Is it a thing for older people to be picked up from the airport?
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Anonymous
| My dad will be flying in for an extended visit the day after Thanksgiving. Before he bought a flight, he asked when would be a good time. DH and I said mid-week and mid-day into DCA while DS4 and DS1 are out of the house. He decided on a flight that comes in at 5:30 (I didn't know it was the day after Thanksgiving at the time) and I said that he could uber/lyft to my house because that is daycare pick up and then dinner time/bedtime start. If he ubered, he would get to our house in time to hang out with DS4 for a little while. We found a flight that would arrive at 10 AM but he said he would have to wake up too early. He said he didn't think it would be too much trouble for us to pick him up. I don't understand why he can't just uber? Is it rude of me not to pick up my dad at the airport? I wonder if it is an old person thing - he is familiar with the uber and lyft app. |
Anonymous
| Ageist much? |
Anonymous
| It’s not an old person thing. It’s just nice to pick up your guests if you can. |
Anonymous
They can Uber. Working family schedule > retired persons preferences |
Anonymous
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Yes, it’s kind of rude to not pick up your dad at the airport if he wants you to. Is there no way to adjust your schedule to pick him up?
FYI - my mom (73) is fine ubering TO the airport, but will literally wait and read a book at the airport if our schedules don’t mesh. |
Anonymous
| DC is the only region I have ever lived in where people seem to really push back against picking guests up. So I think it's regional vs an age thing. Or maybe people in DC are just less kind than elsewhere. |
Anonymous
| It's nice to pick up visitors at the airport if you can. Those are the people we like to visit! |
Anonymous
| It's the day after thanksgiving -- are you really working a full day? When my kids were that age, they loved coming to the airport to pick up their grandparents. I'd leave the 1 year old home with DH, and you and the 4 year old pick him up. Feed the 4 year old in the car. |
Anonymous
| It can be stressful to pick up an Uber at an airport. It's different that just having one come to your house or street corner. It's annoying that he is coming in at an inconvenient time, but if he doesn't want to uber, he can wait a bit and you can pick him up after daycare pickup. |
Anonymous
| In some circles, not dependent on age, it is considered the done thing to pick people up from the airport. My husband always tries to pick people up from the airport and feels very bad if he can’t do it. He’s always been like this - since I met him when he was 28. |
Anonymous
| I agree that expectations here tend to be generational. Young Gen Zers are used to Uber everywhere. For older people, being picked up by a friend or family member is the norm and often viewed as hospitable, welcoming, and courteous. |
Anonymous
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Wow! Your dad is coming and you will not pick him up?
Wait? Let me guess. You are a WASP? No wonder you guys don't reciprocate even after you stuff your faces at the dinners I host. If you cannot show manners to your parents...I am asking too much of you! 
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Anonymous
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Yes people do usually pick up parents at the airport.
My dad isn't even that old (65) and he gets ridiculous around flying. He has to give me the flight schedule, call me multiple times about it, on and on. And when I fly to see them, he wants nonstop texts- "landed" "arrived at gate" "got luggage". I live right near Dulles airport and have absolutely said I'm not picking up from BWI or Reagan. |
Anonymous
| Why cant you go pick up your family member? We have always dropped off/picked up. |
Anonymous
It's a city thing. You don't expect relatives in NYC to pick you up at the airport. |