We are about 20 minutes from the airport so friends and family usually ask to park their vehicle at our place which no problem at all. The issue is they also ask for picking them up and dropping off at the airport which we don’t mind sometimes but getting to the point like we are expected to do it. We always have hard time saying NO since it is kind of awkward if we are home.
They would ask to park at our place usually 1-2 weeks before their trip without mentioning anything, then 9/10 would ask for ride to/from the airport at the last minutes.
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We are about 20 minutes from the airport so friends and family usually ask to park their vehicle at our place which no problem at all. The issue is they also ask for picking them up and dropping off at the airport which we don’t mind sometimes but getting to the point like we are expected to do it. We always have hard time saying NO since it is kind of awkward if we are home.
They would ask to park at our place usually 1-2 weeks before their trip without mentioning anything, then 9/10 would ask for ride to/from the airport at the last minutes.
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> 1. Saying No for picking up / dropping off people at the airport when we already let them park their car at our place
2. Sometimes we are home and doing nothing, but don’t really want to pick them up
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
NTA, tell them they can pay you Uber rates if they want a lift or they can call an Uber themselves!
NTA
Look up rates for parking lots near the airport and check if they charge for shuttle, and maybe charge a dollar more than them and see how they’re gonna stop asking these favors
NTA – OP just tell them up front that you’re constantly being asked and it’s disruptive and tiring even if it appears you’re doing nothing. They can park but no rides. Lead with that when they ask to park.
You’re already providing free short/long term parking. They can Uber. Just don’t be home/available. “Sorry! We’ve got plans in the opposite direction” and then leave.
NTA. If it’s only 20 minutes, they can use a rideshare. I do it myself for rides up to 90 minutes from the airport. It’s the least I can do especially if someone is being kind enough to host me.
This seems cheeky and presumptuous!
You could either consider telling people directly that while they’re welcome to park at your place, that’s the extent of your involvement with their travel plans.
Or, consider conveniently being out (or appearing to be out) when friends and family arrive to park.
NTA
NTA. Doesn’t matter if you are home or not. The answer to such an inappropriate request is that you are unavailable – hard stop.
No reasoning or time/date change makes you available. You are already providing a service by allowing them to save money parking at your home.
NTA If someone let me park my car in their driveway instead of paying park and ride or airport rates, I’d show up with a gift certificate to her favorite restaurant, say thank you very uich and hire a taxi to get to and from the airport.
NTA.
“Sure, you can absolutely park your vehicle at our home from xx to yy. Please be aware that we’re unable to drop you off or pick you up from the airport. Thanks, and have a safe trip.”
NTA. I would do this for someone who was visiting me but it’s a bit weird for them to expect that when they’re just using your place for parking. I probably wouldn’t make a big deal of it, just say, “sorry, we’re busy.”
But if it’s gotten really out of control, maybe send a mass email/text to everyone who does this explaining that while it’s great so many of your loved ones get to travel so much, this is turning you into a taxi service and you’re not going to do it anymore outside of special circumstances. It may be that if each of them individually is close to you, they think of it as a chance to catch up and don’t realize how many other people are asking for the same thing, to the point of becoming a real burden.
Of course, they may all stop parking there now too if the cost of a ride each way is as much as the cost of parking. Adding 20 minutes either way to a trip does not sound very convenient to me.
NTA
From now on when people ask to park there, respond to them something like “Sure thing, that’s not a problem but want to let you know that we won’t be able to drop offs for your flights”
Might be easier to just say it upfront when they ask to park there. “Yes, we have no problem with you parking at our home, but that doesn’t include rides to and from the airport. Please make sure you plan for a ride if you intend to park at our home”
NTA you should set out the boundaries.
I am not reading this! Just from the title I have to say NO RIDES TO AND FROM AIRPORT, PEOPLE!!!
We are also near the airport. I address the issue straight on: “How are you planning to get to the airport from our house?” right when they ask to park their car. I have taxi information handy which I text them immediately and tell them what it costs roughly. It is rare I will drive them.
I even more rarely do pickups. That’s just a no.
NTA. But you gotta grow a spine here.
NTA I think you should start telling these people when they ask to park that you have to let them know in advance that you no longer give people rides to and from the airport, as that has become too much, especially at the last minute. They are welcome to park, but they will have to arrange transport to and from the airport themselves. If they balk or have a bad reaction, I would bite the bullet and tell them that exactly what you are trying to avoid is being taken for granted as a combination free parking space and on demand shuttle service to and from the airport. That’s too much, especially as you often let friends and family park at your place. Can they please understand that. If they are upset that you can’t be that, then perhaps it’s better if they find somewhere else to park.
I park at my friend’s house because she’s closer to the airport than I am. She usually drives me to and from the airport too. However, I pay her each time. And add extra if my flight times suck.
NTA. “Sorry, that’s not going to work for us.”
NTA. When they ask, say absolutely you can park here and just to let you know, uber rates to and from are xx and other company rates are xx, so you can decide which company you would prefer to use in advance. You can even add book them ahead of time so you are certain they collect you on time.
Framing it as a helpful, but definite way always makes things easier.
Ps for the stubborn ones who will try and say but it is only a few minutes ride to the airport, always just say *so sorry but I have an online meeting now, look at your watch a few times and disappear into another room, shut door and mumble to yourself, it works wonders…..
No. Airports are hell on earth.
NTA. You are providing free parking. They can use Uber or Lift with the money that they are saving.
when they ask to park at you place ask for the date and time of their flight and after they give that info say “sure you can park here but we have other plans so make sure to arange for a uber to the airport .
and as you now know when their flight comes in dont answer the phone when they call for that pick up
They have started abusing your gracious hospitality. It seems like time to cut off the free parking,.
“Sorry, we’re no longer doing that”
“why?”
you respond “….what?”
Tell your cheapskate friends that you’re already saving them a ton in parking fees. Use that money for an uber.
NTA for saying NO to the dropping off/picking up thing. Here in the UK there are very often charges for this. Yes, just stopping to let people out or in. It seems to be around £5-7 for ten minutes in the bigger airports. I would not be doing this unless they were paying me for those charges in advance. It soon adds up!