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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

For most kids taking a flight is as enjoyable as going out for a meal. Especially long haul with entertainment centres on the back of seats which means easy access to lots of games and films

So what you are saying is that they would likely enjoy themselves no matter where they sat, (meaning their holiday is off to a banging start no matter what) where as adults who find flights tedious and uncomfortable should sacrifice a bit more comfort in business class because their children couldn't sit with them?

I really don't understand your point.

LeQueen if you are so certain that the children won't need anything, won't bicker etc then why is it that airlines require children under 12 to fly as unaccompanied minors unless there is someone over 16 with them. Clearly the airlines aren't so convinced.

Turbulence is quite common I would say that at least 1/3 of the flight I have been on have had turbulence where we have all been confined to a seat.

Why can't the OP and her DH face up to the fact that they can't afford the lifestyle they are used to.

Oh and BTW this is not the first time you have missed the point so I guess we have a different definition of "rarely"

'Its indulgent selfish and neglectful , imo '

Neglectful?! Seriously - yes if they were younger but not at 10 and 13! The 13 year old could get married and join the army in 3 years and you think it's neglectful for them to sit separately from their parents in a controlled environment?!

mrscog - I felt sorry for the kids. I wasn't a martyr. And i thought it would be rude to ask them to call cabin crew to answer questions like how long until we arrive.

Mrscrogg she should be near her children so if they need cabin crew . Im astounded people think this is ok to do , Its as if children are a complete bother and shouldnt be around in case stressed daddy gets upset , its all very precious , and for those whot hink children in BC are spoiled do children need to earn a right to be there

Agree with LeQ, as I said earlier. Enjoy your holiday.

Mrscog - I think most normal people do take on responsibility tbh. We don't fly because ds1 is severely autistic. If we were ever mad brave enough to try I would be incredibly pissed off to be dumped with 2 more kids. As a mother I wouldn't be able to pass off responsibility as it woukdn't feel right (although if they laughed at ds1 which kids this age often do I'd be pretty robust in my response to them).

Yes neglectful leaving children on their own on a plane while parents attend their own needs is neglectful , a parent putting their own indulgences over a childs is neglectful ,

And if I took a childfree holiday and ended up next to unaccompanied kids while poor precious mummy and daddy were in bc I'd want to kill the parents tbh.

thisisanickname - My post above was in response to a number of posts where people were saying why not eat out at a nice restaurant and leave kids outside eating chips. Or take a box in the theatre and pay for dc to have a cheap seat behind a pillar.

Someone else responded by saying you can't compare eating out and the theatre with flights as flights are basically an endurance. Hence my post.

I wouldn't take my kids out somewhere and put them in an inferior and cheaper part of a restaurant, theatre or cinema. And i wouldn't do it on a plane or train either.

when I was flying on my own once, I was sick into the briefcase of the man sitting next to me.
I was 7 though

I've flown before where my family has been scattered variously around an aircraft, children included.

That is mostly due to my tardiness at check-in rather than BC occupation.

No one thought this was odd, cruel or unusual. It was not unlike trying to get seats together on a bus as I recall.

I would agree if it's because Dad doesn't want the children with him because it's a bother then that is sad and unreasonable, and I have no problem with the concept DC in business class but I thought this was purely economics and that the OP couldn't afford bc tickets for them all - if that's the case, and the kids are mature enough to not misbehave then I see no problem at the ages of 10 and 13. (13 especially! I was going to the local pub with friends at that age to play pool once a week!)

LeQueen - no I am not keeping a log it just happened to be on some other threads I am on where I was equally bemused by your posts - however, I really couldn't be bothered to keep a log because I don't actually care...

Why would you want to fly separately from your children, if like the OP, you could no longer afford for you all to travel in BC?

put dh in economy nd the rest of you go BC.
yabu to leave the kids alone imo.

There is a difference imo to kids sitting elsewhere because of seat allocation to choosing that. And italy will have been a pretty short flight.

As far as I'm considered its about teaching respect as much as anything.

By going BC and putting kids in economy, its nothing like teaching them that they should respect their elders and adults get seats whilst kids sit on the floor. Its about we are too good for economy and we don't value you enough to be with you on a family holiday. You are not our equal and we do not see you as adult enough to be with us but still expect you to act like a grown up. Its teaching them to look down their nose at economy as its not good enough for mummy and daddy. Its teaching them that we frankly cant be arsed and we don't have any respect for anyone in economy and how our decision might affect others cos actually we are too bloody selfish to consider the possibilities.

There is nothing more irritating than being sat next to some stranger on a flight and having to deal with their kids cos the parents can't be bothered if if they are well behaved. Kids won't ask staff, especially if they are busy and if you see someone struggling, unless you are a total arse you tend to try and help them on a flight even if its annoying as hell. Because thats politeness and respectful (not to mention if someone if fidgeting next to you, it doesn't exactly help you get any rest)

In short Grade A Twattishness.

Yes...smugness has that strange effect on me....

lequeen - Have you had your dcs in economy and you and DP in bc then?