Flying business class

Ok the UK has very high departure taxes especially Heathrow. So take for example a flight lon to Bangkok over Xmas. From LHR it costs £3380 on cheapest BC Flights. From Rome on the same dates ( with a better airline) it costs £1620.

Now take an early flight to Rome ( departure FROM Rome is 10.20 pm) for roughly £30/40 . Even with extra flights added saves around £1500 a ticket

You can also go from Athens for £1200 with Royal Jordanian

Shorthaul into Europe to then transfer to Long Haul flight can be way of getting around the UK's High rate of Airport Passenger Duty on Longhaul departures.

@NeedSomeComfy I’ve surprised myself by being with you too on this, and honestly think if I were the girlfriend in this scenario I’d be totally ok with it actually - though would potentially feel a bit differently about the same situation post marriage and possibly kids together ten years down the line. Though ultimately I wouldn’t want my partner to be in pain and struggling on holiday. Australia is a long flight and you don’t want to add a bad back to jet leg etc. to a holiday with her parents which should be fun for you all and hopefully a bit of bonding time between you and her family. Different for a short haul trip but I think your considerations are really valid, even speaking as someone who has never been able to afford business class in my life and probably never will! The crucial thing though is what does your girlfriend think?! Because it also won’t be a fun trip if she spends the whole holiday pissed off at the flight arrangements (or indeed if you’d spend the whole time feeling guilty anyway). If she’s ok with it then I would just book the business class seat and enjoy it.

If you’re paying for your own ticket the it’s ultimately up to you but not travelling with your girlfriend and her son is kind of an arsehole move. It’s not like it’s a short haul flight. Those flights are long and it would be helpful for her to have someone with her for when she needs the loo. Plus the point is it’s meant to be a trip to meet her family, a shared travel experience. Rather than business for you and economy for her, can’t you look at something like Premium Economy for you all?

Sorry to sidetrack but please can you expand on this strategy? I’d love to know more 🤓

it is not uncommon, particularly when an employer is paying for flights.

You can argue that the extra space is wasted on the child and it can be unhelpful for a child to grow up flying business.

However I don’t think your GF will see it that way. If I was her I’d want us to be all together

I have a terrible back, (like, 4 spinal surgeries bad), and even I wouldn't do that. No matter who I was travelling with.
I would, however, look at Premium Economy for us all.
I fly to Aus/NZ every year or so, and find Premium Economy fine. Avoid BA, though. They're terrible.

I don’t understand all the YABU comments! 12 month relationship, not a shared child, a trip to see new partners family, go business class with no guilt!

Try starting the flight in Europe rather than UK. Then get a cheap positioning flight there Amsterdam, or Rome are good possibilities. It's the only way I afford business class

I would normally be in the 'don't be a dick' team, but I have surprised myself here by thinking you are not unreasonable.
The child is not your child. The family you are going to see are not your family. If I were her I would be touched that you were willing to spend £5000 to visit my family, and it certainly wouldn't be the end of the relationship if you couldn't add another £7000 on top of that for us all to fly business class.

I agree with @toomuchfaff . Start thinking of this as an “us” or acknowledge there’s no long term in this relationship and either end it or make sure your girlfriend is on board with the fact that there’s not a blended family future on the horizon

Gordon Ramsey and his wife always sat up the front whilst the kids were in economy - think when they were near teenagers. 😊

If you're looking at any situation as "i can" vs "we can" - long term there's no future.

If you were serious about this lady (and her child), then you'd be saying it's £15k for business class and £3.2k for economy - not "i can afford my ticket".

You're not looking at things with the "us" lens...

As for "should I book myself business class? hell no. The fact you're considering it tells me this isn't a serious relationship, I'd not even be contemplating leaving my husband in economy while I lounge in business.

Is this a medical need? If so would premium or booking a seat in economy with extra leg room do

Then what does she think? Would she prefer you all to sit together and put up with you being old and grumpy on arrival or for you to pay and sit by yourself and be in better form instead.

It's ok to have and express needs and wants, it's not ok to not be able to discuss them either way

Depends how bad your back is. If it's a medical condition you are treated for and she knows all about it, I think it's ok.

If it's just older age discomfort and you prefer the luxury of extra space, then no, it's not good.

What would you do if it gets serious and you start travelling together more often? You'll always travel separately?

If she has a reasonable income surely it's up to her to pay for herself and her child ?

She has the choice, she's just choosing not to.

How bad is your back? Is it "I need to stretch and walk around during the flight and have a hot shower not long after arriving" or is it "I go into spasms and need heavy pain medication" or something in between? This makes a big difference (and invisible/chronic conditions often need more explaining).

Seen this on a flight to Oz, men buggered off leaving the women to wrangle the kids. I felt really sorry for those ladies.

Premium plus as a compromise?

How about all going premium economy?

If I could afford it and the intention was to have a long term relationship I would offer to pay for half of them sitting in business class.

First is more expensive than business

If my partner sat in business whilst I was in economy it would be the end of the relationship

premium? Or upgrade at airport (providing they have space) is often much cheaper. Or could you stretch for all 3 of you to do business on one leg only?