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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

My daughter upgraded to Business Class on a flight! She’s 18!

214 replies

pietersburg · 14/08/2018 09:05

DH has chastised her for being a spend thrift, and wasteful. I’m proud of her in a wayWink

She is travelling 14 hours with a rich friend who travels Business. She’s only ever been in Economy, extra leg room seats at bestBlush I’ve flown Business for work a few times and it was great.

Her friends parents wanted to upgrade but DD said sorry no she couldn’t afford it. So they said ok if you make a contribution they’ll
pay, so they came to the sum of £180.

It’s come out of her savings for her spending money whilst back packing.

Who’s being unreasonable, me or dh? I think it’s OK, as it’s a one off and heavily subsidised.

OP posts:
Uncreative · 14/08/2018 09:26

I hope she enjoys it and it provides motivation for her to work hard in a well paid job so that she can continue flying business!

It is a 14 hour flight - it will make a huge difference to her on arrival and it only cost £180. Bargain!

hmcAsWas · 14/08/2018 09:28

There is no harm in it - well worth the extra money for good sleep on a fully reclined seat.

We recently upgraded from Premium Economy to business class for a flight from Montreal to Heathrow for just £60 each. There aren't many deals like that and I am not sure quite why it worked out so cheap (must have been under occupancy) - we enquired about business class on our existing flights about three weeks prior to departure and were offered that price.

ShotsFired · 14/08/2018 09:29

My first Bus Class I paid £700 to upgrade and considered it worth every penny. Short haul economy is always a bit of a shock!

Although of course ruined me for life and now I can only do long haul on the lie-flats...

user1457017537 · 14/08/2018 09:30

When people start out backpacking with business class flights I think their reality of backpacking will be different to other. If the friend doesn’t like the accommodation be prepared for them to book into a 5* hotel.

TheVanguardSix · 14/08/2018 09:32

No one's being U. But having rich friends kind of sucks in this way because you have to go up to their level/standards and it creates stress.
I hope you DD's backpacking won't be marred with her friend's wishes for 5 star longings along the way. She could do with that £180 during her trip and at some point, she'll wish she had hung onto it.

I practically lived on a plane from my early 20s until my early 30s (my job required it). Flew business once. It was nice but a tin can's a tin can. £180 is a good deal and worth paying. But I wouldn't pay any more than that to upgrade, tbh.

Happy and safe travels for your DD.

OddestSock · 14/08/2018 09:36

Ah, let her enjoy it. It’ll be a nice treat for her & like others have said, it’ll make a huge difference on a 14 hour flight.

I work for an airline so when we travel long haul (not very often!) we fly business class. We took a trip earlier this year in economy & the difference is immense.

FilledSoda · 14/08/2018 09:36

If anyone is BU it's the friends parents.
Is your dd travelling with her friend and her friend's family or is it just the two of them?
I imagine it's a sizable chunk of you dd's savings which were earmarked for something else.
I wouldn't have put your dd in that position to start with.

19lottie82 · 14/08/2018 09:36

Total waste of money, she will regret it, but then she will learn

Are you joking? £180 to fly business class for 14 hours compared to economy?

It isn’t a waste of money and she won’t regret it!

The only thing she will regret is having a taste of what she won’t be able to afford again, or not for a long time!

spanishwife · 14/08/2018 09:38

So £90 each way for 14 hours - that's an ABSOLUTE bargain. It will be the cherry on the top of a brilliant trip. I'm jealous! Will someone pay for me to upgrade pleaaaaseeee. Me and OH always pretend we are on honeymoon and avoid wearing trackies... haven't got a free upgrade yet but still trying!

spanishwife · 14/08/2018 09:40

Ps I've flown business and prem econ before when my parents paid (hence why I think it's fab) - now I have to be a sensible adult and do up kitchens and bathrooms with my money...

HelpmeobiMN · 14/08/2018 09:40

Sounds like she’s struck a pretty sweet deal if she only had to pay a £180 contribution! It’s her money to spend as she wants anyway - she may regret it when she has less spending money but it’s still her choice. I’d say your DH is being unreasonable.

Clairetree1 · 14/08/2018 09:41

Are you joking? £180 to fly business class for 14 hours compared to economy?

no I'm not joking

to burn £180 in 14 hours and have nothing to show for it?

she is 18, for a typical 18 year old's minimum wage, zero hours contract job that is more than a week's work.

stupidity.

