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AIBU?

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Original poster

Should 1st class babies and children stay in 1st class?

141 replies

user30 · 17/08/2024 13:37

Long haul flight, economy on lower deck, business/1st class on upper deck.
From the moment the fasten seat belt signs went off there were between 1 and 7 women (I would guess nannies but I do not know) juggling babies and toddlers in economy as well as badly behaved children aged 3-7 running around and making a huge mess in the bathrooms. I was on the front row and was repeatedly tapped and asked to tuck my legs under my seat to give them more space.

Cabin Crew seemed irritated (at one point 2 children threw handfuls of rice down the stairs onto a Cabin Crews head!) but only said something when a boy started throwing (unused) sanitary towels at economy passengers.

AIBU to think that everyone including children should stay in their own section of the plane? It was a nightmare and I am very tired so may be a bit cranky 😂

OP posts:
Blondiebeachbabe · 17/08/2024 15:02

My goodness, this sounds horrendous. We are flying with Singapore airlines soon, from London to Singapore. Please tell me we get more than one glass of wine! LOL.

Differentstarts · 17/08/2024 15:00

To be fair i can see where their coming from when I'm flying first class I always go to economy to take a shit so the peasants can smell it we don't want anything spoiling our flight including children while where in the important end of the plane

Nadeed · 17/08/2024 14:54

Just trip the kids up, and claim blind it was accidental. The kids will know it was not and hopefully stay away from you.

Trinity65 · 17/08/2024 14:49

YANBU OP

Scottishskifun · 17/08/2024 14:48

I won't touch Emirates with a barge pole their staff in Dubai are rude and their staff won't challenge certain passengers on flights - also had an experience of terrible parenting letting 1st class passenger children keep lots of people awake (not talking a baby or toddler 7 year old just deciding to sing then scream and shout and stomp their foot).

We now prefer to pay a bit more to a different airline then give anything to Emirates!

Trinity65 · 17/08/2024 14:46

Kipperthedawg · 17/08/2024 13:52

We've just flown long haul economy and I literally rugby tackled my 5 year old to stop him running through 'the curtain' and told him that's where they keep the angry people. He was placated by 3-4 unnecessary trips to the toilet during the flight in the end.

So yes I'd expect the same from first class passengers although not calling economy angry 😅

Excellent

That's where they keep the angry people
😆

Flossflower · 17/08/2024 14:42

If you are in the front row they should not be using that as a short cut. You have paid for that extra room.

Emz1212 · 17/08/2024 14:31

notimagain · 17/08/2024 14:20

Likewise.

Whilst in an ideal world on many airlines the cabin crew would step in to sort this out in some parts of the world doing so could be career ending…..it depends on who is involved.

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Dubai has served our family very well over the years. Granted it’s not my place culturally - but we usually used it in feb/oct half term for guaranteed sun.

We always stayed somewhere like the Atlantis - and even though it’s a bit of the insta crowd - it was great service, 20 plus quality places to eat under one roof, water park, pools etc. it was perfect when the kids were young.

Service was always great - but usually people from the Philippines or Sri Lanka who are working to send money back home. When the Arabs used to arrive on the Friday - they used to treat the hotel staff like dog poop. It was horrible to see.

Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:30

@mitogoshi they were thin on the ground and incredibly stressed! They were run ragged cleaning the bathrooms and heating milk bottles. At one point 2 very spiffily dressed boys went into the toilet together and literally trash it - soap, wiped everywhere, toilet blocked with paper towels, floor inch deep in water. It was cleaned and they went straight back in! It was horrendous. I felt so sorry for them I didn't want to make it worse by complaining. I will write and complain as pp suggest.

OP posts:
Toastcrumbsinsofa · 17/08/2024 14:27

This is where a sneaky glass of water ‘accidentally’ spilt on a child’s head while running into me can come in very handy!

