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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be travelling first class with three children?

84 replies

CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 21:54

Am I ?

I've booked first-class for DP and I and my three girls, aged 6, 4,and 18 months. It is a five hour journey on Virgin.

I hate their trains. They are overcrowded, stuffy tubes of hell.
First class is a treat and not too much extra as I booked in October.

But some peopl I have mentioned this too have expressed sympathy for the other first class passengers and now I am feeling a bit guilty.

So AIBU?

OP posts:
PawPuss · 27/12/2010 21:59

Im unsure. What is the purpose of First Class? What do users expect when they book First Class? (never used it myself personally).

Giggle78 · 27/12/2010 22:01

YANBU

You have paid for the seats.

It is not for anyone else to tell you who can sit there. Neither friends nor other passengers.

(Also on a personal note - I think its a very good idea and will make a the journey less stressful).

WhiteTrash · 27/12/2010 22:03

Ive got to do a 2 hour journey tomorrow with one ds. If I had the money I would go first class! YANBU. Grin

Original poster
CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 22:04

There is more room. There is somewhere to put luggage. You don't have to argue over who booked the seat. You get tea and coffee.

It is civilised.

OP posts:
oldraver · 27/12/2010 22:04

Its First Class you have booked. Not 'children not welcome class', your friends are being snobby

rinabean · 27/12/2010 22:04

First class doesn't mean quiet zone. Quiet zone means quiet zone. Of course you are doing nothing wrong!

SheWillBeLoved · 27/12/2010 22:05

YANBU and YABU at the same time Xmas Grin

YANBU because whatever makes your life easier with kids on such a long journey - you do it.

YABU because you will be lowering the tone of the first class carriage with your screeching mob Xmas Grin

But who cares. You paid for the seats, you have as much right to sit in them as the man in a suit, tutting loudly into his copy of the Daily Mail.

expatinscotland · 27/12/2010 22:05

What giggle said.

YANBU.

curlymama · 27/12/2010 22:05

I think it's fine on a train, but not on a flight.

tomhardyismydh · 27/12/2010 22:06

yanbu, I traveled first class on a trip with me and dd as it was £1 cheaper.

there is more space less passengers per carage and that is the only difference.

there was another larger family in the carrage, no problems at all.

I dont understand what the people who expressed sympathy for the othe passangers think 1st class travel is for, Confused.

Lonnie · 27/12/2010 22:06

YANBU you have paid if others have a issue they can go to another carriage

fayc84 · 27/12/2010 22:08

If it was 'business class' and other passengers might be distracted from work by children I could sort of understand some annoyance (actually it wouldn't bother me but trying to see that side of things). But 'first class' just means you've paid a wee bit more money for a wee bit more space/comfort and why should children be excluded from that? I hope you have a good journey.

Original poster
CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 22:09

Hurrah! Am feeling better about it now.

Yes there will be a fair amount of screeching. Grin

OP posts:
CHOOGIRL · 27/12/2010 22:11

YANBU My DD travels first class when she is with me.

I do reserve the right, however, to give you the choostare and tut loudly if they are badly behaved and you do not attempt to control them Grin.

DISCLAIMER - I would do that whether you were in cattle or first Xmas Wink

Acanthus · 27/12/2010 22:13

It's fine but only as long as they are all very quiet.

overfullstockings · 27/12/2010 22:14

Absolutely not unreasonably as long as it's not the quiet carriage.

I have travelled first class on the train with one dc lots (so not quite the same as three) and never had any problems. If he was unduly noisy I guess I might be slightly more self conscious in there though.

Have met some lovely people in first class who have been really welcoming and chatty to ds and not one who has been arsey about him being there.

overfullstockings · 27/12/2010 22:14

unreasonable not unreasonably Blush

Earthakitten · 27/12/2010 22:15

No way are you being unreasonable.

I would say your need is greater than probably the vast majority of first class travellers.

I have avoided train travel since having two children as doing it with one was tough enough. Never occurred to me to go first class, I will consider it again now.

GOod luck with your journey.

P.S I absolutely detest this idea that money can buy you anything - even segregation from those people of society you find unpleasant, I can understand you worrying there might be people who think like that aboard, but if there are it is they who ABU!

activate · 27/12/2010 22:17

if your kids will be screeching you should be driving and not subjecting other people to it IMHO

mother of 4 - all painful

  • don't care that I'm about to be flamed
  • other people's noisy kids are the limit, especially if you don't have your own with you
Panzee · 27/12/2010 22:18

YABU. You should be in First Class, the children should be in Standard with the nanny. :o

BigChiefOrganiser · 27/12/2010 22:19

Why not on a plane? If you can afford to travel first or business on a plane (or train), then it matters not if you have children or a herd of unruly elephants occupying the seats.

expatinscotland · 27/12/2010 22:21

What if it's a place you can't drive to? Last I checked, you can't drive across the Atlantic.

I have all my family there and my father is too old to travel here now.

So that means all 5 of us have to fly, including a very active 2-year-old boy.

If we could afford first-class, I'd book that in a heartbeat.

Original poster
CommanderDrool · 27/12/2010 22:22

Driving! Have you ever driven from Glasgow to London with three children in the back of a Toyota Corolla?

I have.

Actually my kids are reasonably well behaved although the baby screeches a bit.

God I wish I had a nanny.

OP posts:
canihavemypocketmoney · 27/12/2010 22:22

Yes go for it. No rules against children. That applies to planes too...

coccyx · 27/12/2010 22:22

go for it