AITAH? Pax wants AC- Gas is $5.04 per gallon

Driver here. 5 stars. Been driving 1-3 night a week for years .

Just a had a weird exchange w/ Pax

Pax gets in & immediately says “Air conditioning please.”

Not “will you? Can you?” doesn’t ask- just a demand with a please.

It’s 82 degrees out and sunny. I have all 4 windows down.

25 mile trip for $27-ish- took me about 15 mins to get to them due to traffic.

I glance at gas tank: it’s half full

I stop & think for a moment….

Me to Pax (in a genuinely courteous and polite tone:

“For a cash tip I’m glad to do whatever you need”

Pax: (silent & hesitant)…. You’re not gonna put the AC on if I don’t tip?

Me: (again super friendly and upbeat) I’d rather save my gas to keep me out here working today. These gas prices are killing us drivers & uber & Lyft have done nothing significant to help keep us on the road to get you folks where you need to go when we you need to get there. I’ve heard some riders ever mention increased prices lately and we drivers have yet to see any pay increase

Pax: wow, this is MY ride & I’m requesting AC…

Me: totally get it & like i said, cash tip would help us both!

Pax: (visibly angry & I can hear it in her voice) that’s not my problem, you choose to work for uber & I’ll tip you in the app when you drop me off

Me: yeah… passengers say that often and they usually never follow up with the tip. I’m good. I’m gonna save my gas

Pax sighs, shake head and chuckles (in what i assume was disgust) & put her head phones on.

Am I the A**hole?

One 1 hand she’s right, it’s her ride she’s paying for, but does that mean I need to cater to her demands? AC, music, phone charger, back seat gps.. list goes on what these pax do…

On the other it’s MY car. Am I not at liberty to decline these things? Uber is a transportation service- I may be wrong but I don’t believe the T.O.S agreement guarantees drivers to provide anything further than a safe transpiration & courteous attitude / experience

Looking back I wish I would’ve jsur said “sorry the AC is broke” or something like that.. it was kinda unexpected and the whole thing felt awkward.

Just waiting for that 1 star review / BS complaint to come through