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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Husband refusing to sit in economy class

216 replies

waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 18:13

We are desperate for some winter sun. But DH (who doesn't care about winter sun) has imposed some conditions: He will only fly for up to 3 hours in an economy seat because he says any longer will damage his knees. He is 6 foot 3.5 with very long legs. Trouble is, you can't really get any winter sun within 3 hours. I can't help thinking he's being a bit precious. In the end we've shelled out an extra £1k for him to fly business class while we go cattle class, which basically means I am paying for his flight. I have long legs too... We have to go on a cheaper holiday as a result. Slightly struggling with my attitude...

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2017 20:22

Tripping the hostess up until she moves you to a decent seat also no longer acceptable, which has always been our failsafe ruse.

Well you both sound lovely Hmm

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 09/01/2017 20:23

I see you consider holidays a 'need' - that's a novel way of looking at them

Petal02 · 09/01/2017 20:25

I haven't read the full thread - but has anyone mentioned premium economy? I think it's the perfect compromise. I''m 5ft 6" (so hardly a giant) but I do have long legs for my height. DH is 5ft 10" and his legs are shorter than mine. We fly economy if its short haul, but any further than Sharm el Sheikh and we go premium economy.

You get loads more room and you can almost (but not quite) lie flat.

HalfaFishFingerAndTwoPeas · 09/01/2017 20:25

Iit was very sunny in devon yesterday, come here for a holiday. Grin

travailtotravel · 09/01/2017 20:27

Jordan is fabulous. Do enjoy and if you can do Wadi Rum, obviously Petra (it remains a highlight and I've been to a fair few countries now), and if you can do some of the crusader castles, they're amazing. And then there's the dead sea (before it all evaporates) and madaba. Lovely lovely lovely. Jealous.

TheColourIsZebra · 09/01/2017 20:28

I hope you're not going in January or February, Jordan is colder than Tenerife in winter.

PossumInAPearTree · 09/01/2017 20:29

Jordan is beautiful. Petra is amazing.

ivykaty44 · 09/01/2017 20:29

If you're over 2 meters you get upgraded if there is a spare seat. The airlines make a note and do this automatically. So if your tall - well over 2 meters/6f6" then make sure you tell them when booking

timeforabrewnow · 09/01/2017 20:30

My heart bleeds for you OP - as does my tiny violin 😨😨😨😨

TheCatsMother99 · 09/01/2017 20:30

Your husband needs to get a grip and stop being so precious.

Mine is as tall as yours, and with long legs too, and manages on flights over 10 hours in economy, he just gets up to walk around a bit every so often (which is recommended for circulation anyway).

If you've got the money to upgrade, fine, but it's his attitude that he really needs an upgrade on IMO.

BlackCatsRule · 09/01/2017 20:31

He could sit in the exit seat? More leg room

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 20:31

Penfold007 you've got me thinking now!

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Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 20:45

MollyHuaChua ouch!

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Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 20:45

wonder if anyone has tried to go round the world in 3 hour flights? Might be fun.

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paxillin · 09/01/2017 20:47

Not keen enough on the whole "bonding" experience to take part in the looking-after-kids-on-the-plane-misery, then. He wants you to do that part and then he can relax during the flight. Take the kids without him next time and spend his flight money on a UK mini-break for bonding.

grannytomine · 09/01/2017 20:50

If he already has knee problems then it is pointless listening to people who say their husband is fine. If their husbands don't have dodgy knees it isn't comparable. I have dodgy knees and at 5'4" I find flights painful and if a flight was more than a couple of hours I would need more space or the holiday would be ruined as I would be in agony for days.

Lucky people with good knees.

WhisperingLoudly · 09/01/2017 20:58

Jordan is lovely but Petra in the winter can be very very cold. You'll need coats, scarfs and gloves and will see very little sun walking through the rock chasms.

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 21:23

Luckily DS is 12 so we're past the whole kids misery on plane experience for now. I've told DH when we have a baby he will be taking it in business class with him!

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Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 21:50

WhisperingLoudly good to know! But really? ave temp is 14 from memory.

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Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 21:53

Babychamsocialist that's a Good Thought!

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SpartacusWoman · 09/01/2017 21:54

I kind of want to say he's being a bit U, dh knees hurt but he would put take himself off to business class while dd and I were in economy, she's 11 now but has always been really good with flying so it wasn't that he was needed to do his share of parenting, but that he enjoys the flight and talking to dd about which country we are above, her excitement and he'd miss that, so we do only short haul. His knees give him grief but I guess the difference is my Dh wants to be on holiday.

If his knees are going to be painful by sitting in economy on a long haul flight for a holiday he doesn't want to go on then I can't imagine him being much fun to be honest around to be honest, he would moan all the way there and probably for the first day or so once there.

I know you say you've had a crap time of it lately as a family, but if he genuinely doesn't want to go on holiday, won't it make it all the more stressful? Holidays are relaxing and fun and great for families etc, but when one doesn't want to be there, and is in pain as a result too, they can be a bloody nightmare.

If you weren't joking about him usually deliberately tripping the cabin crew over to get better seats on previous flights then that's a shitty way to treat the cabin crew.

Screenburn · 09/01/2017 21:54

Your DH sounds like a massive brat. My 6'5, joint-problems DP never complains and would certainly not insist that he got to fly business above anyone else.

Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia - all great for winter sun, and none that far away. Next time, have a luxury holiday with the kids and leave DH behind if he's so bothered!

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 21:57

NewBallsPlease00 oh yes, Jordan is absolutely fine to travel to. There is less of a terrorist threat than London, unless you go to the border with Syria and get hit by a stray shell...

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Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 09/01/2017 22:03

SpartacusWoman, we were indeed joking. No cabin crew have ever been harmed by my husband. But if you sit with your feet in the aisle cabin crew do tend to address the problem more quickly.

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Soubriquet · 09/01/2017 22:04

I get why he needs the longer leg room but why did YOU pay?

Was it a joint account or actually your money?

Why couldn't he pay if it was your money?

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