to travel first class on the train with an 18mo?

[Baconsarnie]

Am visiting parents in a few weeks with 18mo DS. The train journey is about two hours long, and obv it can be a bit of a trial with DS. He loves trains, but doesn't keep still, will want to walk up and down, press the button to open the door at the end of the carriage etc. He's not too noisy tho, or at least I'll do my best to keep him quiet. So, would I be unreasonable to book a first class ticket? Two singles are quite cheap on Virgin as we'll be travelling off-peak. The upside will be more space, fewer people to annoy/charm, a higher chance of getting two seats to ourselves, and just general all round comfort. But is that unfair to the other people who might be travelling for business or who might have paid more for a bit of peace and quiet?

[LucyHoneychurch]

Gosh I'd do it if I could afford it. Your DS has as much right as anyone else to some first class comfort.

[abra1d]

He's a passenger and you sound like a very responsible person, ie, sensitive to other people, so why the hell not? I would be happy to have you next to me.

[saintmaybe]

It's not much more comfy, though, is it?

Tbh I'd book seats, but in the normal bit, because if you're being glared at by worky types with laptops you're not going to have a relaxing journey

[BecauseImWorthIt]

YANBU to want the comfort/space.

But if you let him roam around and annoy others (sorry - your idea of charm will be other people's idea of hell!), then YABVU.

We had this recently on a train where we were trying to work, and it was unbelievably irritating.

If he won't keep still and wants to walk up and down, does it really matter where you're sitting?

But I also suppose it depends if you're travelling on a week (i.e. work) day or at the weekend. If you're traveling during the week, definitely book standard class. Sorry!

[VineGruesomeTits]

first class is for anyone, not just business types

[WhereYouLeftIt]

YANBU. Besides, businesses are looking to trim their costs right now so probably have cut back on first class travel - maybe you'll get the carriage all to yourself.

[Lulumama]

there are quiet carriages on the virgin trains for people who need to travel undisturbed

i used first class recently and it was slightly roomier, got refreshments , newspaper, lunch etc.. but i don't think you'll appreciate all of that if you are up and down with a toddler

why not book two seats with a table and take lots of things for him to do?

[apostropheisback]

YANBU. Hope you have a good journey.

[bigchris]

'We had this recently on a train where we were trying to work, and it was unbelievably irritating'

I don't get this
I don't get why people try to work on trains
it's a train not a library

[thenameiwantedwastaken]

I travelled first class with my dd when she was about 4 months old. I was a bit nervous too and even had visions of them telling me to leave as babies weren't allowed in 1st class ! But it was absolutely fine. I ws travelling off peak too and I think there were only 1 or 2 other people in whole carriage. We had plenty of room to spread out and the wheelchair space was free for all our luggage. Lovely Virgin man kept bringing me complimentary bottles of water while I was breastfeeding So go for it! If anyone takes the hump, they can always move into the quiet coach.

[VineGruesomeTits]

Hmm if people don't want to be annoyed by other people on trains then maybe they should get a private chauffeur to drive them

Trains are public, and they are for everyone to use, if you pay more for a 1st class ticket, you are just as entitled to use it as anyone else

[BecauseImWorthIt]

Yes, but in quiet carriages you can't use your phones, and - sadly - sometimes that's essential when you're working.

I have no objection to non-'business types' using first class by the way - just in case it sounded like that! I do object, though, to being disturbed by children running up and down the aisle, pulling my suitcase out, putting sticky fingers on my work, screaming at the top of their darling little voices, climbing on the seats and taking my drink, all of which allowed by overly benevolent mother.

[saintmaybe]

but you're likely to find more people who're disposed to look kindly on him, including other children in standard

which will be more relaxing for you than some grumpy business type, however unjustified the grumpinesss

I dont think yabu at all, just not sure it will work out as well

[TabithaWitches]

There might be people travelling for business in standard class too, why should those in 1st class be shielded from the rest of the world?

