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AIBU?

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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:
DolorestheNewt · 14/08/2018 10:14

FevertreeLight
in the OP
It’s come out of her savings for her spending money whilst back packing.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 14/08/2018 10:14

Sorry OP, I didn't mean to say that you shouldn't be proud of your daughter, of course you should - she got into the Uni she wanted.

Not this though, this is a slippery slope.

DolorestheNewt · 14/08/2018 10:15

Oh, sorry, Fevertree, crosspost, I saw your second post

fruitbrewhaha · 14/08/2018 10:17

Does she have plenty of money for the trip?

I'd say this is just the beginning. If her friend is used to luxury what happens when they pitch up at the cheap beach shacks? Is she going to insist they stay at the nicer bungalows, a better hotel, take an internal flight instead of a 10 hour bus? Go drinking in the nice cocktail bar at a hotel instead of the cheap dive bar?

FevertreeLight in the OP is say they are back backing

sunshinesupermum · 14/08/2018 10:18

Good for your DD. Her money, her choice.

BabySharkDooDooDooDoo · 14/08/2018 10:20

Hope she enjoys it

Pinkvoid · 14/08/2018 10:22

The rich kid reminds me of the Pulp song Common People tbh. She’ll inevitably get tired of hostels and cheap food so will simply call on the bank of mummy and daddy to help her out. Your DD, I’m assuming, doesn’t have that option and may well end up regretting losing that £180.

Tomorrowillbeachicken · 14/08/2018 10:23

tbh at 180 its a bargain

HenriettaArabella · 14/08/2018 10:23

£180 is a complete bargain to upgrade to business class (I fly business class long haul with work and it is usually thousands more)

noego · 14/08/2018 10:24

Feverlight.

I doubt that the people you saw backpacking in 5 star hotels are 18 year old kids on a gap year, who have had a Saturday job in their teens to save up and pay for a backpacking trip.

AgentJohnson · 14/08/2018 10:26

Backpacking and flying Business Class, wow the youth of today. It’s her money to throw away as she wishes but I’m not sure ‘proud’ is the sentiment I would be feeling.

Sweetsongbird1 · 14/08/2018 10:26

That £180 will make a massive difference to her 14 hour flight!
Wine

Bombardier25966 · 14/08/2018 10:31

The holiday starts at the airport for me, and £180 for an upgrade is a bargain, even more so if that's return. It's £6.50 an hour!

user1andonly · 14/08/2018 10:36

I think the other parents were mean to take £180 off her.

It sounds like £180 isn't a big deal for them but it's a significant amount for a student who has had to save up to go back packing. Getting on for a weeks wages depending on what she's been doing.

I think she was a bit bulldozed here - it would have taken more guts to continue to refuse and go sit in economy on her own on a long haul flight at 18.

That said, I hope she enjoys it, has a great time and doesn't find herself struggling for cash later on in her adventures.

"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?"

Spot on, I think.

HolyPieter · 14/08/2018 10:38

And people dare to say that millennials are hard done by.

hooliodancer · 14/08/2018 10:41

£180 for something that costs thousands is brilliant.

Whoever said it's not worth it is very odd if they have actually done both business and economy on long haul. Why would having a flat bed, loads of room, peace and quiet be not worth it?

Maybe the friends parents wanted to not just pay for her to teach her the value of these things? Rather than just being tight?

Tell her to enjoy it! I think it is such a different experience. Hopefully she won't be spoilt for life by it! I can't imagine going economy on long haul now, so would rather not go as I can't afford it .

Sweetsongbird1 · 14/08/2018 10:41

And people dare to say that millennials are hard done by

^^ this Envy I have a 22 year old..

CurlyWurlyTwirly · 14/08/2018 10:59

Your daughter paid out of her savings, so she knows how hard she has had to work to accumulate that money. She’s said herself it’s a treat for her getting into her course.

Her friend who only knows business class is in for more of a shock when they go backpacking. If said friend also wants to upgrade to 5 star hotels with aircon, then she will meet no one and miss out on the experience

Needmoresleep · 14/08/2018 10:59

We paid £180 each to upgrade on a 14 hour flight to Singapore with Norwegian.

Worth it for me, though DH needed a bit of convincing to do the same on the way back. It was handy to have access to a lounge when the outbound flight was delayed, plus quick check in and priority through security. Plus a chance to catch up on films and ‘free’ food.

I doubt we would have made the same decision at her age. It’s a choice but if the other parents are paying, why not.

Do take your own headphones with standard headphone socket plug. The airline ones are awful.

FlowersAndHerts · 14/08/2018 11:01

Whoever said it's not worth it is very odd if they have actually done both business and economy on long haul. Why would having a flat bed, loads of room, peace and quiet be not worth it?
For me, it wouldn't be worth being beholden to anyone for that. (And I say that as someone who was upgraded by the stewards to first-class on a long-haul! Smile )

dunraven · 14/08/2018 11:01

Well, what's her daily budget allocation for her backpacking trip? £180 could well be 5 days worth. I wouldn't be impressed either especially if she ran out of funds early and rang home to grovel for a sub later on or worse, used her credit card limit. It's only the start of the trip! How long would it take her to earn £180?

Almahart · 14/08/2018 11:03

I think that’s a complete waste of money for an 18 year old, it would be the best part of a week’s wages. I was once upgraded to first class for a transatlantic flight. It was great but still a camp bed in the sky really

I would also be really worried that she is going to be expected to fork out for luxury accommodation along the way

araiwa · 14/08/2018 11:05

Id rather have an extra week backpacking than a upgraded flight

BewareOfDragons · 14/08/2018 11:06

£180 for something that costs thousands. Sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Only if you make and have decent money.

She's backpacking with a girl who clearly has more disposable income than she does (even if it does come from her parents). Her costs are already likely to be higher than she anticipated.

And that attitude is also why so many people are in so much debt. But it was on sale! But it was such a bargain! Look! Another item I didn't need but wanted , but it's ok because it was 50% off!

Daughter should have stood firm. The other family could have paid for her seat, since they wanted her with their daughter, moved their daughter's seat, or figured the girls would have plenty of time together when they landed. Not ask a girl who has scrimped and saved for a holiday to pay more for an unnecessary luxury herself just their daughter wouldn't be 'lonely' sleeping on a longhaul flight.

FlowersAndHerts · 14/08/2018 11:08

And that attitude is also why so many people are in so much debt.
and
Not ask a girl who has scrimped and saved for a holiday to pay more for an unnecessary luxury herself just their daughter wouldn't be 'lonely' sleeping on a longhaul flight.
Totally agree!

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