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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

OP YAdefinitelyNBU.

Of course, in the People's Republic Of MN the OP's view will be derided - which is ridiculous. And as for
Actually my pyschologist would say that parents putting themselves in first/business class while the children had to fly economy, was showing the DC that they were considered inferior, and worth less than the parents

All leading to low self esteem and feelings of being inferior in adult life - I truly think this is the biggest pile of steaming nonsense I have ever read on MN - and that takes some doing.

But Zukie.. the OP isnt saying her kids are not deserving.. she knows they would be perfectly happy to "slum it" .. so why pay extra £££s when there is no need to?

OK go ask your DC: would you prefer to fly to US, the condition is that we have to sit separately for the duration of the flight; or alternatively we can all sit together and go to Benidorm. Would be interesting to hear what they say.

I just find it highly amusing that OP's DH can't possibly fly to the US unless it's in business class - get a life.

Heh, he's not that Greg guy off the 'A Dad is born' is he?

squeaky, you are so right. Any psychologist who said that would be an idiot who doesn't understand family structures. I was certainly brought up in a family where the adults were in charge. We were loved and prioritised but there was absolutely no need for us to be treated exactly the same way as the parents. My mum prioritised loving us, educating us, disciplining us. Not making sure we were feather-bedded.

My dad too. And my parents were divorced so there were some tough choices to make. For years we slept on camp beds for weekends at my dad's flat. My Dad didn't. Did that mean we weren't important? No. It meant we were kids and it was fine.

My self-esteem is very robust - and that's precisely because of the clarity I had as a child which was of the "I'm the parent, I'm in charge, you're the child, I will decide what happens and you can trust me to get it right" variety. That did not mean getting everything that mum got. That would just be weird.

But why would you do this? Aren't you a family on a family holiday. I honestly don't understand some people.

Actually thinking about it, I flew to OZ when I was 9 in a completely different row/section to my mum. I loved it and was absolutely fine but then it meant I didn't have her constant chain smoking wafting down my throat.

"That did not mean getting everything that mum got. That would just be weird."

that is a very interesting point. I use Chanel and Dior cosmetics. Does that mean that I'm a horrible mother if teenage DD has MaxFactor?

It's a bit different though isn't it? The clue is in the name 'family holiday'.

Thanks squeaky.

An 8/9 hour flight. Two well behaved children. A couple of films & being fed a few times takes up most of the flight. Parents not that far away if needed. I don't see a problem.

The children don't need the extra leg room, the better wine selection etc.

But why would that be an issue, Hazle.
Of course they'd say yes, then every other bugger on the plane would have to put up with a couple of restless, bickering kids for 10 hours, so precious DH gets to sit and relax in luxury, along with his adoring wife.
Sounds like that old saying, children should be seen but not heard.
God help the kids if one of them got ill during the flight, with Mummy and Daddy not there for them.

Zukie your mother telling you things like that is absolutley NOT in the same league as sitting in different parts of the same plane for very sound reasons. It just isn't. The preciousness of some parents here is bordering on the disturbing.

How fucking ill would they have to get that couldn't be solved with a 2 minute walk from another section of a plane? What are we talking here? Sudden onset Dengue fever? Gallopping Athlete's Foot? What kind of illness exactly?

Absolutely sensible. I have asked many a time to be seated separately to my children when toddlers as it is hideous being near them on the plane. Never was allowed though sadly. Go for it. It'll be a treat for them and a treat for you. They will be fine!

No, it is sound to sit in the same area of the plane as your children as guess what, they are your children and your responsibility.

Presumably the flight attendant would be able to get mum or dad if the children are ill. After that, how the kids are dealt with would be no different to if the parents had been sat right next to them.

YABU, as is your DH. All fly premium economy and be done with it.

I think it's all relative and that it's unnecessary to be unkind or personal without knowing the full background. I know people who give their dc cheap beef burgers and nasty chicken nuggets for tea but who have fillet steak themselves for supper. Personally I think that's wrong and at the very least I would make sure the dc had burgers of the very best quality and when mine were small, bought breaded 100% chicken nugs rather than the reformed stuff.

You know something, in the incredible and unbelievably unlikely event that the plane was taken over by terrorists, I would want to be with my children. Extreme I know, but that for me is the bottom line.