You are perfectly entitled to pay for a ticket wherever you want to sit.

As long as you are sensitive to the needs/ comfort of other passengers - which it sounds like you are - then there is no reason not to sit where you like.

Everyone is entitled to a bit of consideration, I am a bit that people should think that those in 1st class deserve more consideration than those in standard class.

[Restrainedrabbit]

YANBU, you have as much right to be there as the typical businessman I had the great fortune to (once) be bumped to business class on a flight to St Lucia and there were a number of families there. Didn't bother me at all.

[belgo]

Go for it, if you pay you have as much right as anyone else to travel first class.

[ilovemydogandmrobama]

Well, you have just as much right to be in 1st Class as anyone else, unless of course you sit in the quiet coach.

Not sure I understand the viewpoint that if one makes noise, you need to be in standard class

besides, I find that when I take the kids on the train, they make less noise than the business types shouting on the phone anyway

[hocuspontas]

I wouldn't think twice about it myself but the fact you have posted that you are worried about other people's reactions means that you will be on edge the whole journey! Providing it's off-peak, I'm sure you will have a much more relaxed time in standard.

[BecauseImWorthIt]

"I don't get this
I don't get why people try to work on trains
it's a train not a library "

Er. Because I'm travelling to a meeting, but have other work that has to get done? In the last two or so weeks I've been on the train for long distance journeys at least every 3 days, and so work that would normally be done in the office has to get done on the train.

Sorry if you don't like the idea of me working on the train! And I'm not grumpy. Usually.

[famishedass]

YANBU - first class isn't just for people who are working.

[emsyj]

IME the Virgin trains have 8 coaches of first class and 2 coaches of standard class, so chances are if you're travelling off peak AND the tickets are cheap, it's because the first class coaches are pretty much empty and you are likely to get a coach to yourself. I have had the whole coach to myself on more than one occasion. As long as you avoid the Quiet Coach you should be okay. I would go first class - standard class is likely to be crowded (thanks to the ludicrous First/Standard coach ratio on Virgin trains...) and the amount of room you get is bad enough if you're on your own, let alone with a small child. He is bound to be frustrated when people are in his way and he can't wander freely.

I personally pay for First Class to get (slightly) cleaner loos, more space and to avoid the 'tinny headphones' contingent. I would much prefer to have an 18 mth old DC wandering around than a group of youths drinking cans and playing music out loud on their mobile phones! Anyone who doesn't like it can move to another coach - there are always spare seats in every coach in First Class. Always.

[Stayingscarygirl]

We've travelled first class with all our dses - dh gets it instead of a company car. First class is much more comfortable, especially on a longer journey, and you may well get at-seat service of drinks and snacks. Some train operators give tea/coffee/juice/biscuits free to firstclass ticket holders. If I'm right, some Virgin trains do food free as well - dh has had toasties or breakfast brought to him for nothing.

We've also always found the on-board staff, especially the catering crews, were great with children (not just ours).

We have never had anyone object to us having the children in first class, though we do try to make sure that they behave reasonably quietly, and don't bother other people. When they were younger, they sometimes went up and down the carriage offering to put people's rubbish in the bin for them (not at our suggestion - they just enjoyed it for some strange reason).

I second those who suggest booking seats with a table and making sure you've got plenty with you to keep him occupied.

[VineGruesomeTits]

sounds like you need that private chauffeur BIWI

annoying as it may be to you, children are just as entitled to travel in 1st class as you are, thats why its called public transport

[Squishabelle]

I would never have any objection to anyone being in first class but what I would object to (and would complain about) would be children being allowed to run up and down the carriage and opening and closing the doors; but I would also complain about this in standard class also. I was once in a train where a child was running riot the length of the train (totally unconcerned parent/carer) UNTIL the child went missing. Was eventually found in a toilet several carriages away.

[teatank]

BIWI its a train not an office. i think you need to look up the word train in a dictionary.