Children in business class for long flight... what's the MN verdict?

[Somerville]

Come on then... genuinely don't know if I'm being unreasonable here. Who has a gavel to hand?!

We're going on holiday in the summer with other family members and their kids; 7 kids and 4 adults in total. DH just priced it all up, hoping that it would be within budget to travel premium economy (He's very tall!).

He was looking for the cheapest flights rather than particular dates and found a bargain for the outward flight with one airline - direct, business class seats for just £10 more per person than the standard premium economy price that month (and a quarter of the standard BC price) - and there are enough seats for all of us.

We're holding the flights, while we wait to hear if the dates work for the other couple. Assuming they do, how unreasonable is it to press buy? Any true business travellers who have to zoom off to meetings on another continent on arrival will be fuming, right, as we traipse on with 7 over-excited children?! But they're all pretty well-behaved kids, as kids go. And presumably the airline is anticipating low demand from business travellers for that flight, hence pricing it for holiday travellers instead. If we don't book it, others will. (And for that reason, I'm not stating the airline or destination!)

[Whatsnottolike]

I've seen children travel in business before and they always seems very well behaved. They are cocooned in their little pods so don't have the space issue as an irritation. As a pp said their neighbours won't even notice. You could box the smaller ones in by the window to stop them escaping!

[PatriciaHolm]

We did Australia with an 8 month old and 2.2 yr old in upper class. No problem at all. Neither were any bother, certainly no more so than the average demanding adult ;-)

[parklives]

Do it, there are often kids/babies in business/first class. The fact that you are only being charged £10 extra pp means the airway aren't expecting to sell those seats to business flyers.
Aren't most kids pacified with devices to keep them quiet anyway, so you won't disturb other flyers either.

[WankingMonkey]

I wouldn't even think twice about this if I could afford it. Only requirement is to be able to pay. If anyone has an issue, thats their problem tbh. Unless the kids were screeching and running around, which I doubt..but even if they were, they would (I assume) do the same in cattle class so it then becomes a case of...'should we piss off the poorer people or more well off' which isn't a choice I would be comfortable making anyway, so I would go for butlins or something in that case :p

[Somerville]

It shows the weren't worth remembering.

Ha! True.

Maybe I'm misremembering. Or maybe it was such a long time ago that business was much more just for business travellers.

[MrsPeelyWally]

are only being charged £10 extra pp means the airway aren't expecting to sell those seats to business flyers

I think it's more likely they're not expecting to sell the seats to anyone.

[KeepCalm]

dear god book it!

[AlisonS13]

Do it.
We went BC long haul and the kids had a great time.
On one particular flight we were complimented by another passenger couple who said our 4 were very well behaved. (Mind you that was in comparison to a few others who did not behave so well)
Plenty of room in business class and athe that price I would have pressed the buy button immediately.

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

Jesus christ do it! They would.only be annoying people in more uncomfortable seats if.you don't 😂

[Somerville]

We can't book without confirmation from the other family - I know that sounds stupid as we could travel separately, but in this instance that won't work because of arrangements on the other end.

My fingers are poised to book if we get the nod.

[Slimmingsnake]

You every right to buy yr seats...and like you say well behaved kids so no problems

[MrsPeelyWally]

Maybe I'm misremembering. Or maybe it was such a long time ago that business was much more just for business travellers

Sommer I think the days of Business Class being for Business Travellers are long gone. In fact the last flight I was on 2 weeks ago I would say out of a cabin of 24 only 5 of the passengers looked as if they were travelling on Business. The rest were couples and various family groups - and me travelling on my own. There is no mistaking me for the fat granny of 6 I am. 😂

I hope you all have a great time.

[TheSpottedZebra]

Are you not going to be sitting with them though? Becase that would be annoying - if the parents were having a lovely time away from the kids, who were being noisy.

[ForalltheSaints]

The only people who should be denied business class if they can afford it are those whose behaviour is offensive, unreasonable or cruel to others. Your family does not appear to be any of these and so go-ahead.

Incidentally, someone had the idea that making those who ill-treat women or are corrupt should be denied business or first class travel. I am all in favour of making people such as Philip Green or Mike Ashley or the Saudi rulers go in economy and be denied business or first class travel.

[MrsPeelyWally]

Zebra I think it's obvious Sommer is going to alongside her children - it's the reason for the thread.

[DustingOffTheDynastySuit]

Once you've booked come back and tell us where... sounds like a route worth investigating!

[TheSpottedZebra]

Thanks for explaining that Peely

I was responding to this: Quite how we'd get them to sit still and keep quiet when they're several rows away from us I'm unsure about.

[Kirriemuir]

Definitely book it. We do when we find a good deal. Please let us know where and what airline!

[Somerville]

We don't plan to intentionally sit separately from them, Zebra. But because BC seats are in little booths, they cover a bigger footprint and with 11 of us travelling that means we'll be spread over two or more 'rows'. Also, as the booths are in twos, with partitions between them we won't be able to have all the kids in view all the time. I anticipate having to do much standing up and wandering over to check that they're watching something suitable/that that scream just came from someone else's kid/that the teens aren't pilfering vodka, etc.. (I joke. Kinda.)
I honestly feel like it might be easier to travel in premium economy. But for fifty quid more (for my whole family) we might as well have the nicer food, quicker boarding and airport fast tracking. I think...

[SoupDragon]

I fly BC to a holiday destination and there has never been anyone who looks remotely like they are trying to work. It's all families and couples.

[80sWaistcoat]

Do come back and tell us which airline has this great deal. I can go look if we are ever able to travel abroad again!

[lovelearning]

Children in business class for long flight... what's the MN verdict?

Children in the hold



Somerville, have a fabulous holiday

[wasonthelist]

Went business to Aus and NZ with out 9 month old DD - had no probs and aircrew were lovely with her. We weren't the only travellers with kids - it's called "business" but it really just means "more expensive".

[Trethew]

If I was in your position I'd BUY NOW and count your blessings.

At the same time if there were seven children settling into seats around me my heart would sink.

But you won't get many chances like this so GO FOR IT

[Chippednailvarnishing]

we won't be able to have all the kids in view all the time

There's the best reason to go BC!