Flying kids business class on upgrade- would you?

[Leax]

We're going on a 9 hour return flight with 8 hour time difference on other side, my partner flies a lot and can has free upgrades he can use to put us all in business class, the kids are aged 10 and 12. A couple of the upgrades will likely expire without being used if not used on this trip. I initially said no way to the kids flying business class. Just because of uncomfortable feelings around spoiling them, that it should be something you work for/don't get at that age etc etc. I am aware of how privileged they are in many ways in their lives and this seems like a huge extra thing in that regard.
Partner thinks that it makes sense as we"ll all be a lot more rested on other side and on return.
Wouldn't go business class and leave them in economy at this age, but have suggested one of us stay with kids one each leg and the other goes business class. What would you do?

Hell yeah I would

I understand your point about spoiling them, but at 10 and 12 they're old enough to understand it's a massive treat - and presumably won't be the norm on future flights/holidays.

I also think there's a possibility that this age group might be a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing anyway!

Of course I would if I could.

I always traveled business or first as a child as my dad worked for an airline. Now I pay for myself unless travelling on business but just know I was lucky as a child.

Thank you all for your replies!

Absolutely I would! They are not going to turn spoilt after one business class flight.

Just make sure you slum it in Ryanair next time

I'd upgrade everyone - why not if you can? I've taken my elder DS in business when he was a under 2 and it was fab - with a flat bed he slept properly and so did I.

When I was about the age of your kids, and slightly younger, I used to fly to the US with my younger brother on all the crappiest budget airlines of the 1980s. (My dad was too cheap to send us on BA where we would be properly looked after). One memorable flight, which I think was People Express, didn't give you anything for free. No headphones unless you could pay, no meals unless you could pay. On a transatlantic flight. Of course we had literally no cash between us and so on an 8 hour flight had nothing to eat or watch. Eventually the cabin crew took some pity on us and gave us each a choc ice.

So on behalf of my younger self, I say 'please take your children in business class and let them enjoy themselves'.

I wouldn't put myself in economy to make a point when there were business class seats free for the taking.

As long as they are impeccably behaved (as they should be in economy as well!).

I would upgrade without a moment's hesitation.

Do it!
My kids were 4 and 6 when DHs company flew us business class. The kids still talk about it 3 years later. They understand we didnt pay for the flights, and would fly much less often (ie go home to visit family much less often) if we upgraded. I'm sure your 2 are big enough to understand loyalty points, and how much DH has travelled to get a reward, especially if they have flown before, and know what economy is like.

Yes. At 10 and 12 they're big enough to know it won't happen every time, and to behave. If they were two toddlers wrecking it for everyone, that would be a different story.

I would and I do. DH and I are not putting ourselves through a long economy flight to avoid spoiling the kids. There are lots of other ways to keep them “grounded”

Why on earth not? What would you be doing otherwise? Put the kids in economy by themselves to teach them a lesson? By your logic in a marriage with one high earner and one low earner the high earner would sit alone in first class while their lower earning spouse sat in economy.

Do it! It will be something nice they look back on.

You’ll also be helping someone else out who wants to get that flight and can only afford the economy ticket

Yes! Enjoy it all together and talk about what a treat it is!
I love experiencing things through the eyes of my kids. Even small things like making sure I get a nice box of chocolates for my birthday and opening it up to share with them. Even though they are ten and fifteen, their faces still light up and I love that and find it hilarious
We didn’t go business class, but we did take them to Vietnam a couple of years ago and again, it was ace to see them enjoying it too.
I call business class for your kids!
They’ll love it and know it’s special. So long as they don’t take things for granted, you aren’t spoiling them, just sharing ace experiences no matter how big or small with them and that’s what having children is all about for me x

tribot Hahahha! My parents did that too. After the first time we learned to always fly with a bit of money.

I flew first class once (proper first, where you had to get up and walk to get to the seat in front). The Japanese government were paying. I'll always remember it. It didn't stop me cashing in the return flight ticket, buying an economy one and using the balance to pay the rental deposit and first month's rent on my first flat...

Having something once doesn't cause you to expect it every time, unless you are a toddler perhaps, and even toddlers get over that expectation within moments of realising it is incorrect.

All very useful, and similar, thoughts. It's helpful!

I guess in the back of my mind I'm thinking there are going to be upgrades available each year with the amount he now flys for work in current role, the kids are older now and we are looking generally at farther flung places for holidays. This is likely to be an option again, so could move out of the major treat arena to yearly or 2 yearly experience if we opted for that. I should prob just focus on this time and worry about having the choice to make again the future when that happens. I'm overthinking amn't I.

Tonight I'll be like remember my vehement entrenched position in last night's convo? Yeah well I think the complete opposite now

*flies

You’re overthinking it! All go business class together, discuss how it’s a nice perk for all dad’s travel and being away from home and enjoy it.

Our DC are in their 20s, but have flown with us a handful of times in Business - and once in First. They have always had it drummed in to them how lucky they are, and we are keeping their feet on the ground by flying out to Vancouver in Business, whilst they're in WTP next year! (We are all flying back Business - with airmiles - there just weren't the seats on the outbound flight)

I agree with what a previous poster said - it is absolutely lovely to share these experiences with your children. I say that as someone who had never flown anything other than economy until I was in my 50s.

But they know they are very lucky - and are good, hard-working people.

Our dc fly home business as company pays, short haul and holidays they fly economy or plus. They love the business flights but they understand that we can't afford to always fly that class, neither do we need to. They get a lot more enjoyment out of their flights than many of the other passengers when they go business though.

My dad used to get free hotel stays that his job paid for. He had a nice one in my city when I was a student, ended up not taking the overnight stay so I got it. Lovely night in a hotel with a big bath, big tv, and no smelly flatmates for me. It's those things...

We're saving up in the hope that we can afford business class to take our autistic son to Florida in a couple of years ....If there was a chance of free upgrades then I'd use them like a shot!

Do it. It saves on recovery time for you all.