Q. May I pass on a tip to readers? Having
been invited to Ibiza, I found out that some friends of my parents are going out by NetJets to stay with the same people. Naturally, I wanted to blag a lift, but instead of asking directly, I emailed and asked if they could take my suitcase, as my budget airline has a luggage restriction. This was more subtle than asking for a lift for myself, but it still delivered the desired result.
P.R., London SW3 A. Your hint was just as unsubtle as a direct request. Asking for a lift on other people’s planes is a serious breach of etiquette. They cannot say no if going to the same house-party, but they would have already cast around for names of people who might want lifts if they felt like giving one. The main reason for splashing out on the luxury of NetJets is to avoid delays in timing. Having to worry about whether another passenger may be late, forget their passport or try to smuggle something means that they are robbed of the mental luxury they have paid for. If, on the other hand, you bond with these people in the course of the house-party, the likelihood is that they will offer you a lift on the way back, when they will have more control over your time-keeping.
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