the airport, I said I couldn't as I have a prior engagement and that's no problem on either side but it left me wondering .

I live an hour away from the airport. To collect and drop family members (who live in a different house) I'd have to leave my house an hour before the plane is due to land. Wait while they collect bags (actually I'd leave half an hour before plane lands to allow an hour for my journey and them getting bags). Then about a 45 mins drive to their house in what would by then be rush hour traffic. Then a 30/40 min drive back to my house in rush hour traffic. So we're looking at a 2 and a half hour trip for me (have I added right?) not including a cuppa when I drop them off.
They could very easily hop in a taxi and be home in 25 mins (allowing for taxi using bus lanes in rush hour) . The holiday was expensive enough that an extra 30/40 in taxi fare is no biggie - money genuinely not a consideration in this .

So are they BU in asking me for a lift?

I should add - I ALWAYS get the airport bus, to and from regardless of the time. (I mean early morning, afternoon, night) I would only expect to be collected from the airport if I had been living abroad for a number of years and this was a major homecoming!! And still wouldn't be expecting a lift.

It's not a situation that arises frequently but I always think it's a bit unnecessary to expect another person to take hours out of their day for such an errand. Maybe I'm Using?

OP posts:

Original poster

Bluerose27 · 27/09/2017 18:45

Maybe I'm *unreasonable

OP posts:

Bambamber · 27/09/2017 18:49

It's not unreasonable unless they're expecting you to. I don't see the harm in asking, if you don't want to you just say no. If they kicked off when you said you couldn't, that would be unreasonable. We always get a lift from family to and from the airport although lI've much further away

fiftyshoes · 27/09/2017 18:51

YANBU. We never do airport pickups and no family members expect it from us. It's actually quicker and easier by tube/train. I think it's quite entitled to expect it, unless perhaps the person is frail and can't afford taxis, but I'm disabled and I manage it OK>

twobambinos · 27/09/2017 18:52

I'm planning to do a 7 hour round trip to the airport to collect family when they arrive home. And if it was less I'd still collect them but If it was 25 mins in a taxi I probably wouldn't sorry no help at all. But you've said you can't so don't feel bad about it.

Sirzy · 27/09/2017 18:54

They aren’t unreasonable to ask. You aren’t unreasonable to say no.

MrsOverTheRoad · 27/09/2017 18:55

They needed to ask before they went away.

If we needed a lift (but we don't as we always get cabs rather than rely on someone else) I'd make sure I asked before my trip.

Scribblegirl · 27/09/2017 18:56

I completely agree, I find it so weird when it comes up on here. Unless there are serious mitigating circumstances I find it so weird. Imagine if your eg aunt went to visit her in laws for a week an hour from your home and expected you to run her there and back?!

MyBrilliantDisguise · 27/09/2017 18:56

If it was my elderly parents, I would do it to make sure they were OK after the flight and got home without a problem. I'd have some food reay for them, too.

If they're young enough, though, they could get a taxi.

AnyFucker · 27/09/2017 18:57

I wouldn't ask in the 1st place

PurplePillowCase · 27/09/2017 18:57

non issue - they asked, you declined, everyone can live with it.

Original poster

Bluerose27 · 27/09/2017 19:04

They had actually asked (or planned to ask) my sister before they went. Not sure if she can't or if they felt they'd ask me instead as I'm off work and she's not . Though she's way closer to both airport and house.

My plan is long standing anyway so I couldn't have done even if they'd asked before the holiday.

I suppose I was more thinking if I said "no I don't want to " with no other plans would that have been unreasonable

OP posts:

2rebecca · 27/09/2017 19:10

I think sometimes people get in the habit of driving or getting lifts to the airport and don't explore public transport/ taxi options. Once people have caught a taxi once then they get used to that being part of the holiday expenses and ritual and don't bother asking family.
I'll often pick up folk from our airport if it's convenient as it's an easier drive than bus trip, particularly if it's my dad, but if I'm working I'll give them instructions.
As the family members are just returning to their own home it seems odd to ask unless they live in a remote village taxis or buses won't go near

2rebecca · 27/09/2017 19:12

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect people to have planned this as part of their holiday arrangements.

SusanTheGentle · 27/09/2017 19:15

I would only do that sort of trip for someone vulnerable in some way - ill, disabled, a young teenager in their first trip on their own. Everyone else can get the bus.

Or if it was close or very close family member or weird time eg Sunday at 5 when taxis cost a fortune.

Welshmaenad · 27/09/2017 19:15

I've done an airport pickup in an emergency (parents and sis plane cancelled, they got an alternative plane to a different airport). I picked them up (3hr round trip) and dropped them to their car in the original airport. Taxi would have been extortionate plus dad had mobility issues and I just wanted him to have a comfy journey after an already exhausting delay.

I've also driven 1.5 hours to an airport to pick up OH then another hour back to his then 1.5 hours back to mine the next day, but that was because I had missed him and fancied a romantic reunion in an airport arrivals lounge

sonjadog · 27/09/2017 19:20

Not unreasonable to ask. Not unreasonable to say no.

BBCK · 27/09/2017 19:27

If it's a major problem then say no. If you just can't be arsed then, in my opinion, you reap what you sow.

Coffeeandcherrypie · 27/09/2017 19:40

It's definitely unreasonable to even ask you especially as you never ask them to do this, and also there is no special reason why they need a lift, except to save their taxi money and cost you petrol money.

Are they demanding of you and your sister in other ways?

2rebecca · 27/09/2017 19:51

What about the OP's relatives "not being arsed" with sorting out their own transport back from the airport and inconveniencing themselves rather than expecting someone who isn't part of their holiday plans and doesn't even live near the airport to be inconvenienced BBCK? The people asking are the selfish ones.

minionsrule · 27/09/2017 19:55

I usually drive to and park at the airport when we go away if it is a week or less, marginally less than a taxi, not putting anyone out and no panic if the plane is delayed or we get held up coming out whilst dh has kittens over taxi driver who will be waiting for us. Can also pick some bits like milk up from the Spar on the way out (and I can have a fag outside after being deprived for hours on end

Original poster

Bluerose27 · 27/09/2017 20:06

To be fair, I think their reason for asking is that it's nice to see a friendly face on the return home. And perhaps not actually thinking in depth about the fact that the pick up would be a PITA for me and a doddle in the taxi.

But anyway, I'm off the hook this time as I'm busy so it's a non issue.

Thanks for the input folks, it's always good to get an unbiased opinion on these things.

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