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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To sit in business while DH is in economy?

67 replies

allduffedup · 02/03/2014 17:27

I'm going to a conference in the US in a couple of months. DH is also coming with me for a bit of a holiday/to catch up with friends.

Work will pay for me to sit in premium economy on the way there and business on the way back. I looked into buying premium economy for DH, but it would be an extra £450 so quite a lot of money.

I will be 23 weeks pregnant at the time, so the extra room would probably be very welcome, particularly on the way back which is an overnight flight. DH says he is fine with being in economy. However, I feel a bit guilty and will probably miss sitting next to him.

OP posts:

eightandthreequarters · 02/03/2014 20:18

He says he's fine. Believe him. Sit in business.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 02/03/2014 21:03

Absolutely. Use the 450 as extra holiday spending money.
DH and I travel a lot for business, generally our company only pays for economy. But if DH got upgraded by the company and I was tagging along for a holiday, I would be absolutely fine about sitting in economy and have him in premier/business. Especially if the alternative was both of us in economy...

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 02/03/2014 21:11

A (male) relative has done this with his wife sitting in economy many times. These days she gets to sit in Economy with their two young children.

We mock him mercilessly.

Sit beside your spouse.

dopeysheep · 02/03/2014 21:42

I think the fact you will be 23 weeks pregnant trumps any unfairness. He can't squeeze the sprog out so you may as well have a comfy flight.

ravenAK · 02/03/2014 21:52

Put it this way:

If someone asked dh: 'Here's £450. You can have it to spend on anything you like, or you can sit next to your dw on a plane for a few hours' - it'd be a no-brainer!

& I'd be equally happy to be consigned to economy if he were the one on a work trip & I was the tag-along.

YADNBU.

Nocomet · 02/03/2014 22:06

Id let DH have the posh seat on the way back, because he always does the driving and we live a long way from an airport.

But I m a short arse and I can happily sleep in economy seats, they don't bother me. I flew on my own to washington, with toddler DD1 at about 20 weeks and being PG wasn't an issue.

Mim78 · 03/03/2014 01:58

I was going to say sit with him til I read that op is pregnant. I think thismwkes the difference and you shouldv take the comfy seats

nooka · 03/03/2014 02:05

If the OP's work want her to be fresh and are paying the extra for it then the only question is whether the OP and her dh want to spend the extra for him to sit with her. She is working and he is going on holiday so different circumstances. If the OP's dh is not unhappy then I'd use the money for something else.

GarlicMarchHare · 03/03/2014 02:12

I met Bill Gates on a plane once, because I was next to his girlfriend in Economy while he was in First. He swanned back a few times, and gave us champagne, but I thought it very shabby of him. (It later transpired he was about to dump her, which would explain everything including her nerves!)

Mind you, he wasn't pregnant. I think you have a good excuse there, OP, but only just! Try for an upgrade at check-in. If that fails and you spot an empty seat in your posh area, invite him as your guest and sweet-talk the attendant :) Good luck, and I hope you both get a good trip.

Bogeyface · 03/03/2014 02:13

Wouldnt bother me, in fact I prefer travelling alone. More to the point, he says it doesnt bother him and as he is the one that will be taking the flight I think that his opinion trumps anything that anyone else says.

If he wanted to upgrade and you could afford it then I would say go for it, but as he isnt bothered and you could use the money elsewhere then stick with the original plan.

chocolatemademefat · 03/03/2014 02:31

Lie back and enjoy it! All those hours of peace - wonderful!

BusinessUnusual · 03/03/2014 02:47

YANBU.

AgaPanthers · 03/03/2014 03:25

"I met Bill Gates on a plane once, because I was next to his girlfriend in Economy while he was in First. He swanned back a few times, and gave us champagne, but I thought it very shabby of him. (It later transpired he was about to dump her, which would explain everything including her nerves!)"

Um, what? Bill Gates has been with his current girlfriend (now his wife) since 1987 and he was well known for flying economy.

<a class="break-all" href="http://archive.is/20120916031851/www.nytimes.com/1997/10/27/business/new-jet-eases-travel-hassles-for-bill-gates.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">archive.is/20120916031851/www.nytimes.com/1997/10/27/business/new-jet-eases-travel-hassles-for-bill-gates.html

Dirtybanana · 03/03/2014 03:42

You are going for work, and he is choosing to go along off his own bat, so YANBU. If it was a family holiday, it would be wrong to go different classes.

OP, be careful when you submit your business receipts, that your DH's vittles are not included.

Sceptimum · 03/03/2014 07:11

If he doesn't mind, no one else's opinion matters. Enjoy the little bit of luxury.

BusinessUnusual · 03/03/2014 07:19

Your work is paying for you so if you say no you are essentially giving up £450 (or whatever) from them.

Plus if I was your line manager and wanted to pay the extra so you were fresh/could work on the plane, I'd find it odd if you wanted an Economy ticket instead as you may not be as effective in work.

Plus it's safer for the baby and you (lower risk of DVT) if you have more leg room,

eurochick · 03/03/2014 08:05

Incidentally, it's worth asking when you check in how much it would be to upgrade then. If a cabin section is fairly empty they will sometimes sell the upgrade for what they can get for it, so it's worth asking. I've never got one this way but have friends who have got upgrade bargains.

HadABadDay2014 · 03/03/2014 08:09

Even if you are both in economy, unless you book seats together you may not be able to sit together anyway.

mckenzie · 03/03/2014 08:13

I flew to Australia in economy, with two young children.
DH flew out a week later, in Business Class, by himself.

It's the one thing that I cannot let go of and I bring it up at least once a year!

mckenzie · 03/03/2014 08:15

But in your case, I think absolutely you must make the most of the better seats and chill out in peace. It won't be long before your 'me time' is shattered so bank some now!

shewhowines · 03/03/2014 09:00

If I was tagging along, then i would be happy to go the cheapest way. I wouldn't expect you to sacrifice your journey and I would be too mean to pay £450 to join you.

especially if you were pregnant.

Nannyplumismymum · 03/03/2014 09:02

I would feel guilty ...

GreenLandsOfHome · 03/03/2014 09:04

I would rather sit in a less comfy seat and have company on the flight.

I'd be tempted to act the martyr, tell work to just pay for economy for you and hopefully earn some brownie points/alternative perks instead.

hackmum · 03/03/2014 09:06

I wouldn't do this. I would prefer to sit with my DP. I would also be very hurt if he decided to do it to me.

Lottiedoubtie · 03/03/2014 09:09

No brainer. Sit in business.

I would and I would be happy if it was in reverse to.

It only becomes unfair if family money is being spent on the upgrade.

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