Wentie · 17/08/2024 14:24

Agree with PP, knew it would be an Arabic airline before you said it was emirates. I used to live in Saudi Arabia and the children on Saudia (their national airline) used to cause absolute chaos. I think it’s just a cultural difference of what is acceptable, they have a different attitude towards children and actually in general I found them much more family friendly. There are also some “elite” VIP passengers who the cabin crew will not challenge.

mitogoshi · 17/08/2024 14:24

I would have been calling the cabin crew repeatedly until the bag behaviour ceased. No matter your wealth you can't disrupt others. Thankfully on all other types of land there isn't space to play, I will definitely avoid those double decker ones

Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:22

Notwhatuwanttohear · 17/08/2024 14:21

You should have went up and sat in one of the empty first class chairs.

When the cabin crew challenged you, you tell them when they get control of the economy cabin and it's not like a crèche then you'll return.

This is a lovely vision, but I think I'd have been rugby tackled on the stairs in reality 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:22

@Notsandwiches correct!
@notimagain I always wonder what parents are hoping for when they defend their children's poor behaviour - do they think the child will grow up to be a respectful loving son/daughter? Seems unlikely!

OP posts:
Notwhatuwanttohear · 17/08/2024 14:21

You should have went up and sat in one of the empty first class chairs.

When the cabin crew challenged you, you tell them when they get control of the economy cabin and it's not like a crèche then you'll return.

notimagain · 17/08/2024 14:20

Emz1212 · 17/08/2024 14:15

Before I even finished reading - I knew it was going to be Emirates.

It’s cultural - absolutely nothing will change that.

Likewise.

Whilst in an ideal world on many airlines the cabin crew would step in to sort this out in some parts of the world doing so could be career ending…..it depends on who is involved.

Tagyoureit · 17/08/2024 14:19

user30 · 17/08/2024 13:46

I told one of them off when they repeatedly stamped on my foot but he just laughed at me and carried on his throwing game in my personal space. I have never seen such badly behaved children and I was a teacher for 18 years!!

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Then I'd tell off the parents!!

Bet the cabin crew would jump at stopping me going in to first class! 🤣🤣

RheaRend · 17/08/2024 14:17

I have experienced similar. Sadly I was at the bottom of the stairs and the woman who was run ragged by the kids asked ME to stop them running upstairs and said I was the nearest so it was my job to stop them.

Nope! Not my circus, not my monkeys!

paristotokyo · 17/08/2024 14:17

We had this recently with Qatar Airways! There were kids from business that kept coming into economy like a million times to see their nannies but it was so annoying as we were sitting at the front middle aisle so they kept walking infront of us to get to the other side, often without asking first! A couple of times whilst I was trying to sleep so woke me up and we had bags for the baby there plus the bassinet so it was just so annoying them clambering all over us! I wouldnt choose to sit there again. They were also very loud and just generally a pain. Cabin crew also seemed irritated but couldn't really do much really. So yes I do think they should be made to stay in their cabin Angry

Notsandwiches · 17/08/2024 14:16

So first class parents send nanny and children down to economy so they and their fellow first class travellers aren't inconvenienced by them?

Emz1212 · 17/08/2024 14:15

Before I even finished reading - I knew it was going to be Emirates.

It’s cultural - absolutely nothing will change that.

PinkCast · 17/08/2024 14:14

user30 · 17/08/2024 13:55

The literal opposite of this. I was in economy.

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I guess the parents / childminders were having a lovely peaceful time in first class 🫣
But I do partially blame cabin crew for not telling them off, most of the blame of course is on those who were supposed to be supervising those children.

Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:11

The fact I am a parenting coach who was travelling for work made it hilariously ironic as well 😂

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Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:10

I have had great flights with Singapore airlines on this route, I will stick to them in future! I found a slightly lower priced flight with Qatar but won't use them after this shameful debacle: www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/25/australia-demands-answers-after-women-taken-from-qatar-airways-flight-and-strip-searched

OP posts:
Original poster
user30 · 17/08/2024 14:07

@MorrisZapp it was a night flight - they served dinner and a glass of wine then it was water only in economy 😂I don't know if this is normal - the flight was hellish 😂

OP posts: