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.

Excellent.

No lies, no prevarication.

"No Sis. Edinburgh is too far. It takes up a whole day for me, and ask that driving exhausts me. I can give you lifts to and from the bus station."

I wouldn't mention fuel costs, either, as that would give her the opportunity to pay for fuel and then think what she's doing is OK. It's not. Not unless it is reciprocal, even in other ways.

This would be perfectly normal in my family. But it would go both ways. I’m not one for tit for tat favours usually- but the expectation would annoy me here!

She's taking the piss, there's a bus from Glasgow to EDI, drop her at the coach station in Glasgow!!

The park and ride at Ingleston is better than waiting at Edinburgh airport pick up so if you do drive her to from airport drop them there and they can jump on the tram same on return journey.

Just say, sorry, I already have plans on both those days.
She doesn’t need to know that your plans are to have a lie-in, or go shopping.

I'd either say, depending on what I'd be happy with:
Yes, sure, happy to do that if you're happy to cover the petrol costs.
Or -
sorry, would have helped if it had been Glasgow - Edinburgh just too far - I know there's a bus/train tho, or you can get a taxi. Have a great trip.

it's cheaper to pay the drop off / pick up charge than use the tram!

She is using you. As others have suggested, text a very brief and clear message with no loopholes or apologies that you have plans both days and there are multiple options for the journey. Then mute her for 24 hours as she is probably going to bombard you with stroppy messages. If she can book plane tickets she can probably manage bus tickets as well.

Tell her the valet parking service at Edinburgh is very good and reasonably priced. Because it is. And she’s a user.

There is a buswhich goes direct from Edinburgh airport to Glasgow city centre. It runs every 30 minutes during the day and makes very few stops en route. It's very convenient. I would find another thing to do that day and tell her to get the bus.

No, that's too far for me to drive and the parking to wait to pick you up is awkward. There's an airport bus from Glasgow though and I can drop you off and pick you up at the bus station (in Glasgow) if that's any help to you.

It's cheeky of her.

She can get the bus or she can split the cost of the taxi with the friend she is going with.

Depending on what a 'good flight time is', you could be hitting the M8 at rush hour. Hideous.

No from me. It's a lot of asks. If she can afford to go holiday then she can afford a taxi or airport parking

Tram park and ride is free. They can text when they are at the gate and she could collect.

Except, she should absolutely not do this. Her sister is taking the piss.

What happens if you say no? There is great public transport. Even better if the flight times are good.

I get it that you have the fear, but she's obviously pushed this too far, right?

Don't do it if you'd rather not. Say sorry I can't make it. I wouldn't ask for petrol money.

Sorry sis, Edinburgh is a bit to far and will take up my whole day. As I found out last year, I hope you understand.

However, there is an airport bus leaving from X, I can obviously give you a lift to the bus stop.
X Sis.

I wasn't sure if Ingliston park and ride still had barriers. But yeah as I said she should just tell her to make her own way there and back anyway. Chancer.

What an absolute cheeky fucker she is! Just say no. If she asks why, just tell her you can’t afford to do it any more.

Tell her to get the bus. I’m pretty sure we have a bus? Free if she’s got the pass as well.

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

Why is a taxi necessary? What's wrong with the bus or the train?

Just say no.
She won't appreciate any argument you make towards any aspect of this.

You have inadvertently fallen into the role of Free Butler.

If you say no this time (and no is a complete sentence) then she can fall out with you relieving you of any future obligation. Or not. Her reaction is down to her.

Op if the flights are around rush hour then the length of your journey can double so I would honestly politley decline.

I do regular pickups from Edinburgh airport but ended up telling a family member to get the bus during the royal highland show as my normal 20 minute journey could have taken 3 hours.

I wouldn’t fall out about it, just say ‘sure but it’s a 90 mile round trip twice so it’ll cost whatever it is in fuel in your car.’ In mine it would cost a fortune but it’s my choice to have a car with shit fuel consumption so I would just look for a contribution

My dad collects us from Edinburgh and he usually leaves the house when he sees on Sky Scanner that the flight has half an hour or so to go. He lives more than half an hour away, but it gets round the nowhere free to wait problem, since we just wait for him, as it costs nothing and he’s the one doing us a favour. When leaving the carpark we pay at the drive thru machine - so just look to her and say ‘it wants your card 😜’

If she falls out with you for asking for a financial contribution and to make pick up slightly less stressful for you, then she’s welcome to spend £200 on taxis. They’ll be right there when she wants them (probably).

I live 4 hours from an airport, tell them to drive themselves and go online to buy cheaper parking, the car will be waiting for them upon return then they drive home.