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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

I wouldn't do it.

either you can afford the holiday, by whichever class you (all) choose to travel, or you can't.

but each to their own, as long as you know your children are going to be well behaved and not annoy everyone around them.

The best time was when my parents flew business class while we were in economy, but when we checked in, the rest of business class was empty so they upgraded us four kids to business too and we had it all to ourselves [grin

Actually, I don't think there was a business class, just economy or first class. It must have been first class.

I remember being shocked on a long flight to see a 10 year old sitting on his own near me whilst his mum sat in business class. I think it was not a pleasant experience for him and the anxiousness showed at the end of the flight looking for his mum was in direct contrast to the brave face during the flight (yes I did keep an eye on him and yes there were empty seats in economy so his mum could have joined him).

I work long hours consequently I quite like the idea of spending all of the holiday with my children. I think your DH is being a bit selfish, he is not doing the family a favour by carving out some time in his busy schedule to go on holiday with you FFS.

I'm pretty sure I haven't talked holidays with you before Bella. But I might be mistaken.

Just accept that you can no longer afford the type of holidays you are used to and then deal with it in steerage. Or as others have said go somewhere in the med

Of course you can! You're paying for the holiday and they're obv big enough to look after themselves. I would definitely do it.

If DH is so sure he can't cope with anything other than business, then fine, let him. We would probably spend the whole holiday fretting about the return otherwise.

But, I do feel that you need to be with your children, both for moral and practical reasons. Is that really so hard?

Right, I'm off out. OP, I think YANBU - good luck and enjoy your holiday :)

You could always put your DH in business class on his hard-working own with the rest of you enjoying the journey as a family.

Personally, I'm not overly thrilled by Premium Economy and am delighted I didn't bother to pay the extra when I last flew to the States. Admittedly I don't know which part of the States you are travelling too but I did a 10.5 hour flight that was perfectly OK in economy. I also had to return to work straightaway when I got back to the UK but I'm still alive to tell the tale.

Your children are quite old enough to travel in a different part of the plane but it's not exactly nice to know you don't qualify for nicer seats simply because you are children. So if your DH can't face the idea of flying in any other class than business either let him get on with it or yes, go somewhere else.

or you could all travel in premium economy, but come home a day earlier, giving your dh a chance to rest up before he goes back to work, if he really cannot get any rest at all unless in business class

that way, no one is treated as a second class citizen, you ll get your nice enriching holiday, and everyone is rested enough to go back to their day job once back home.

I really cannot see any problem with this. They will all be on the same plane, it isnt as if the children can get lost anywhere, and at 10 and 13 they are old enough to behave, and the parents can go to check on them whenever they like.. they will only be a few feet away from them!

If the flight is on Virgin, there will be playstations to use and unlimited films to watch...

YANBU at all..

PS When we flew with Singapore airlines, I prebooked all the seats (in economy) and did a row of three and then one seat on it's own. You could do that? Tbh there was nothing wrong with economy on Singapore, it was better service than business is on BA.

Dh does sound like a "poor ol hardworking me" bit of a precious knob.

Leave the bastard

I think prem econ all together on way out and bus class for 2, prem/econ for 2 on way back with regular shifting round of who gets the comfy seats on way back, so one of you is always with one kid.

Maybe your DH could be packed in the hold in a golf clubs box with a pillow and duvet.

The 13yo has flown as an UM before but shorthaul and was fine. Don't know if this makes any difference.

Would you be happy to sit next to an unaccompanied child, squeaky? Whilst their parents swanned about in business? I would be seriously pissed off.

People who like being 'friends' with their dc will say yabu. People who can't afford business class at all will also say yabu. Personally I don't think it's the worst idea. After all children are more resilient, take up less space (handy in Economy), and if it were a long-haul car journey there'd be no question of everyone 'taking turns' in the front seats to 'make it fair' - the dc would just be in the back.

Thanks cerys.

I couldn't do it but I know people who have. But they are not people I like and it didn't surprise me in the slightest.

However I think your children are old enough to decide for themselves. If they don't like the idea then you have your answer. If they are fine with it then why not.

I know what me DS would say!

overmy That's a risk a lot of people (diamond/gold card holders) take on the London-HK route. The plane seems to either be rammed or half empty, so they book the children into premier economy and hope that they'll get bumped up if the plane's not full. If it is, then they just sit separately.

I don't really understand why the OP's dh won't be rested after a flight in premium economy. it's not exactly forced labour, is it?

unless, of course, he won't be able to rest as the children will be bickering and irritating the hell out of him -in which case not fair to inflict on other passengers, is it?

I may sound bitter as we endured Sydney to London economy with no stop over, an 9 year old and a teething 15 week old last year but survived (never a-fucking-gain)

My eldest two have behaved beautifully on the long haul flights (8 hours) we've been on. However it hasn't been a completely hands-off experience for me as a parent.

If the child was behaving, I would have no problem with it at all. I have often sat next to older children when their parents have been seated further away.. it is much better than being sat next to a full sized or overweight adult who takes up more room.