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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

suebfg

thanks Lady, I don't think I'm a total wanker though saying that OP might not be exactly as Zukies mother just because she can't afford 4 BC tickets and still wants to go on holiday.

TalkinPeace it's a different issue. This pair are in the same aircraft as their kids, just too needy for their own creature comforts to sit with them and without any care for the strangers on the plane who might have to deputize for them in an emergency.

Very, very strange.

13 year old maybe but 10 years old is a bit young to leave at the other end of the plane unless you're expecting the 13 year old to look after them, I am sure they will in turn show the same consideration to you op when choosing your nursing home!

Well put, susiedaisy - I like your style

Incredibly self-centred, as yellowstone says above.

Why should the folks in economy have to deal with any needs of your children that arise? They're not your paid help, you know. They're also going on holiday.

Why does your DH think he's so much more valuable than the rest of you as to need his precious comforts when the rest of you don't? I'm assuming he's not a brain surgeon who'll be rushing straight back onto the emergency shift or we'd have been told. Very unpleasant of him to assume he is the Big I Am in the family. And foolish of you to entertain going along with it. What will the next thing be where he decides he's entitled to something better than the rest of you?

I was on a flight to the US on 9/11, which was grounded. We were kept on the plane for 6 hours before we were allowed to move. DH and I were in different rows, with seats behind/in front of each other by the aisle, and couldn't sit and actually talk about it the whole time. Consider whether you want to be in that position in the unlikely (but possible) event of something similar happening.

Good point susie, they'll learn their ethics from OP and Important DH and stick them in some shitty dump while they live it up on Important DH's accumulated bonuses with full POA.

Haha.

I was stuck on a grounded pan am flight (showing age) for five or six hours once. It was awful - we weren't allowed to move out of our seats and it was boiling. So yes it happens (I am no frequent flyer).

OP, are you shamed?

I bet not.

TalkingPeace2,

Your friend is BVU if she doesn't send a private jet to collect their children...

they only do that for the summer break when the dorm rooms need emptying (wishes I was joking)

Unimpressed.

Scrolling down the list of titles on AIBU this evening, this was the one that made me involuntarily ....

YABVU. If darling husband needs his rest so much go somewhere nearer. Maybe a holiday camp in England? My mate says Pontins are really fun for kids.

Our company provide us with flights when we go home on leave (we live in Qatar) and, yes, they do give the adults Business but not the kids. And yes, the nanny does sit in Ecomony with them.
I don't have a problem with this, it is just the way they do it.
BUT, I have to be honest, I don't think I would book it this way for a big family holiday, it does seem a bit mean. We are planning a big trip in December to see the northern lights and will probably fly economy but stop off a few times on the way to break it up.
I don't think you are unreasonable exactly, but I would feel a bit up my own arse if I did that deliberately.

I have been flying alone since I was 10 due to going to boarding school with parents abroad.

When we were younger we all used to fly first class, however I remember one term another parent who lived in the same country as my parents and was collecting their DC offered to take me on the plane with them. At the time that parent flew business whilst the children (incl me) flew economy. I remember getting back to my parents house and being incensed at the the fact my parents had send me economy. HOW VERY DARE THEY.

You know what? I WAS BEING A SPOILT BRAT

As we got older and costs increased my parents flew business whilst my sister and I went economy when we went on fantastic child-orientated holidays. Very Very Very occasionally they went on holidays without us.

It's not going to inform my decision about what nursing home my parents go to, it didn't make me love me parents any less, it didn't make me think they loved me any less. They weren't neglectful (well not by 1970/80s standards!), they were/are very much involved in our lives. In fact I can not express how much love and respect I have for my parents.
Some of the responses on this thread are ridiculous.

Not at all, if they are sensible and well-behaved and know that they can't be running in and out of business class every 5 minutes to see you, tell you something etc.
I always try to fly business when travelling long distance, but had a very disturbed flight back from the Far East once where the parents were in business and their 3 teenagers were in economy. That just was not funny.
An alternative might be to see whether you can upgrade at the airport. As long as they have the meals (and space) available for business class, most airlines will let you upgrade for a price that is considerably less then buying a business class ticket up front.

My dh travels business class ferquently ( in fact hes off again thsi morning) on business.

He woudl never dream of suggesting that hes so important he needs to travel bisiness class on holiday more than i do. So him travelling BC and me in PE with kids woupdnt be an option

And why woupd i expect other passengers to care for our kids? Different if its a paid carer like a nanny

For all of the reasons rhinestone said. Would you take separate cars if driving to your location?

I think it is ridiculous. Why not go the whole hog & leave them at home [eyeroll]

And what happens if there is an emergency? Other people will have to look after your children, as you won't be allowed to (having to stay seated/belt on for eg). Is that fair when their parents are on board
?

Ye Gods! What's up with you lot? This thread is just an opportunity for posters to boast/gloat about the amount of flying they do, where they've been, how much they earn and what good parents they are.
You do realise that all those people who think MN is just a bitch-fest for over-priviledged, under-employed middle-class yummy-mumies will be having a field day with this?
This is unreal. I expect Private Eye will pick up on it soon.

Frankly this thread is quite demaning to people with real problems who need therapy/councelling - I hardly think not sitting next to your parents on a plane rates for years of psychobabble at some point in the future. People need to get a grip. With both hands and get a reality check.

What about if we give the kids a choice? Long haul exciting destination. But at the back of the plane. OR Short haul possibly a bit less exciting, but still a good holiday. And we all travel together

That's not a choice, it's a fucking ultimatum!

And whoever sais that people say YABu because a] we can't afford it or b] like to be friends with our kids is wrong. I do it because they are my children. We travel together, so I am there if they need me. I dunno, to get stuff from the over head lockers etc..