To offer free taxi service from Glasgow to Edinburg Airport

[Slyngel]

Without going into too much detail...I have a sister who travels extensively and goes on at least 5 foreign holidays a year. She has in recent years come to rely on me to drive her (sometimes on her own, sometimes with a travelling companion) to the local airport (10 miles or less) and pick her up. She doesn't offer petrol money but does pay for the drop-off/pick-up parking charge (around £6 a time). She's now told me she has booked a holiday in September (with her partner) flying from Edinburgh Airport. she has asked me to drive them from Glasgow to Edinburgh Airport and pick them up (10 days later) I haven't been given flight times but she says they are "good". Because of the recent pattern I am sort of expected to accede. This will involve about minimum 4 hours of my time (1 hour journey X 4) and 180 miles (4 X 45 hours). I know she wont offer to pay the petrol, There's also the issue of my unfamiliarity of edinburgh airport and where to wait before getting the text that they are at the pick-up point. My sister is a very strong character and I am weak, have no family except her and her daughter and no close friends. I don't want to fallout or have a confrontation. What would others expect if this request was to be made? I have checked that a taxi would be a minimum of £98 each way. Am I being mean or unreasonable to refuse or to request petrol money? Just got that unpleasant feeling of being used.

Point out to her how much taxis would cost.
If she didn't then offer to cover the cost of your petrol, and any other fees, I would politely refuse.
Does she do any similar favours for you, OP?

Have a competing commitment that day?

It’s unreasonable of her, but the dynamic of the relationship means she expects it will be ok. She will carry on expecting that until something shows her it isn’t.

You could reply, it’s ok DSis, I can do it this time, but be aware it will take me a whole day and cost about £x in fuel.

Why on earth would you be "mean" to ask for petrol money? Why should you be put of pocket, don't get it!

Tell her no, that's not convenient.

If she can pay for holidays she can pay for a Cab / Train / airport parking

If you don’t feel comfortable being honest - which I get - family dynamics and all- start making comments about a sore knee or ankles and something now and then… And then at some point in August say you seem to be unable to drive more than short distances without severe pain or something - it wouldn’t be safe to take her to the airport, but for sis not to be worried as it’s probably nothing serious and doctor is looking into it- and smile sweetly of course ☺️

Be busy. It’s a big ask which is fine if it’s reciprocal or if she’s doing a lot for you.

Sorry Sis - I have plans that day, hope you manage to get a taxi or, or find parking - have a great holiday!
Stand up for yourself!

Just be honest and say no.

Explain it's the time it will take, the cost and the unfamiliararity of the airport. Do it today and it's done.

Do it by text, then pop back on here for any further support required if she pushes back.

Don't give excuses etc.

https://www.edinburghairport.com/transport-links/buses-and-coaches/glasgow-bus-links
Pretty good service...

Tell her to get to get megabus or the train. Megabus is pretty cheap

What do you mean, you are expected to do this? She asks you and you say yes? So say no.

I can see how it's reasonable for friends and family to take each other to local airports as long as it's reciprocal as it saves extortionate parking or taxi costs, but if it's all one way and it's two long round trips and she doesn't pay your costs then it's perfectly reasonable to say no.

She can drive and pay to park, use public transport or a taxi/transfer service. Don't fluff around making excuses, just say you're unable to do it.

Tell her to get the airport bus like any other person.

Tell her whatever you decide by text. It's easier to do in writing. And either turn off notifications OR turn your phone off, until you are feeling a bit stronger, to read her furious responses. Definitely don't answer calls because you'll cave!

And don't answer every message. Craft a single reply that you're happy with, send it and don't respond further.

I would tell her that due to it being further away than usual you would appreciate fuel costs.

As for where to park, at Edinburgh airport you're quite limited as the roads surrounding it and any wee bits you think oh that will be good to park and wait are always being monitored by security and airport police and they will move you on. You used to be able to park for 30 minutes for free at the Long stay car park but they'll have to walk from the terminal and it takes 10 minutes. I would watch the flight on Flight Radar and only leave the house when it's about 20-30 minutes from landing tbh.

Alternatively, just tell her to get the bus and stop treating you like a personal taxi service. Stand your ground. People like her will continue to take advantage because they know they get away with it.

There's an airport bus that goes from buchanan bus station to Edinburgh airport. Tell her you'll give her a lift there!

Don't explain, don't make excuses and don't lie. Simply tell her it's not convenient. I second the suggestion of doing it by text and muting notifications.

My response would depend on what bothers you more. The lack of petrol money, the time taken out of our day and/or the lack of thanks.

If you don't mind the time sink, then say yes you are happy to ferry her and her partner to the airport, but you'll need at least petrol money and drop off fees paid.

If it's the time you are more bothered about, say no, it's too far and will take up more of your day than you are comfortable with. Public transport to Edinburgh airport from Glasgow is absolutely fine. The tram takes you to the pick up/drop off points.

If it's the lack of thanks, tell her to enjoy her holiday but you are no longer available to be a free taxi service to her.

There's an airport bus that is very frequent 24 hours a day. She'll manage on that.

I just wouldn't do it, would never have done it and would never have put myself in the position of taxi driver.

Thanks for all the replies. To be honest, this issue is as much emotional as it is practicalities/economics.
There is a precedent. Last September I drove them both to Edinburgh for a very early Sunday morning flight to Norway. However they returned a week later via Amsterdam to Glasgow so the pick-up was easy enough. Pick-up at Glasgow usually involves me heading to the airport for the plane's arrival time, parking up at Inchinnan road until sis texts me that they are at the pick-up point then I drive to the pick-up point (5 mins). So no danger of exceeding the 10 or 15 mins allowed time at the pick-up. More difficult to do this at Edinburgh as I wont be able to monitor the plane's arrival while driving through and then (as someone has pointed out) finding a safe spot to wait for the text that they are at the pick-up point in the airport vicinity is not easy, possibly not doable at all. With regard to reciprocity I had not done any foreign travel for about 10 years until last Dec, when I went away myself and sister took me to our local airport Glasgow 9less than 10 miles). Only recently i have booked a repeat and was hoping (!) that sister would repeat last year. As I said in opening post, sister is away regularly throughout the year and I have done multiple local airport trips for her in recent years (plus one to Edinburgh last year). If the request (made by text this am, giving me the dates for my diary but no flight times) had included an offer to pay petrol, or even an acknowledgement that the double trip was a big ask, I would be feeling better emotionally and not feeling that i was being used.

She's taking the absolute piss.

S she does have a car, so why can't she drive herself? It's not like she's skint if she can afford multiple trips away each year, including expensive places like Norway.

I live very near Glasgow Airport and frequently run friends and family, and they return the favour. Absolutely no way would I run folk to Edinburgh, even if they did pay petrol money!