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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:

CerealMom · 03/03/2014 09:10

Bruno, you forgot piles.

For the sake of your piles, sit upfront OP.

BusinessUnusual · 03/03/2014 09:12

Even if you were 23 weeks pregnant hack?

I doubt you will get any brownie points or additional perks - travel budgets will have policies (hence the premium economy out, business back) not a set amount per person.

OP, I think you could find the £450 if you choose, from what you say - do you and DP think the spend is worth it? Leave it to him to decide this, maybe?

Crowler · 03/03/2014 09:14

If I were in your husband's shoes, I wouldn't mind sitting on my own. I would probably be a bit peeved if my husband didn't solicit my view on this, but he knows I would care more about saving the huge markup on first class fares than sitting with him.

Your husband is not a child, he can understand the reason he's not in first class with you and I don't think it's a big deal.

I think it's a bit childish to put someone in a difficult position because their work has paid for something that you personally would not want to pay for.

oranges · 03/03/2014 09:16

its not a holiday! she is going on a work trip - long haul while pregnant. She cannot downgrade and be tired/underperforming at work, fgs.

hackmum · 03/03/2014 09:40

BusinessUnusual: "Even if you were 23 weeks pregnant hack?"

From memory, 23 weeks pregnant is quite comfortable. I might have felt different at 35 weeks.

Chunderella · 03/03/2014 10:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sparechange · 03/03/2014 10:04

DH and I do this quite a lot, and he never minds - he is getting a free holiday!

It is always worth asking at the airport for an upgrade, and quite often they have offers where you can upgrade at check-in for a smaller amount than it would be at the time of booking.
Are you getting night flights? If so, you'll both be asleep so you won't miss him. And even if it is a day flight, you'll be watching films rather than chatting, I would imagine.

abitsc · 03/03/2014 10:09

Do it!

LittleBearPad · 03/03/2014 10:09

Do it. He says he'll be fine. He will be.

Also to those saying you'd want to sit with your DP as the OP is going for work normally he wouldn't even be on the plane. It's only that they've arranged a holiday around op's work.

HazleNutt · 03/03/2014 10:09

we've done it. It's often way too expensive to upgrade DH and it would be silly to give up a nicer seat that the company has paid for so I would be fresh. Massive waste of company money too, of course. DH is old enough to manage to sit by himself for a few hours.

squoosh · 03/03/2014 11:18

'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.'

Hurt if he decided what? To get a job in a company that paid for him to fly business class? The rotter.

eurochick · 03/03/2014 12:12

Most people seem to plug into the entertainment system or sleep on long haul flights, so it doesn't really matter who you are sitting next to. My husband is often asleep before the wheels have left the tarmac! He's a boring travelling companion, so I would definitely go for comfort.

cardamomginger · 03/03/2014 12:17

Do it! Try and get an upgrade at the check-in desk though. If you fly a lot with this particular airline, that could well count in your favour.

eddielizzard · 03/03/2014 12:17

do it. if you weren't pg then i'd probably say stay in economy, but when you're pg you will really appreciate that extra space.

HazleNutt · 03/03/2014 12:40

People who are saying YABU - if was the other way, your DH has a premium seat because he has a work event and you decide it's too expensive to buy a premium one for you as well, would you insist that he gives it up and sits next to you?

truelymadlysleepy · 03/03/2014 12:45

I wouldn't think twice about it. DH often travels for business in Club & I buy an economy ticket. It has been known to swap boarding cards in the lounge .

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 03/03/2014 12:53

If this was me, I would go business class without a moment's thought. It's being paid for, for god's sake! DH would be fine in economy. With toddler DD. Actually, that would be the only reason for me to downgrade - to help with DD who is nearly 2 and going through a somewhat challenging phase. But in this scenario, it would be business class all the way. It would be the only way I would ever get to experience business class unless we win the lottery.

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