To think that friend shouldn't fly first class knowing the rest of us can't

[AhNowTed]

So, 4 friends travelling long haul flight for 2 week holiday. Well-off friend announces she's going first class, on the same flight. No way can the rest of us afford it.

AIBU

That's a long old flight. I don't blame her and it wouldn't bother me, apart from being insanely jealous. It's not like it's a couple of hours hop over to Europe. With only 2 weeks there I'd want to arrive fresh so as not to waste time sleeping off the jetlag.

That wouldn't bother me in the slightest, and I would certainly be trying to do it on such a miserably long flight in her shoes, especially if the subsequent two weeks were involving room sharing and a lot of togetherness. (Unless one person was going to be left solo in economy, obviously.) But I agree with whoever said up the thread that flying isn't a fun, social thing for me, especially long haul - it's a necessity to be got through as pleasantly as possible before the holiday starts. If I'm not hauling a small child with me, I want to be in my own space reading or watching a film, with space to stretch out.

Hmm, coincidence really, this exact same situation has occurred with a friend of a friend.

IMHO you should all fly together, in the same class.

Not fair if the others can't afford it.

What is it, like 10k to Australia in first or something

If you could manage it, could you suggest to the well off friend that it might make for a much nicer start to the holiday if she ditched the first class and instead, you and she club together to get all 4 of you into premium economy?

She may well say no but it might give her pause to consider she's flaunting the difference in financial state between the 4 of you.

She's entitled to do what she wants, and Oz in economy is rather squashed, but it's unkind and thoughtless IMHO.

I wouldn't mind at all
Flying is hell, if she can afford a bit of a less hellish experience, let her.

YABU. Why should you all suffer together? Flights (especially long haul ones like that) are an unavoidable evil. They aren't part of the fun holiday.

I wish I could afford to do it and I'd never begrudge someone who can.

Australia is a long bloody way.

I would have no problem if a friend of mine wanted to travel as comfortably as possible.

It's not like she's leaving anyone to fly alone.

Wouldn't bother me at all. If she can afford it then good for her. You'll all be together at the destination. :).

I would be massively jealous, but I wouldn´t bother getting upset about it. It is a long, long way to Australia and if she can afford it, I can fully understand the desire to fly first class. I would be very tempted to do it myself, if I were in her shoes.

I have thought this over and I honestly don't see a problem.

1 if it was me, I would like the comfort and it would make the flying easier
2 I wouldn't do it if it meant a friend would be left alone but 3 of you are still together.

1. I get overloaded when I'm with a group of people or indeed even an individual for too long so this would be a perfect solution to give myself a bit of space without feeling hemmed in

4 when I go on holiday with my friends ( I have a couple of friendship groups seperate from each other and I go away with them) we aren't bound together and free to please ourselves and catch up with each other when we want.

So no, it's not a problem if a friend did it to me and quite honestly I would jump at the chance.

No way could I afford first for a flight so I'd just be saying "ok we will see u when we get there" and eveb if they all did it I still couldn't find the money so I'd just enjoy the fact I've got a long chunk of time to myself which never bloody happens.

Maybe she's got a load of Avios.
I think if I was flying to Oz and could afford First I'd be very tempted.

The flight to Oz is hell, don't blame her for one second. Like many others I don't really consider being on a plane as a social time as most of the time is spent watching films, reading etc. Don't let your jealousy prevent your friend from doing something nice.

I think if you do things as a group, you try and fit in with what the person with the least amount of money would do, however tempting it might be to upgrade! And with a flight to Oz, I would be tempted!!

You may find though that you and your two friends in economy have a better all round trip, due to being together, even if not quite so luxurious. I suspect your first class friend probably expected you to upgrade with her, so creating two groups of two.

I wouldn't want 'fun' on a plane, I'd want to plug myself into the entertainment and not have to chat all the time, especially on such a long flight. So I would be very envious but not at all bothered.

I think you're being unreasonable. It's a really long flight and to be honest after the first hour or so the excitement will have died down and you'll all be seeing to yourselves/ watching movies/ snoozing/ whatever. Whatever makes the flight more comfortable. I'd find it a shame that we wouldn't all be sitting together but in the long run it really doesn't matter.

Ha, I wouldn't have the balls to do this, but I don't blame her! Saying "btw I'm flying in first who's joining me" is the best way she could have brought it up tbh. Not assuming that others can't join but also not pressurising them into doing so. I think YABU to be annoyed.

Show her bridesmaids?

And thinking about it, I went on a couple of group holidays in Europe with uni mates where one person would always get the train there and back, inviting others to join him if they wanted. Train was obviously more substantially more expensive than sleazy jet and meant an extra day of travel on either side so mostly people didn't take him up on this. I don't think it ever occurred to anyone to resent him for doing his own thing though!

I can appreciate it feeling weird, but if I had the means I would go first, especially to Oz.

It's not really in the spirit of going away together though is it? You lot will probably have a laugh over a few drinks and she'll end up feeling left out.

I wouldn't mind. I cannot sleep on planes and often get sick and arrive feeling rubbish. If I could avoid that by going first class I would.so wouldn't begrudge someone else who can afford it. 18-24 hour flights are not fun she is missing nothing by not being in economy

Don't blame her, anything to make a long flight more comfortable. I sense a green-eyed monster.

Love the fact that people are acting as if the people 'having a laugh over a few drinks in economy" are going to have a better journey. This is a 20+ hour flight we are talking about not 2 glasses of wine on the way to Malaga!