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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Premier economy mix up...

261 replies

JulieHaydon · 03/06/2014 13:01

My partner and I work very hard and we decided to treat ourselves to a holiday with seats in premier economy as we were flying long distance and my partner is tall.

Fine going out and we had a wonderful holiday.

Then coming back we were all sat down on the plane waiting to take off when parents got on with their young child. Again fine, if they've got the money to do that then good luck to them. A flight is public transport after all.

The problem was they boarded late and there was only two seats left. What the mix up was I don't know but as the child was four the flight crew would not allow him to be on one of his parents laps.

So they had the awful task of trying to get one or two people to swop down into economy to let them travel together in Premier - and no one would. We refused outright as did the other passengers. If it had been up to first class we and others would have gone like a shot but this was never on offer. Perhaps it was full.

It was the parents' attitude that amazed us. You'd think with a child they would have booked in early but they didn't they came late, and expected others to move to accommodate them. The woman was very large and said she needed a wide seat which was obviously true.

But as another passenger said "Why can't two people from economy be upgraded so that they can all sit together in cattle class? They were late after all so why should someone move when we've all paid so much more?" However they went on to refer to the mother as a "Fat lump with no manners, if you need a wide seat with your family then be on time boarding" which I don't respect - there's no need to be rude.

We were delayed for an hour because of them. I think they had to go down to economy to sit together as they wanted because two new people suddenly appeared and took their seats.

And I don't think this was unreasonable do you?

OP posts:
JustSquirted · 04/06/2014 21:36

This your first flight Julie?

ONLINE CHECK IN. Days before to get your seats. None of this arrive early at the airport nonsense.

One more thing not making sense on this thread.

KatieKaye · 04/06/2014 22:10

Always remember when concorde came up to Edinburgh for the return of the stone of destiny. It flew right over my office, incredibly low and with an escort of RAF fighter jets. What an incredibly noise! I was leaning out of the window on the 5th floor and swear I could almost see the pilots' faces.

that's my only Concorde story - while at work, and from a distance. And I still got really excited. quite sad really. but I do remember the Blue Peter special with Lesley Judd flying on Concorde. Does that count?

Fannydabbydozey · 04/06/2014 22:17

My first date with my husband was on the London eye at sunset, timed for Concorde's evening flight. It was EPIC.

I remember Concorde flanked by jets flying down the Thames, I was at a pub on south bank but I can't remember what that was for. Because of the way it flew I always thought it looked like an optimistic plane. Does that make sense?

EeeeeeekAMouse · 04/06/2014 22:32

The concorde with red arrows through central London was Queen's somethingth jubilee. 2002?
It was awesome :)

Panzee · 04/06/2014 22:35

I thought it was 11am and 7pm? I'm sure that was the racket in Reading. :)

ExitPursuedByABear · 04/06/2014 22:43

And I remember it as 6.15

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 04/06/2014 23:14

Last time I flew VA I did enjoy sauntering down the stairs from the 747's top deck, especially as they were holding back the PremEc wittering chavs passengers who didn't look best pleased at being made to wait as we wafted past Grin

Saw Denise whatserface off Loose Women and her then husband sat there, it looked terribly cramped and not worth the extra Shock

BadLad · 04/06/2014 23:48

I hope you held a handkerchief over your nose as you walked past them, and took a loud gulp of air about twenty paces later, in case you breathed in any chavdom.

bubalou · 04/06/2014 23:58

About to book a big family holiday this week to Hawaii with DH and DS and now worrying about Premium economy and kids.

Is it something that people frown on then? Surely if we pay for 6 year old DS to have a seat then that's that. He's not a screaming baby or anything.

Blush
bubalou · 05/06/2014 00:09

Love how frank you are Julie.

Me and DH flew PE with Virgin on our honeymoon 7 years ago and it was amazing.

At an extra 400+ quid per person for PE I think it cost us they could fuck off of they asked for my seat.

The only person I would give mine to is david beckham and that's because I would have to sit on his lap Wink

OwlCapone · 05/06/2014 06:53

now worrying about Premium economy and kids.

There is nothing to worry about!! I have flown regularly with my 3 in premium economy.

PetraArkanian · 05/06/2014 06:56

Don't worry at all! Have flown all classes with dd and never had a problem!

PatriciaHolm · 05/06/2014 08:39

Heavens no, PE with kids is fine! They won't be the only ones. We've done upper class with a baby and a toddler, and that was fine too.

MammaTJ · 05/06/2014 09:00

I've been on Concorde too

(the one at the Fleet Air Arm Museum)

I used to live across the road from that, on the Royal Naval Caravan Site, no less. Grin

forago · 05/06/2014 09:23

PE is often full of kids - don't worry. It tends to be witterring chav families who don't mind paying a bit more for a bit more space with the kids, rather than, say, young couples.

rhubarbcrumbleplease · 05/06/2014 09:26

Last time only time I flew Club is was 25% children. Says a wittering Chav.

crabb · 05/06/2014 09:36

Is it wittering or whittering? (Misses point)

crabb · 05/06/2014 09:39

We flew Premium Economy on a 9 hour flight - Qantas Sydney to London. Lots of extra room and nice food. Well worth the extra cost. I think Premium Economy must vary in its value-for-money quotient across airlines.

forago · 05/06/2014 09:50

BA is pants. I think you may be right, we're whittering not wittering?

Best direct Julie over to Pedants corner where she can miss the point of some other popular conventions.

Toospotty · 05/06/2014 10:01

We got a PE upgrade for £80 on a NYC-LON flight. (We are otherwise poor economy people.) I remember a bit more room, nicer cutlery and leather seats. Other than that, it was pretty much as usual. Top tip, if you are planning to book economy you will be offered a PE upgrade at a fraction of the full ticket price and, if you sit refreshing the booking page, the upgrade price will change all the time. Up as well as down, but it was quite interesting to watch.

everyusernameiwantistaken · 05/06/2014 10:18

Bits of this thread have had me in stitches but I'm also now a bit terrified.

I haven't flown for years (about 10). I've prebooked my seats. Do I still need to check in online? Why would I check in online instead of at the airport? If you check in online do they email your boarding passes to you? But then where/when do you "check in" your luggage?

Yes, just outed myself as a complete bumpkin!

Sorry to derail (although the thread is already a bit surreal so...) and TIA for any info/tips.

Stinkle · 05/06/2014 10:24

everyusername who are you flying with? Not sure about other companies, but I've just flown with Ryan Air and you must check in online or they sting you £70 if you do it at the airport

Nancy66 · 05/06/2014 10:28

with PE on Virgin you get same meal as the plebs in economy, it's just you get a proper knife and fork (not plastic) and a proper napkin (not paper.)

everyusernameiwantistaken · 05/06/2014 10:33

stinkle
jet 2 - package deal.

PerditaMcLeod · 05/06/2014 10:35

Nancy, PE isn't the same menu as Economy- much nicer! Flew to the US last summer in PE and the food was lovely! not to mention the pre-take off cava.

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