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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:
Baylisiana · 10/01/2017 21:31

He should suck it up and be thankful for the opportunity to go away and bond with his children. An accident of birth may have left him slightly taller than most, but an accident of birth has also meant he is not in some slum in south east Asia trying to feed his children rather than worrying about a flight being rather uncomfortable.

He doesn't want to go though! Maybe by your thinking they should all suck it up, including OP, stay home and give the money to charity! It isn't about height anyway, my DP is nearly a foot taller than me and much more squashed on flights, but the effect on him is far less than on me because he doesn't have arthritic knees. I would say that flying to a holiday you don't want to go on, that will leave you in extended worsened pain and disability, is a pretty pointless use of money. Either pay the extra for business or don't go.

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 10/01/2017 21:48

Wow, beginning to wish I'd never brought this up! I think on balance the majority is vaguely sympathetic to DH's poor knees, and a few have suggested useful upgrades that don't cost an extra grand. Bulkhead seats in economy not really a reliable option as there are now more tall people than bulkhead seats, and premium economy seats are far too rare. Leaving him behind has a certain allure but would rather negate the point of a family holiday.

At the end of the day people are getting bigger and seats are getting smaller, and it is high time the consumer associations did something about it, but I guess as someone said it is a first world problem...

OP posts:
RubyWinterstorm · 10/01/2017 21:54

Yes, I am voting with my feet.

No long haul holidays for this family as we are all over 6ft and I have a bad back, and DH knackered knees!

If we could buy 10-20 inches extra legroom we would.

Can't even rest my head on the headrest as it's so low Hmm

thenightsky · 10/01/2017 21:56

who flies 15 hrs on business in economy?

My DH goes to trade conference every year in the States, along with 4 colleagues. In all the years he has been going the company have never once booked anything BUT economy for them.

scottishdiem · 10/01/2017 22:14

There is a remarkable degree of hate for sore knees in this thread.

Luckily my DP is more sympathetic to my pain and we plan holidays accordingly. I wonder if we will see threads in the Relationship area where people complain about partners not caring one jot about avoidable pain that they are suffering.

Hope you enjoy your holiday OP.

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 10/01/2017 22:19

There you are, airlines. There are rafts of tall people out there opting to not travel because there just isn't enough legroom. We'd all pay a bit more, but since that's not an option we're just not flying!

OP posts:
BantyCustards · 10/01/2017 23:14

It's hard to say - do you think he's being a diva?

Years ago I could travel 20+ hours in economy - these days I'm in pain half way through a typical film in a cinema seat and am having to shift around for the last 45 minutes or so which is virtually impossible in economy - it's a bone-deep throbbing/burning pain and can be unbearable.

However, I don't understand why you didn't just book an exit seat (unless they were already booked)

Isyss · 11/01/2017 00:19

I can see his point but 3 hours is a bit precious. I have decided i wont do over 8 hours in economy I just cannot take it.

pamhill64 · 11/01/2017 01:01

Besides 1 14year old, I'm the shortest at 5'9". Family goes up to 6'4" tall. We all just get on with it and although not always comfy have flown several times to the Canaries (about 4 hours) but can't comment on long haul. It's just part of the experience as simply couldn't go away with higher fees. And my husband has bad knees and an operation on one of them. Seems a bit of a tantrum to get his own way (and comfort) imo.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 11/01/2017 01:12

Doh I read it as economics class and wondered why it was important he attended college and why that lesson in particular was so important.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 11/01/2017 01:14

Dh is going to be doing 22 hours in economy for business. I think he is quite crackers for not pushing for a bit more comfort.

38cody · 11/01/2017 01:20

He could sit in an isle and stretch! Take your mum instead.

whattodowiththepoo · 11/01/2017 07:01

I won't fly economy unless it's an emergency, I would rather drive than not have the leg room.
6"6

Toadinthehole · 11/01/2017 07:55

I reckon the Four Yorkshiremen's wives are hanging out on this thread.

Toadinthehole · 11/01/2017 07:59

"Ma oosbund is 9 foot 6. He saws his legs at t'knee, and stiches 'em back on with twine after his 20'oor flight.

