AIBU To ask them to pay?

[Flatpackback]

I’m going away for a few days with someone who is in my bubble. They aren’t confident about using public transport atm so I offered to divert via London and pick them up. I wasn’t planning on splitting the petrol costs as I would be driving anyway but not through London. I had forgotten about the congestion charge which will add a total cost of £30 to travel costs. Should I ask them to pay it or would that seem mean & petty? They can afford it but so can I. Should I just suck it up and not mention it? It won’t occur to them as they don’t drive and probably aren’t even aware it exists.

Are they the type who will pick up lunch to say thank you for picking them up? If so, I'd let it go.

I would have thought most people would be aware of the London congestion charge, although I admit I didn’t know it was that much. I don’t think you should really have to suck it up, regardless of whether you can afford it. Maybe ask if she is happy to go halves but ideally she would offer to pay it all.

I would mention it and say that's £30 you weren't expecting to pay so either they can give you £30 or they can make their own way. I think that's fair. £30 is a lot of money to just wave away.

I think they should pay it.

In my experience, once you start paying for these things you never stop.

You're going thru the CZ for them not you, so of course they should pay.

I got in the habit of driving my non-driving friend around, and in 20 years she's never paid a penny for petrol, even when we drive 4 hours +. It can grating even in the best of friendships.