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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:
Nanny0gg · 13/04/2017 10:04

His younger daughter Tilly already has a cooking programme (don't tell me her name has nothing to do with it)

His children are (I think) 18, 17 and 15.

knowler · 13/04/2017 10:06

There's a difference between wanting to raise your kids so they appreciate the value of money and how you can't expect stuff to fall in your lap, and just being a tight-arse who is willing to sit separately from his kids on a plane.

My kids are having a much more privileged upbringing than DP or I did, primarily becuse me and DP earn a lot more than our respective parents and have a much more settled existence. I therefore always make it clear to DSs that we can never take 'nice stuff' for granted and that while we work hard and therefore can afford to buy lots of toys etc and do nice things, there are an awful lot of people who work extremely hard who don't get these opportunities.

If, however, I was going to travel first class, I would have my kids with me. (As it is, we all cram together in economy, as we're not that well off :) )

BusterGonad · 13/04/2017 10:07

It'll be a dream to go in first class and leave my son in economy, no chance of it ever happening though! 😂 I'm joking, I'd rather leave him behind altogether! Ha ha. Of course I'm joking. Who doesn't want to sit with their lovely bored and tired children on a 10 hour flight. Grin

Majorgoodwinschickenbeatstrump · 13/04/2017 10:10

I'm a firm believer that spoiling children ruins them for their adulthood (I've seen it too many times). But this example is nothing to do with spoiling children- it's about being a selfish twat who expects others to babysit their kids! If you can afford 1st class then all the party go in there. If you can't then just don't bother.

Whatever1234567890 · 13/04/2017 10:13

I was on a plane with Gordon Ramsay to LA where he did this! He left with with the nanny in economy and popped back to see them once.

CancellyMcChequeface · 13/04/2017 10:15

If this isn't just his attempt to get attention, his attitude to his children is appalling. Imagine being 14 or 17 and having your parent publicly say that you're a 'little fucker' who shouldn't be allowed to come near them on a flight.

The attitude is much worse than the logistics of who sits where on the plane.

KayTee87 · 13/04/2017 10:19

He's a twat. Everything I do is for my ds and I will leave him as much money as possible. I would hope I will parent him in a way that makes him hard working and appreciative anyway.
I stand to inherit a sum of money not to be sniffed at and I still work hard for my own money and would never take it for granted.

twilightcafe · 13/04/2017 10:22

I bet the Ramsay kids travel premium economy - I don't believe they are squashed up in the row near the loos in economy. Grin.

A flat in SW London can easily cost £1m so it's not as if the Ramsays will be scratching around to put down a few grand for deposits.

CatSittingMonkey · 13/04/2017 10:24

My parents did this to us. I didn't mind but now that I am independent and pay my own way I join them up at the front.

No lasting damage and certainly made me appreciate things more and also strive to have what they have.

HelloFreedom · 13/04/2017 10:27

I really dislike his public persona but that aside, I don't understand this mindset of denying children the advantages of their parents wealth in order to show them the value of supposed hard work.

It's bloody obvious to all but the most narrow minded moron that hard work does not equal material gain. At least not for most the world's population.

If I was a millionaire (extremely unlikely) I would want my children to see my 'fortune' for what it is. A lucky, priviledged way to live. Teach them the value of sharing, kindness, finding meaning and purpose in life. Why does material wealth always have to be the only worthwhile result of every endeavour?? I hate this fetishising of vast wealth. Fucking cynical capitalism. Drives me bonkers...

WinnieFosterTether · 13/04/2017 10:27

His usp is that he swears so I can't get outraged that he called them 'fuckers' .
One of his DDs has a cookery programme so it's not like he isn't helping them with his connections. He's just said he's not going to hand them lots of money. I think that's fine.
The entire family comes across very well on the DD's programme. He seems warm and funny with them not a grumpy, sweary arse at all. And the people I know who have worked with him in kitchens, liked him a lot.

HelloFreedom · 13/04/2017 10:28

Ugh. Anger induced typos. Soz.

BusterGonad · 13/04/2017 10:32

I think it's been taken very literally and if he does stick them in economy I'm sure they're old enough to handle it! He's playing on his perceived persona and I bet he's loving the cries of outrage over it!

Youdontwanttodothat · 13/04/2017 10:34

His kids are mid to late teens who summer in LA. They'll cope.

user1487175389 · 13/04/2017 10:35

What a twat.

blueskyinmarch · 13/04/2017 11:23

My DH and i once travelled to the US in business class on his air miles and our DD’s (teens at that time) went in Premium Economy. It was fab and they really enjoyed the freedom of being sat away from us. On other flights when we could get two business class and two economy we have split it one adult and child gets business class going out the other combo gets it coming back. We have never been nasty about any of it though. Garden Ramsey is bellend of the highest order.

blueskyinmarch · 13/04/2017 11:24

Gordon not Garden!

ClarenceOddbody · 13/04/2017 11:31

Blimey, has he never seen Home Alone?!

hideehigh · 13/04/2017 11:44

I honestly can't see a problem with this if the youngest is 14.. it's something I'll consider when the DC are older. If they are sensible and not scared of flying why not?!

BoboChic · 13/04/2017 11:46

Gordon Ramsay is awful and vulgar in every way possible.

MariafromMalmo · 13/04/2017 11:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

thatdearoctopus · 13/04/2017 11:52

Gosh, so when we were offered just one premium economy seat last summer and I gave it to ds (as it was his birthday), I was out-of-kilter with the wealthy then? Grin

rookiemere · 13/04/2017 13:47

Personally I think a better way of showing his family how to stand on their two feet is to disabuse them of the notion that they're actually talented enough to get a cooking show/writing deal on their own merits, rather than 100% down to the family name.

AgathaMystery · 13/04/2017 14:31

My parents did this once we were old enough to sit alone. I have zero issue with it.

Crispsheets · 13/04/2017 14:33

aero i wasn't flying with them 😀