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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

Glad your kids are well behaved on planes. Especially if you're planning on leaving them in a different cabin, possibly with the likes of me. So Quick Q for you - what if there was an emergency on the plane? would your kids know what to do? Would they panic? Would adults around them help them or is it more likely that they would look after themselves and their own kids?
An emergency doesn't have to mean there's really something really wrong with the flight BTW i'be been on a flight where it turned out it was fine but we did make an emergency detour, oxygen masks came down etc and it was absolutely terrifying, mass panic. I was there for my (older) Dc's though. Your DH is a brat. travel together, premium.

My uncle and aunt did this with their teenage kids when they flew all the time. It was no biggie, the kids loved the independent bit. They nipped back to see them. It's really not that big a deal in my mind.

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.

Then they could choose.

If the two of you were happy with it a (and ideally your dcs too) then it would be fine - just like leaving them in another room in a house.

However, I get the feeling that the precious lamb that is your dh will have the final decision as clearly his needs come first in your family

Well, it's not all about the children is it? It's about expecting other passengers to deal with them.

I would kick my DH up the arse for that attitude.

That's a bit crap, tbh. Hard working my arse.

Not getting any sleep, they aren't toddlers!
Yes some one else child might play up. They might in business class, children aren't banned are they.

My DH drives 100+ miles home after trips to the states in economy and he's tall and doesn't get much sleep, that's life.

I really do wonder why some men have kids. As I said earlier DD2 really would tell this bloke "to man up!"
I can't it's a vile modern phrase, but she has no such quarms

or what about long haul exciting destination with you all travelling economy/premium economy (with a few added trips out due to saving the cost of your dh's business class ticket), and coming home a day earlier so dh can rest?

to be fair, you should put that choice to them too. (unless of course, the resting thing is a red herring, and you just want ot travel business regardless)

A choice sounds fair to me, OP. If you're happy to accept whatever they choose.

I'm willing to bet that they'd go for the longhaul option.

Oh please don't do this, it sends the message to your kids that they are worth less than adults.

My parents used to always do similar with hotels - getting premium rooms for themselves and cheapest for us, think four poster beds for them and broken bunk beds for us. On one memorable occasion they got a suite and got the hotel to put two camp beds in the living room for us, so no privacy at all and couldn't go to bed until our parents had. Really makes you feel valued...

I'm pretty sure that most of the people giving you and horror at what you are suggesting would have their kids in the back of the car for a long journey without a second thought.

Dreadful parenting. I had to sit on a long haul flight to Peru next to three poor little kids whose selfish parents were flying in business class. They came to check on them once in 17 hours!!!
I had to wake them up when the meals came around as the hostesses were just going to walk on by. They were about 8, 10 and 12. I was disgusted.
Of course no doubt OP, you'll check on your kids every 5 minutes won't you

FWIW, I wouldn't mind sitting next to an unaccompanied kid on a plane. However, I would not get sucked into looking after them.

I flew long haul in economy with 2 older kids next to me, whose parents were in business. The kids were very well behaved, but they did want to talk to me and ask questions about things. I think it was unreasonable of their parents to leave it to another passenger to help their dcs when they needed it. I would have felt fine if they were unaccompanied, but tbh it just felt cheeky.

Good point Marvin. I would be up for it, but DH might take some persuading.

You can see the difference between the back of a car and another compartment of a plane can't you? You can deal with any problem with your children in a car, what with them only being a few feet away.

Oh please don't do this, it sends the message to your kids that they are worth less than adults.

No it doesn't.

I mean, it could if you reinforce that message. But when my parents did it, they reinforced the message that they thought we were old enough, mature enough and thoughtful enough to fly on our own.

Do you defer to your husband's "higher status" in all other areas of your life, OP ?

funnily enough, lilbit, I would - because that is where the car seats fit

however, I have happily swapped seats with larger-than-me teenagers to whom we have given lifts (even for long car journeys), and when we had a nanny, we (all 3 adults) took turns to swap about - driving, front passenger and rear passenger.

Just to say help included waking them up so they got a meal, sorting out problem with entertainment system and answering questions about how long to destination, etc.

I used to go on hols with my cousins and if our parents had done this we'd have been thrilled. Presumably you know hether they get sick or scared or whether they'll play up.

I'm with SoupDragon on this. I would hate to be stuck with two kids in a row with mum and dad somewhere else altogether.

If it were small children of say 5 or 6years old, it would be different but a 10 year old and a teenager who are used to flying should be more than capable of not needing other passengers to deal with them..

ah ok. so your dh just thinks he is superior, then, OP?

it's not about resting for work, it's about never travelling cattle class, isn't it?

in which case, why is cattle class 'good enough' for his children, when it isn't for him?