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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

Well of course you're right MaryZ - strangers are NOT going to have to look after the kids. That implies nappy changing, arse wiping, forehead stroking and help with colouring in ffs! Of course nobody is going to have to 'look after' the children. It's just another lazy device with which to beat the OP.

LaBocca, I know it because, er, that's what the entire point of the thread is. The father wants to fly business and shove the kids in economy.

I wouldn't do this now as my children are younger though I've had the opportunity to go first class and leave them lower down the plane with my husband. Honestly don't know if I would do it when they were older but I was a weird child and loved being separated from my mum on a longhaul to Oz when I was only 9yrs. The op really doesn't deserve the shit she's getting, she was only asking and is obviously conflicted about keeping everyone happy.

If the op had said her kids were 16 and 18 I'm sure most people would be grinning thinking god I'd do the same, but the fact that the youngest is a ten year child I think is the bit that some people are unhappy with, imo, actually I think it would highly amusing if op went ahead and done this only to find that in BC they were sat next to someone else's kids

Has anyone ever flown Ryanair? Unless you're able to shove yourself to the top of the queue when boarding, it's easy to be separated from your dc on a flight unless you can find someone willing to swap seats with you. No big deal with kids that old, IMO.

Separated yes but usually only by a couple of seats or a row

I never said there was something wrong with it, I said I found it odd cos I'm not used to it. To each their own.

The holiday club thing is a red herring.

Even if OP goes with the ever-so-stressed-and-important-breadwinner thing, she still hasn't explained why she has to sit adoringly by the big man's side rather than seeing that her kids behave/ have all they need rather than adopting this cavalier attitude of selfish disregard to fellow passengers.

It wouldn't be too hard for her to pamper herself on the outward flight and for him to take the seat on the return flight either.

LeQueen-I would have thought by now you would know, holidays en famille, NEED to be all about enforced togetherness at all costs....why, it's simply odd for the children to want to go off to any structured activities with their peer group and for parents to encourage this, or for mum and dad to have a slightly boozy lunch/dinner together sans children....it's the height of selfishness! :)

It's selfish to fail to take care of your own kids on an aeroplane and to foist that responsibility on someone else.

Completely different issue.

Well we go away without kids and the eldest has overnight respite once a week so we're hardly surgically joined but I would still find this a very odd thing to do. But it's the choosing to sit apart because poor big man needs his sleep that I find weirdest and as a wife would find irritating beyond belief. Also I think 10 is too young (and 13 debatable). My 10 year old wouldn't be able to reach the locker. He also wouldn't want to be apart, although granted that might depend on the particular 10 year old.

Travelling as an UM? Being forced to sit a few rows apart in ec? It happens, it's the engineering of it that I personally would be about

YANBU sounds fine to me with kids that age.

The second class citizen/equality argument is nonsense. Eg I might buy jyself lovely undies or perfume, but my DD gets a cheaper version, cos of her age and appreciation.

If the kids are old enough to behave and happy to sit on their own, go for it.

Have you not seen home alone? Look how well flying separately worked out there!

Honestly though sounds like your DH is a bit of an ass. He won't entertain the thought of flying economy... But it's perfectly fine for his children to 'slum it'?!

Your DH is a bit precious, isn't he

I think VelmaDaphne has made some good points, and personally I couldn't do it.

Has your DH said what he would do if there's an emergency - or just that it's unlikely to happen?

LeQueen - you are HIRING a babysitter, not relying on the goodwill of others should things go wrong.... I, personally, have no problem with that.

laqueen at standing watching them sleep

lequeen sorry

I don't see why it really matters where you sit on a plane - if you book to go short haul unless you pay extra you don't get a seat next to your children and could be at all four corners of the plane.

So why then fly long haul does that all change and you must all sit together?

susiedaisy, on most planes business class is also separated from economy by just a curtain.

I'm certainly capable of deploying emotive language when I want to Queen, but I don't think I can be accused of doing it here. It's just appropriate vocab, no more or less.

Self-centred and self-important, the pair of them. It's about lack of consideration for others at the end of the day (fellow passengers as well as their own kids) and absolutely bugger all to do with 'togetherness'.