Who should pay?

[JollyGiraffe]

Friend 1 messages Friend 2 to say they have a spare ticket to the cinema. Their partner is too busy with work to come, and other friends can't go so they ask if Friend 2 will go with them. Friend 1 is aware that Friend 2 doesn't like the genre of the film (and hasn't seen the first one in the series), but Friend 2 agrees to come.

Both Friends have similar amounts of disposable income. Each ticket costs £7.50.

Would you expect Friend 1 to pay for both, or for Friend 2 to reimburse Friend 1 the cost of their ticket?

2 is doing 1 a favour by going

1 should pay

If the ticket is spare then I wouldn’t expect friend 2 to pay for it but to buy the popcorn etc instead..

Ha! Paying for the popcorn is usually twice as expensive as the ticket

If you decide to go anyway, I would just give her the money. I think it’s weird and cheap not to even offer to pay let alone just send them the money via a cash app or bank transfer. It’s £7.50. And yes, paying for snacks would likely cost more than the ticket anyway.

It feels like there’s a lot of false offence taken about invitations or treating people. Just each pay your own way and be done with it. Life’s too short to spend half your day wondering if someone offended you over an invite to the movies or dinner FFS.

I think I would expect for Friend 2 to offer to pay for the ticket, but for Friend 1 to say, "oh no, don't be silly, it's on me.

^^

Got it in one. I would also think friend 2 wojld then insist on getting some snacks.

Oh I assumed from the op it was fantastic beasts which I see turned out to be true

So friend 2 is going just to keep friend 1 company, but doesn’t have much interest in the film otherwise? - so as friend 1, I wouldn’t ask or expect payment for the spare ticket

If somebody told me they had a spare ticket I would presume they had already paid for said ticket? Therefore I wouldn’t expect to pay for it. I’ve done it before at gigs when someone has offered me their ‘spare ticket’, I didn’t pay and wasn’t asked to.

Thanks all, think I've decided not to go! (Especially after all of your reviews of the film...)

I would only be going to do her a favour, but would much rather spend an evening with her for dinner to catch up properly.

I just feel a bit guilty because she doesn't have that many friends in the UK and I know she does want to see it. In the past I've always been happy to go to things she's slightly more keen on than me and have had a good time, but may have to draw the line at this one!

Yes, it is only £7.50 but as I really wouldnt want to go (which she knows) and she's already paid for the tickets I wouldn't expect to reimburse her. Others may disagree, but if the roles were reversed I would definitely not expect her to give me any money.

Agree that buying snacks would be nice (although not extortionate cinema prices!)

I always wonder why the cinema is a group affair when you spend 2+hours sat in silence.

If she is that desperate to go encourage her to go on her own. Lots of people do it. Or wait for it to come out on DVD and buy it second hand from cex

If she is that desperate to go encourage her to go on her own. Lots of people do it.

I second this. You're only sitting in the dark and not talking, you don't NEED another person there.

I've just offered a spare ballet ticket to friend B as person A can no longer go - friend B asked how much the ticket was and I said £0 - as others have alluded to I've already paid for the ticket - I'm sure she'll buy me a glass of wine in the interval which works for me

I would not expect Friend 2 to pay as they’d be doing me a favour. Although if I wanted to see the film that much I would be quite happy to go on my own.

The tickets have already been bought and friend 2 was clearly a back up option so shouldn't have to pay.

In my local cinema the snacks cost far more then the tickets!

Regardless anyway I would say each pay for their own food.