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

[OfCourseIveNameChangedForThis]

Testing name change.

and i can't get over the poor hubby wubby has a stressful job so couldn't possibly manage a night of poor rest and then go to work and have to talk to people and shuffle paper for a living. it's not like high earners tend to do the most physically demanding work. seriously - one day at work in a sedentry job would be too tewwible for the poor little man - awwww! ffs. like to see him manage a newborn baby for a week.

Very good point swallowedAfly.
Op, how would you feel if your kids' teachers did that on a school trip?

But I didn't expect for it to be suggested that my relationship with DH was dodgy.

just leave the bastard.

I wouldn't be happy if my H suggested this tbh. It does seem very selfish. He could easily take an extra days leave/have a day less holiday or even, shock horror, go into work and be tired. i've done this more than once after coming back on the overnight flight from the U.S

my 11 and 13 yo would also have needs for such a long time - a need to chat about the holiday, a need to be woken up if food came along, a need to be separated if they started bickering, a need to be reminded not to irritate another passenger etc etc. I don't think the need to teach independence is relevant when you're going on a family holiday.

"Op, how would you feel if your kids' teachers did that on a school trip?"

It wouldn't bother me as long as the children were in a group. It's not as if they can wander off or anything.

because he's so special and different and more important than everybody else getorf. it's the only possible explanation.

was he too special and important to help with the children in the night too by any chance op?

camblewick the kids are 10 and 13! This isn't about dumping toddlers next to strangers.

My DS regularly flew to and from the US as a UM from 8 onwards and frankly all the BA service consisted of (useful as it is) was getting them physically through security etc, onto the plane, checking they'd been fed, and being a port of call if there were any questions/requests. So actually LESS than I imagine the OP would be doing nipping back from the front cabin.

Or is flying as an UM also wrong??

Ever had jet lag Swallowed?

I am literally falling asleep as I stand the day after a long haul flight, and would struggle to get through a day of having to concentrate and be professional.

they would be breaking the law OP as i suspect you would be too.

yes squeaky i've had jetlag and have still had to take care of my son or go to work etc afterwards.

I don't think the asking questions/getting seatbelt stuck/being asleep when the food comes is anymore likely to come from an older child than an adult tbh.

Flying isn't something 'everyday' for most people, so it does happen that people get confused anout the seatbelts, or where the loo is, or how to work the entertainment, or the seat etc etc etc and the natural thing to do, if there are no stewardesses around, is to ask the person next to you for help.

I think you are a bit mean if you begrudge answering a couple of questions for the person next to you durig a 12hr flight.

"just leave the bastard."

Yes, I can see the scenario. DH comes home tonight and I finds the locks changed because MN told me to.

you'd 'struggle' squeaky? and? we all struggle from time to time and make balanced decisions about what's worth it for a holiday or treat given the consequences. most people would on balance decide that one day of being a bit tired and flakey at work was not the end of the world and certainly preferable to dumping their kids in economy unsupervised for a long haul flight no?

maybe the OP is going to struggle with a bit of jet lag when she gets back too - should she put the kids into kennels?

I very much doubt it is breaking the law!

"Might I humbly suggest the furore here is because OP has mentioned Business Class"

Not for me it isn't. I am, once again, flying long haul with my children in premium economy this summer. I could have flown first class and left them to it but that would not be fair on the other passengers.

Might I humbly suggest that the furore is because people think it is a dumb idea...?

They are 10 and 13, not toddlers anymore. I flown a lot when I was younger, without my parents and I certainly enjoyed it. You could "sell" it to your children as "Mummy and Daddy would love to see how grown up you are" bla bla bla and it's a big adventure bla bla bla. It's not like you let them fly in a another plane.

"should she put the kids into kennels?"

The 10 year old does like dogs a lot.

I find it inconceivable that even the best behaved pre teens on the world left together unsupervised for over 10hours hours in a restricted space will not get bored and then start to quarrel, messing about etc.

It hasn't seemed to enter you thinking that other people sat next to your unsupervised children for the duration of the flight will have to tolerate this?

It do they not matter as they are only econmomy class passagers?

OP did you miss my question above -

What do you do for a living OP? I bet you work hard too, why don't you go business and he goes economy with the kids, I'm guessing he doesn't spend a lot of time with them normally, this is his opportunity to catch up with them..

for example i'm struggling a bit today after struggling a bit yesterday travelling home on three trains with my 4yo, a massive backpack and the dog (me the only adult) from the peak district. i decided it was worth it to give us a holiday but maybe i should have left ds at home to avoid struggling.

squeaky I once had to go to work 2 hours after a flight of 22 hours. You bet I was a bit out of it but I managed. The same way my DH managed to go work a 10 hour shift on his feet after being up all night with a crying newborn.

It's one day. Can the man not really manage?

Sorry, just thinking of all the women out there getting up nights with their babies and still going to work the next day...

Yes I do think the DH sounds overly entitled.

I think it does make a difference that the kids are experienced fliers. Much less likely to hassle the other passengers if they have done it all before.

of course it's breaking the law that is why there are statutory requirements for sending a child unsupervised on a flight.

I have no problem with kids flying alone on planes - they will be absolutely fine and will probably have a ball. They don't really need supervision at that age, they have each other to talk to. Don't really see the problem for the other passengers either, I would rather sit next to a 10 year old than a smelly fat man.

But my main gripe is the fact that is comes across that DH is so much more important in the family dynamic than the children, and the message that it does send to the kids in that you beling there, we belong here - they are old enough now to recognise such distibnctions tbh.

It makes me laugh how many people think that a couple of pre-teens would need to be "looked after" when they are pretty much just going to have to sit in a seat and have food brought to them.

And I am sure they will figure out right quick that if they need something, the people to ask are the cabin crew.