To make nanny and DC travel economy?

[BooAvenue]

We are planning a trip to NY in the autumn and plan to take nanny, DD who will be 6 and DS who will be 16 months.

DH and I will be flying business, partially because I am a crap flyer despite flying frequently and partly because we have quite a lot of air miles that we want to make the most of.

The plan is to bring nanny on the 5 day trip so she can help out with the travelling and babysit for us on three of the nights. I've discussed it with her and she's very eager to come, and the plan is she will have 2 days and 2 evenings completely free to do as she pleases, plus TOIL of 6 days. We will of course pay for all hotels/flights/meals out and she's welcome to join in with us on her days off if she wishes. She also gets her own room whilst we have a 2 bed family room.

The difference between economy and club is about 2.5k per ticket, which whilst we are not poor is still a fair chunk of money.

So AIBU to fly business whilst she flies economy? And will DS need his own seat or will he need to go on one of our laps?

[onlyslightlyinterested]

I'm a nanny, and if your nanny doesn't want to do it I will!!!!!!!
No shame me....

[Callaird]

As a nanny, I would feel seriously humiliated if my employer put me in economy whiletjeyflew business.

If I knew before hand, I would probably invent an emergency situation so that I didn't have to go.

However, in my 29 years of being a nanny, I have never been asked to do this. I've flown economy, business, first and private jet, always with the children, sometimes without my employers. I think it is rude.

However, you can ask if she minds.

[Jambonandjerusalem]

Presumably the nanny is in sole charge on a usual day? I can't see why this is any different. She's a paid member of staff and this sounds like a huge perk for her!

[stampedingthefields]

It is a bit different flying long haul in cattle class than taking the children to the park though, isn't it?

[NerrSnerr]

I think you should have one of the children with you at least. I know the nanny will be paid for the flight, but you're also a parent 24 hours a day so I think it's fair to share- a long flight with a toddler is hard work.

[SirChenjin]

How will you share looking after the children if you're in another part of the plane?

If you do go ahead with it (it seems very Upstairs Downstairs though) FGS buy a seat for your youngest and don't expect your Nanny to sit with a child on her lap for 7 hours.

[BooAvenue]

Aware I will be even more flamed for this but we don't usually take the kids on holiday at all, we are doing so because DD is obsessed with America and I feel she's at an age now where she'd be very hurt if we found out we'd gone somewhere fun without her.

[JoMackl]

Whatever you do, please don't take young children in business class. The clue is in the name. Most of the passengers are paying extra (some from company funds, but some from their own pocket) because they have to work on the flight/ rest in order to arrive at their destination fresh enough to attend a meeting etc. It is completely unreasonable to let young children who will be, restless, loud, etc in business class (or in the quiet first class carriages on trains) imo.

[CommanderCody]

If you're content that the Nanny will:-
Get her oxygen mask on and then get the oxygen masks on both kids, should there be a decompression and an immediate descent.

And/or
Your nanny will evacuate the aircraft with both kids and not let her survival instinct kick in and just leg it, either with 1 child or none.

Then go for it. Pass the Moet Dahling!

[BolshierAryaStark]

I hope you're paying her well as 2 kids on a flight of that length will be far from a picnic...
I wouldn't want to be apart from DC on a flight just in case there was, god forbid, an emergency-I would imagine in that scenario they would want their mum.
I also wouldn't take a nanny on a family holiday, the clue is in the title. This of course IJMO.

[wickedwaterwitch]

Pmsl at 'can't they fly on a different plane'

[superking]

It sounds ok to me, but only if you buy a seat for your toddler in economy. Looking after a six year old and a toddler with just two seats between the three of them is not really reasonable. If your nanny has a whole row for herself and the two children I think that's fine.

[AnyFucker]

we have had this thread before

it went on, and on, and on, and on......

[ZenNudist]

Sharing ds with her sounds fair. And yanbu I would not be paying for nanny to travel business and as she's working she might as well sit with dd which saves money plus sharing care of ds so no one has 7 hours of that particularly hellish bit. Presumably dd will be quite happy watching films for the flight, and she can always walk up to see you / you go and see her if/ when she gets bored .

Sounds like a much easier day for nanny than usual!

[hefzi]

BF used to be a nanny (now a maternity nurse): this is absolutely standard, so don't feel guilty (many of the parents in families she worked in even flew first, leaving her and the children in economy) - you are also being very decent about your expectations as to what she will do on the trip, compared to many employers, so I think this is a fair deal.

I would, though, get two seats for the children, even if not necessary: you say you aren't completely hard up, and this way, there will be a little more space guaranteed for the three of them. If you're on a plane with three seats in configuration somewhere, even better, as they can have their own row.

Have a lovely time!

[AliciaMayEmory]

YANBU I don't think, but can I suggest for the flying anxiety that you book onto the 'flying without fear' course that Virgin run. I did it as I was starting to passmy fear on to my DC and it has changed my life!

[stampedingthefields]

Goodness.

I've no intention of flaming you, but you don't want to sit with your children on a flight and don't take them away with you - why? Is there something more to this?

[SisterMoonshine]

I think get 3 seats in economy too. You can mix things about a bit then. You and DH can each sit there for an hour or whatever as well as the nanny having more space

[BolshierAryaStark]

Ok just read your last post & am
Wtf, why did you have children OP? Clearly you aren't fussed about spending that much quality time with them

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

If DC2 were older I would say nanny in the back with the 2 kids. However a 16 month old is a LOT of work on a plane no news there

I would have nanny and 6 year old in the back together and rotate DC2 between the 3 of you. 6 year old will be perfectly happy watching films and eating her kids meal.

[Vajazzler]

Have you spoken to your nanny about it? Does she have an opinion?
Maybe you could offer her a cash incentive too? When i was a nanny i would have been a bit peeved at being told that i would be in economy with the kids but if the parents offered say, £500 to me as a bonus too i would have been very happy to do the extra work!

[JediHall]

Why don't you ever go on holiday with your kids?

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

x-post with Zen!

[FairNotFair]

I knew a family who flew home from Australia after two years away with their (long-term) nanny - 2 parents, 3 kids, and nanny.

The family of 5 flew in Business.

It was the nanny's birthday, so she flew solo in First.