Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Children in economy with parents in first class

122 replies

Birdsbeesandtrees · 13/04/2017 08:18

Seen a quote from Gordon Ramsey this morning saying he does this.

The quote is "He added that they don’t even allow their children sit with them in first class on family holidays because they “haven’t worked hard enough” to afford it yet.
“I turn left with Tana and they turn right and I say to the chief stewardess, ‘Make sure those little f–kers don’t come anywhere near us, I want to sleep on this plane.’

I worked my f–king ass off to sit that close to the pilot and you appreciate it more when you’ve grafted for it.”

I was really shocked. Is this normal ? I've never flown first class by the way so I honestly have no idea.

Do people do this ?

OP posts:
MsGameandWatch · 13/04/2017 08:19

I think he's a twat. I hate him even more for this and hope he's joking.

Aeroflotgirl · 13/04/2017 08:21

I know, he wants to show his kids the value of money, and working hard, but this is nasty. As a family you travel together, so if you travel in first class, your family should, if you travel in economy, than your family should.

LemonRedwood · 13/04/2017 08:21

If he doesn't want his children in first class then he should be sitting in economy as well. It's not the flight attendant's job to care for his children.

He is a bellend of the highest order.

Original poster
Birdsbeesandtrees · 13/04/2017 08:21

I don't think he was joking. Something about not leaving them any money because he wants them to earn their own. Which I get. But this just seemed ...mean ?

OP posts:
DragonFire99 · 13/04/2017 08:22

Well, he's always been completely vile, and this just proves it. What a bellend.

BarbarianMum · 13/04/2017 08:24

It's normal if you're a total tosspot. And it's nothing to do with "teaching them the value of hard work" - lots of people work hard and will never be able to fly first class most of his restaurant staff fi. It's about not being arsed to look after his kids.

Crispsheets · 13/04/2017 08:24

My ex did this. Flew first class long haul...Teenage Ds in economy

Aeroflotgirl · 13/04/2017 08:24

His kids are older, teens/20's I think, but this is unpleasant. Surely you work hard, you want to look after your family, or is he just going to spend the lot on himself.

GiraffeorOcelot · 13/04/2017 08:25

Ignoring Gordon, I don't think it is uncommon for the parents to sit in first and the kids (and nanny) to go in economy.
I'm sure I've seen it mentioned in the BA FAQ section.

I wouldn't but people do.

pilotswife · 13/04/2017 08:25

Yes people do this a lot. A lot of families are frequent fliers and their children are well travelled and well behaved and can easily be by themselves in economy where they are quite comfortable while the adults are up the front. Often there is a nanny or a maid with them but I've known many to fly solo.

aprilanne · 13/04/2017 08:25

i think he just says this to get attention .it was in paper today that one of his daughters sat next to j lo or someone like that on a flight .i doubt they would have been in economy

Original poster
Birdsbeesandtrees · 13/04/2017 08:25

I know the kids are older so don't need looking after as such but. Still. And what about when they were younger ?

OP posts:
RubyGoat · 13/04/2017 08:25

What a wanker. Poor kids to be dismissed to economy class.

UppityHumpty · 13/04/2017 08:25

Not sure if he's been misquoted - everytime I've seen them on a flight (I travel 1st to the US a lot due to work) the whole family's travelled in 1st.

Aeroflotgirl · 13/04/2017 08:26

Oh lord Crisps, did you have to fly economy too, that's why he's an ex right!

Original poster
Birdsbeesandtrees · 13/04/2017 08:27

To me it screams tightness/ can't be arsed with the kids. Or that you like to behav as though you have more money than you really do hence putting kids in economy.

Why not have the kids and nanny stay at the local campsite while you stay in a nice hotel while you're at it.

OP posts:
GinasGirl · 13/04/2017 08:30

It's quite common according to a couple of my friends - one of whom is a BA pilot and one who used to be cabin crew.
Apparently it becomes a problem when the kids go looking for their parents in First throughout the flight. My friend said she had to tell more than one parent that they had to go and sit in coach rather than have their children come back and forth.
And I can totally believe this of Ramsey.

SleepFreeZone · 13/04/2017 08:31

This just doesn't bother me. He probably has them in premium economy, they get to sit together away from their parents which I'm sure suits them fine.

Also don't be fooled about the kids not getting any money. They won't be trust fund babies but he'll make sure they have property and will no doubt get them involved in his businesses.

Original poster
Birdsbeesandtrees · 13/04/2017 08:32

He said they'd get a 25% deposit on a flat actually.

I don't think not leaving them anything is wrong at all actually. But he has so much money I do hope he helps them out a little rather than watch them struggle. Which I'm sure he would. I hope.

OP posts:
CaoNiMartacus · 13/04/2017 08:34

Yeah, but I bet he won't be shy in getting his children book deals/TV deals/modelling contracts when they're old enough.

eddielizzard · 13/04/2017 08:37

it was warren buffet i think who did this sort of thing with his kids. wanted them to work for their money, not just have an easy life. his kids said they felt like they grew up in poverty whilst surrounded by wealth. not something i'd want for my kids.

Polly99 · 13/04/2017 08:37

I think this is fine. His kids are old enough to travel alone. Pretty sure that once my parents were in business on a transatlantic flight and me and my siblings in economy (it was what my dads employer would pay for) and it was great fun.
Plus, I've seen the behaviour of over-entitled teens in the front and reckon a stint in economy might just do them some good.

NavyandWhite · 13/04/2017 08:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mulberry72 · 13/04/2017 08:41

He's a complete dickhead, I can't abide him.

GenerationYmember · 13/04/2017 08:41

He actually refers to his children as 'little fuckers' Shock

Ugh, this man revolts me.

And no I could never sit in first class, whilst my kids are in economy.