On 9-Oct-2003, Craig Prouse wrote:

The notion that it is "questionable" to take a friend (someone known to
you) anywhere he wants to go per his request just because it wasn't the
pilot's
prior intention to fly that route that day is an absurdly tortured
interpretation of the rules.
If my friend calls me from Fresno because his car is broken down and he
needs a ride home,
it doesn't matter whether I go pick him up in my car or my airplane.


Exactly right, so long as no compensation is involved! In fact, the person
would not even have to be "known to you." For example, it's certainly legal
for me as a private pilot to volunteer my (uncompensated) services to fly a
political candidate from one campaign appearance to another.

--
-Elliott Drucker