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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

I wasn't judging anyone. I was stating my own position. So keep your to youself!

Tell your H to do one, he comes across as both precious and selfish and you come across as both lily livered and weak. No it is not common to do this despite what your H thinks.

The whole process of flying these days sucks, even if you are in CW or some other type of business class.

How can you even countenance such a badly thought out idea for your children in the first place?. You cannot expect either the crew or any of the other pax to look after your children in any way if they're in economy and you're further forward.

BTW, BA are very hot on the one guest rule to access their lounges these days (no exceptions) so you could go in there with your ditzy H but your children cannot (unless they were travelling CW). Would you want to do that to them as well as board separately?.

I like my DC too Orm , especially now they have lives of their own, do not need babysitting at all and can do housework.

I have only read up to page 2, but why is it a common theme that a 'family holiday' means that everyone has to be equally miserable in economy if you have the financial means to avoid it? Bizarre.

Sorry, but YABVU.
Your children are your responsibility and should fly with you. Would you expect someone in economy class to watch them for you? And what if they were disruptive?

Economy has two seats at the back.

Put them there so it doesn't annoy the person who does have to sit next to them instead of you.

"why is it a common theme that a 'family holiday' means that everyone has to be equally miserable in economy if you have the financial means to avoid it? "

Because in order to avoid it in this case, it means leaving the care of your children to someone else because you can't afford to avoid it for everyone.

The thing is most parents would love 10 hours in the luxury of first class without their DC.

But most parents would think about their responsibilities first, not just to their DC but to the other passengers and the overworked air hostesses who have to look after them, whilst their parents "rest" in first class.

I guess your DH travels a lot for business and isn't used to having to hang with the plebs, sit next to people (shudder) and have his plane dinner served with plastic cutlery. I am not without sympathy, I have the same problem, namely champagne tastes and beer money. He has to get real - if you can't afford First, you can't afford it.

Ehm...why can't your Dh just take a few days extra off work at the end of the holiday time to "recover...is it reallythe case that he REALLY needs to step off the plane and go back to work,....

The downside is that they inhale all your money.....

I was a bit about this when I read it, but to be honest I can't think of a good reason not to if the children are happy about it. I do agree the OPs dh is the one that seems a bit precious, but everyone is different and if he's very tall and/or gets more achy than others in a confined space for several hours then who are we to judge.

Can't understand why others are saying they'd be outraged if they were next to unaccompanied youngsters on a flight - whenever you fly it's a lottery who you sit next to and nothing that people can or should complain about (unless there's unreasonable behaviour in which case the flight attendants will sort it). I'd rather be sat next to a youngster myself than a lot of adults (especially ones with BO) and these youngsters sound as though they'll be well behaved in any case. It's no different to finding yourself next to UMs of the same age.

The youngsters themselves will probably love it - if they do mind, then that's the only legitimate reason I can see for not doing it as long as it's within airline rules (which it is for BA at least).

The safety arguments are flimsy. Planes are about the safest form of transport there is, but we wouldn't hesitate to let them use buses or trains unaccompanied at that age or cross busy roads walking to school. Most children are probably more likely to obey the seatbelt rules in the case of turbulence than many adults and in the very unlikely event of something more serious occurring you're probably done for whoever you are sat with.

If it enables the OPs family to have the holiday they want then why not? Life is about compromise.

OP I have a solution

If you are happy with outsourcing the care of your children during the flight to aircrew and passengers then why not outsource your whole holiday to someone else

DH, me and the boys will go on your behalf (all perfectly content to sit in premium economy or even economy if your finances are that stretched) we will update you regularly during the break with photos and commentary so you can have all the fun of the holiday with none of the inconvienence.

We we even acquire some appropriate novelty holiday tat for you to stash at the back of a cupboard for a full authentic holiday experience.

sorry we will in the last sentence

We've had the DC seperated from us on many a trip, owing to booking system cockups logic and nothing has gone wrong, except them falling out/getting bored/wanting X Y or Z and one of us having to sit with one lot and the other with the guilty hurt party.

I don't see that its a huge practical difference as to where you sit vs them, especially at that age.

I do think it says something about family values though, and that is what makes me uncomfortable with it. Surely Premium Economy would be fine unless DH is walking into work after he lands.

Only read first couple of pages.

Two things:

-you are not outsourcing your DC's care as they are 10 and 13 and so are quite old enough to sit in a seat for a few hours without parental interference

BUT - when we tried to book separate seats for our DC (15 and 17) on a flight to the USA at Xmas, the airline would not allow us saying that it was now part of national guidelines that DC MUST be seated with their parents. I am not sure how that would work if you are booked into different classes....perhaps you would have to nominate one adult and one DC in each class and then swap seats.

I can't see a problem with your DH's plan - when the DC go out and earn money of their own, then they can buy themselves business class seats. Until then, sitting in economy won't do them the least bit of harm and might be quite an adventure for them.

Enjoy your holiday.

Last time we flew with American Airlines, due to a cockup at checkin,
I was in 35, DD in 22, DH in 46 and DS in 48
on different sides of the plane
only the kindness of others let us swap seats so that DD (who does NOT like takeoff and landing) could sit where she could hold a hand.
the kids were both under 10 at the time

IMO YANBU. At that age my brother and I would have far rather sit on our own, we were more than capable of looking after ourselves etc... Win win

I honestly don't understand why people have kids just to then treat them like an inconvenience. If you can't afford the same flight for all of you, go somewhere you can afford.

My brother and I often sat alone in cattle while the parents sat in Business as their seats were free with Dads frequent flier miles.
I don't get people saying that other passengers would have to look after the children. They're 10 and 13 not 1 and 3!!! The stewardesses will feed and water them and they'll have the inflight entertainment systems and their own Ds's or what have you.
I doubt I'd do it as I like my kids company but my parents really valued time alone as Dad worked away often and my brother and I hated spending t

Sent t

yellowraincoat aren't there some privileges reserved for adults? Like top class restaurants, massages and breakfast in bed? If you had all those as a child (and business class seats) then young adult life on a low starter wage would be a big shock. The DC are lucky enough to be travelling the world.

Do your DC sit in the front of the car whilst you squash up in the back? It is hardly child abuse to buy them economy flight tickets.