But when she is desperate for £4.20 later on in the trip, she will learn a lesson she won't forget in a hurry

junebirthdaygirl · 14/08/2018 09:45

My ds and friends just flew economy for longer than that. In a totally unknown, (practically) airline. They said it was great. I think the whole squash in cheap thing is part of the adventure of backpacking. They are now travelling around on a low budget but its a great bonding experience with friends and lots of stories to tell later.
I would be concerned friend will start resisting the cheap and cheerful bits as they go along and call bank of Mum and Dad to bail her out.

FlowersAndHerts · 14/08/2018 09:46

I think if the rich friend had been a good friend, she would have flown in Economy, and not put the DD in the dilemma. As it is, the DD's spent extra, and is beholden to the girl's parents. I don't think this augers well for the trip, really. It's hardly the end of the world flying Economy, even longhaul.

Jaxhog · 14/08/2018 09:53

Worth every penny for 14 hours. Bit mean of the other parents though.

Leonard1 · 14/08/2018 09:53

It’s a no brainer. 14 hr flight business class. She will enjoy it and it will be wonderful start to the holiday.

lottiegarbanzo · 14/08/2018 09:54

Good for her. But really, I think friend's parents should have paid the whole thing, as their treat, since it was done to accommodate their wishes for their dd.

Let's hope the friend doesn't have such upmarket ideas herself, or is willing to shake them off for an adventure. As pp have said, backpacking and luxury don't match.

BewareOfDragons · 14/08/2018 09:58

I think she should have said no; £180 is a lot of money for someone on a backpacking budget. But she'll learn the hard way.

noego · 14/08/2018 10:04

Backpacking is a learning experience. When the rich kid decides she's had enough of slumming it in hostels and eating in cheap restaurants is she going to call daddy to bend his credit card and move into a 5 star hotel or want a fancy meal or some other luxury? How will your daughter cope with that? Will she have the funds? How will she feel? Has her friend and her parents even considered her feelings? Why didn't rich kid fly economy? That's what most kids do because they go backpacking on a budget and that they have worked hard to save for.

greathat · 14/08/2018 10:07

Having backpacked at a similar age I'd be worried about the difference in expectation between her and her friend. I remember eating banana sandwiches several days to save the money for a greyhound bus. If they're going to be going for the pricey options she'll be out of money so fast!

FevertreeLight · 14/08/2018 10:07

Where does it say that she is on a back packing budget? or are people assuming that?

I have paid for my DDs friend and her then boyfriend to fly business class on medium haul (USA).

If I was taking another child/young person on holiday with me then I would pay for everything and so if her friends parents are going as well I think they are a bit tight to charge anything.

FevertreeLight · 14/08/2018 10:10

By that I meant that backpacking doesn't mean you have a tight budget. Isn't it just a term for an extended break?

These days long haul and hotels seems more the norm that 6 weeks inter railiing as cheap air fares to Europe have largely destroyed that.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 14/08/2018 10:11

Yes, beholden and obliged, previous posters have pinpointed why this doesn't feel good to me, OP.

Your daughter will now be obligated to 'make contributions' that aren't small for her, to upgrade herself to keep pace with her friend. Her friend doesn't have to be concerned about money, your daughter does because she doesn't have it in the first place.

I think this may have been a mis-step and unless your daughter is very clear that she can't contribute any more money regardless of what the 'treat' is, she could end up owing a lot of money. I don't know if you'll speak to her at any point but I'd be saying, "Business class, how lovely, that's a one-off. Don't upgrade anymore because we can't afford it - and this is a back-packing trip, remember?".

Your pride is a bit misplaced as your daughter soon came around from her initial 'no' to an 'ok then' when she got an inducement. She needs to be more definite. The friend's parents should just have upgraded her - without strings. The money is nothing to them - it is to your daughter as many posters have already said.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 14/08/2018 10:12

180£ bargain... But a shedload if you're earning it on minimum wage....

It's will be fun for her and a lesson in what happens when you're tight for cash!

FevertreeLight · 14/08/2018 10:13

I don't think backpacking is hostels anymore. I meet a lot of backpackers in 5 star hotels in Asia.

The budget is very variable. Lots seem to use parents hotel points to book etc as well.