to put the children in economy while DH and I fly business class?

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

I wouldn't do it. I think it's selfish. You are leaving your parenting duties to the person / people sitting next to them. What if it's some drunk? or someone traveling with small children who doesnt have any extra energy to dedicate to done else's children.

The last long haul flight I was on, I was told that I wouldn't be able to sit next to my five year old dd, she would be behind me. I threw a fit to the male flight attendant who told me there was nothing he could do. Then I burst into tears while talking to a female flight attendant who swapped us around so that I was with dd and dh was a few rows over. I was astonished that they would allow a five year old to sit by herself! Air Canada - I still think you suck! Granted a five year old is much more needy that a 10 year old, but I still wouldn't do it.

poor kids.

I know somebody who used to sit her children outside with a bag of crisps, whilst she had posh salad and coffee in an expensive coffee shop. Less than twenty metres away - but she was still a twunt.

Hi tantrumsandballoons. I got it in a roundabout way from Masterchef. Yes it is a lovely name, although I've never met anyone actually called it before.

AnyFucker DH's bedroom growing up (from about the age of 13, as it were) was a converted garden shed. He loved it.

What is with this "kids are worth less than grown ups". As a kid, weren't you ever made to sit on the floor so adults could have the chairs etc? Firstly, they are smaller so economy is fine for them, secondly they aren't paying so them's the breaks, and finally they don't need to go to work or get the family home from the airport within 24 hours of landing.

My Dsis is an air hostess and works long haul. You will be very much judged by the air hostesses and the other passengers. If that doesn't bother you then fine, but I wouldn't think it would be a great way to start/end a family holiday.

I'm also certain you will not be allowed to keep swapping seats. They don't allow people to keep moving between first/business/economy class.

There are also numerous reasons why your DC may need an adult during the 10 hours or so. What if there is turbulance, they feel ill or just bored? Get a grip Op and make sure one of you is look after your DC.

I don't get all the comments from people about the boys being unsupervised. Through most of the flight you will be able to get up and walk around, the children can come to you, you can go to the children.

A 9 hr flight isn't the same as leaving the children alone in a house for 9 hours, it is like having children in the same house as you for 9 hours but spending a lot of that time in a different room.

If a DS is sick surely the OP or DH can go to the child and clean them up?

I'm just at you testing your name change on your own thread! With a fully descriptive thread title! Plonker!

Mind you, this is quite different from OP but shows how different people can think about kids/having kids/looking after kids. One of the mothers at school mentioned just before the break that her kids would not be back after Easter. Husband had been give a posting in a lovely location, a chance to good to be missed. So she was going with DH and kids (both primary school) will go to boarding school here in the UK. What can you say?

I really don't see the problem, as long as the airline doesn't mind. I disagree that it is selfish or unfair, the kids will probably be thrilled at the trip. Do people really think adults and children must have equal treatment at all times? I don't. Some things are more suitable for adults and I'd include business class travel.

Seems obvious to me - let DH fly in Business Class on his own, if he really can't cope in Economy. You stay with the children. Sorted.

I'd be well pissed off if I ended up next to a chucking up child that was not my own [pretty pissed off if it was mine!].

overmydeadbody - The reality is that the parents will be asleep for some of the time. The aisles will be blocked by food carts and passengers for some of the time. It is not necessarily quick and easy to get to someone on a plane. and if there is turbelence you are not allowed to walk about on a plane.

If a kid threw up during turbelence another passenger would end up dealing with it until the parent could get to their child.

this would be fine if there was no choice because of seating allocation. But its not okay to expect other people to look after your kid because you want to sit somewhere nicer.

You would not be allowed to flit around between business/economy class, and especially not at night when people are sleeping

any turbulence, and the seat belt signs come on, so your dc are trapped, as are you

And no I don't think kids and adults should be treated the same. But I wouldn't delegate my parenting responsibilities to some random stranger or deliberately sit far away from them. The equivalent would be to send your kids into a cheap cafe next door while you and your DP went to an expensive restaurant - I don't think taht would be on either.

Exactly hermioneweasley , the kids don't pay for it (they haven't even got a bonus so how could they defer it?), they should be grateful they are allowed to come on an air plane full stop. Mind you, I am still not convinced at all that they have deserved their Holiday.

achangeisasgoodasarest - that sounds like the worst possible outcome to me. No way would I let that happen! Mainly because I don't believe these desperately important jobs where one just CANNOT be tired exist. Unless he's a brain surgeon. Or the pilot...in which case I guess he's be sitting somewhere else anyway

I have the sort of job that sometimes gets described like this. I'm a business owner, it's in finance, in the city. We employ lots of people and it's all my responsibility. But basically, whatever. It's just a job. Most people in more lowly jobs have it a lot harder. People in really demanding jobs (D Cameron) don't get to sleep anyway - they get woken up to deal with real stuff like wars. Or cleaners who have to work three jobs to keep a roof over their heads.

Is this one of those 'first world problems' I have heard so much about?

TBH I doubt the kids would mind but what if they need something on such a long flight? I dont think it would child abuse but it doesnt seem right either.

I mean the kids are not going to suffer by not flying posh but it seems a bit off for some of the family to fly better class than others.

my kids haven't earned their chippy tea tonight

I think I will have one, and they can forage in the bin

It's not so much the actual placing of them in economy, it's the whole tone and idea of the impossibly busy and stressed and oh so important husband who will not even consider sitting in a normal seat. Plank.

Oh and no, you will not be allowed in and out of the Business Class sestion willy nilly, see that might be disturbing to the other BC passengers, some of whom may also be stressed and busy and oh so important.

Nice to see the recession is hitting the 1% though.

Well we are going out for a meal tonight. We were just going to go to a cheaper place. But my DP deserves a decent meal. So I think we will go to a nice restaurant and the kids can sit outside with a bag of chips. After all they will only be feet away from us - and they have done absolutely nothing to earn a meal out.

Absolutely lesley33 and if you do this consistently, you can afford all kind of treats you think you could no longer afford since you got kids. Credit to OP, she does give you an insight in a whole new way of thinking. Quite an eyeopener really.

Great idea lesley33

I am just about to book theatre tickets. DH is tall and works very hard so need a comfy seat. I will book us premium seats, in fact even a box.

DC can sit behind a pillar.

Who gives a shit?

S'obvious innit.
Buy 1 business class seat, and 3 economy. OP sleeps happily in BC on way there while DH looks after kids, then DH can have the seat to rest up on the way home.
Everyones a winner!