karl gruber wrote:
Who said the FAA rules aren't absurd?

A passenger cannot initiate a flight, that's the ruling, whether you or I
like it or not.

Sorry but I don't believe it.

When I see something official from the FAA that says that it is a
violation to carry a passenger at that person's request when all
expenses are paid by the pilot, then I will believe it.

All I've seen to this point are anecdotes and peoples opinions - some
of which are based on FAA rulings but the rulings don't deal with this
specific question.

The closest I've come to something concrete is an AOPA article on the
specific legalities of this situation and it said that it is a
violation when the expenses are shared.