Never 'erd him grumble.

MackerelOfFact · 11/01/2017 08:10

Sorry, I'm on your DH's side. You're spending (presumably) more than a grand to go on a holiday to help your SAD. I don't see why he should be considered unreasonable for wanting to spend a grand on not further fucking up his knees. You can't really consider a winter holiday a necessity and a business class seat a luxury - they are both luxuries!

MackerelOfFact · 11/01/2017 08:12

Oh, and enjoy your holiday! PILs went recently and had an amazing time. Personally I'd be worried about flying in the surrounding airspace but I'm sure it's fine else BA wouldn't fly there.

nooka · 11/01/2017 08:27

My 6'5" dh used to sit in the aisle row and stretch but having people trip over your feet isn't great or stewards telling you off. Last flight we booked an extra leg room seat, but the airline we travel with has them as bookable with an extra cost, so you are guaranteed to get them (and they aren't always that great even at the cost, you have to really check that you are getting what you pay for).

I think that you have come up with a compromise that should work for your family. You get the destination you want and he doesn't have two painful days to get there and back. I was in Jordan in October and loved it. Very welcoming and some fantastic sites. I enjoyed Petra and Jerash but I think Kerak was my favourite site. It will also be very quiet as their tourism has really dried up, although I thought it quite expensive (oh and yes you are right from a terrorism risk point of view London is higher risk). I flew there for work and used Royal Jordanian, seemed to be a nice airline (I went economy including a flight to North America, paid extra leg room but work in the public sector so no business class for me).

backinthebox · 11/01/2017 08:47

Holding my hand up here, I am a BA LH pilot and fly through this airspace regularly. It is fine. There are many bits of airspace we cannot go through, but many we can that you would possibly be surprised about. There are procedures for all of the more complicated bits of airspace. The biggest issue you will have going to Amman is Chaos Corner where Turkey and Cyprus don't talk to each other directly and haven't done for decades - nothing new and pilots know how to manage it.

Wrt leg room - my husband is also 6'3". One of the joys of being staff is you get cheap seats. You get the best seat that is left after passengers are on. He has flown in First, Club, Premium Ecomony and Economy and even on jump seats (and sometimes not got on at all.) He can fit in an economy seat and is just happy to get there sometimes. You can also pay a supplement that is much less than Club fares to choose your seat - bulkhead seat, emergency exit etc. Bulkhead seats in BA have plenty of room. I've refrained from commenting, but honestly, if it is my airline you are flying with (and I know the seats well!) he is just wanting the perks of Club. And Amman is not that far.

OP others are right - Jordan is fabulous, but you will not be getting temperatures of 26C even in Aquaba. I went scuba diving there and it was amazing, but I needed a decent wetsuit (scuba school provides.) You'll still enjoy it, but don't expect to be warm.

coffeetasteslikeshit · 11/01/2017 08:56

Can't believe the number of posters who have come on just to tell the op about their tall DH who flies economy with no problems. How interesting. But does he have bad kneed? No? So not relevant in the least then.

I am 5'5" and have one bad knee and that's bad enough.

Michellelovesizzy · 11/01/2017 08:57

Should have left him at home!

SoloD · 11/01/2017 09:00

There is no airlines (apart from Turkish Airlines) who do SH with significantly extra legroom, for example BA do 30'' pitch in what they laughingly call business (which is the case as a standard Ryanair seat) and 29'' in economy.

Economy exit row seat is better than business.

Go without him.

Toadinthehole · 11/01/2017 09:09

"Go without him"'

You miserable bunch of buggers.

Original poster
waterfallrainbow · 11/01/2017 09:23

Really interesting contribution from BA staff. I think we're flying Royal Jordanian though. Amazing to hear about airspace navigation. We will look out of the window with interest. Interesting point from someone about the exit seats having better leg room than business. He refuses to sit in the exit seats though. He says you can never guarantee that you will get one.

OP posts:
Toadinthehole · 11/01/2017 09:28

Well done OP on a sensible conclusion. Enjoy your holiday together! Agree with your DH about exit seats, speaking as someone who has had people removed from them.