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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:
WineGummyBear · 15/08/2018 21:06

Someone said it on the first page but I'd also be very concerned about setting a trend that friend wants the expensive version and your DD ends up paying subsidised rates so friend doesn't have to slum it. No problem if everyone is happy with the arrangement of course. but your DD could feel backed into a corner and end up burning through her money in no time.

PollyFlinderz · 15/08/2018 21:16

£180 to me represents a whole pile of magical adventures

At today’s prices?

RedToothBrush · 15/08/2018 21:30

Yes, even at todays prices.

PollyFlinderz · 15/08/2018 21:35

Yes, even at todays prices

I think you’re looking at things through rose colored glasses.

Dungeondragon15 · 15/08/2018 21:39

While perhaps not a "magical adventure", I think that flying business class is also an experience that is "once in a lifetime" for many people though so I don't think the £180 has necessarily been wasted.

SheWoreBlueVelvet · 15/08/2018 22:11

Yeah but at 18 she won't fully appreciate it. You can put up with any old crap at 18 with the right friends. And it can be fun.

The time to fly business is when you can afford it, when you need to show off, or when you need actually need a decent trip ; work, kids, annoying husband etc.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 15/08/2018 22:20

RedToothBrush has nailed it really. The posters banging on about how fab business class is have missed the point, I think. They are not OP's DD who has been coerced into forking out almost £200 that she wasn't expecting to pay. The euphoria of business class for a trip that lasts less than a day will quickly wear off when she realises that the £180 would have done and given her much more for the trip.

We don't know how much money DD has for her trip, just that she had to save. We do know that rich friend hasn't the same constraints. It would have been nicer for similarly fixed people to go on a trip together. How can anybody appreciate something and make the best of it with a friend when said friend can snap her fingers when something isn't to her like and make all go away with a quick call to her dad? What's OP's daughter to do then? She can't compete, she'll be out on a limb.

Far from being proud of my daughter's non-negotiation skills, I'd be worried for her that the trip of a lifetime backpacking is likely to become tainted by a friend who isn't in the same position - who has parents who obviously don't know the value of money.

I feel very sorry for OP's daughter; that flight must be over by now and the cold, hard reality of what it's cost her will be kicking in. I wonder if that's what DD's father is concerned about also? OP is frothing with excitement at the business class seat, nothing anybody says will penetrate that.

jocarter67 · 16/08/2018 08:12

Good for her, ive never had the pleasure but she has been given the chance and I hope she enjoys every minute of it

Frogscotch7 · 16/08/2018 08:32

Doesn’t sound like she was coerced at all. And saying the op is “frothing” is pretty nasty tbh. Lots of assumptions about the girl’s budget.

Dungeondragon15 · 16/08/2018 08:51

Yeah but at 18 she won't fully appreciate it. You can put up with any old crap at 18 with the right friends. And it can be fun.

No, she won't fully appreciate it but she will remember it as much as any of her other experiences during the trip. It is better to "not fully appreciate" it when it cost only £180 rather than £1,000s (or whatever it costs normally). I always remember travelling first class in my early 20s (I didn't pay for it). It was an experience but at the same time it has made me wonder why anyone would actually pay for it. I thought business class was a waste of money too.

vincettenoir · 16/08/2018 09:00

I hope she lives it up and has a great flight.

SherbrookeFosterer · 16/08/2018 15:13

It's just a bit of fun, your DH should relax.

It could be worse, your DD could be spending £180 on Crystal Meth.

Newmanwannabe · 16/08/2018 15:22

Great motivation for her to succeed at university and get a job where she can continue to travel business class

Dungeondragon15 · 16/08/2018 19:17

Great motivation for her to succeed at university and get a job where she can continue to travel business class

Would anyone really aim for a particular job just so they can sit in bigger seats if they had to fly?

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726 · 16/08/2018 19:22

Frothing/fizzing over, same thing. I didn't mean it in a nasty way so I don't use it like that.

PollyFlinderz · 16/08/2018 19:52

Would anyone really aim for a particular job just so they can sit in bigger seats if they had to fly

Yes and there's nothing wrong with it at all. Its what we all do. We have a certain standard of living we want to achieve and if that includes being able to fly business class then so be it.

PollyFlinderz · 16/08/2018 19:53

OP is frothing with excitement at the business class seat, nothing anybody says will penetrate that.

I dont see that she is frothing. I think she's uncertain about the whole thing.

Dillydallyer · 16/08/2018 20:40

This is why I love MN. Nowhere has it said she can’t afford £180, it said she couldn’t afford the full cost of the upgrade. She’s 18, old enough to make her own decisions on how she spends HER money. I’m not really a flyer but one day I hope to fly business for the experience. If I could have had it heavily subsidised at 18, after years of study, then I would have done it too. Hope she has a fantastic time, OP.

Newmanwannabe · 16/08/2018 22:30

dungeon lots of people would aim to be able to get the sort of job that would afford them the lifestyle of someone who travelled business class, they don’t just travel business class and get a bigger seat it’s all the other thiings that go with it too. Or have a career that sends you business ess class when you travel.

I think it’s a great opportunity for her

Dungeondragon15 · 16/08/2018 23:48

dungeon lots of people would aim to be able to get the sort of job that would afford them the lifestyle of someone who travelled business class, they don’t just travel business class and get a bigger seat it’s all the other thiings that go with it too.

I flew business class and first class in my 20s and to me it pretty much was just a bigger seat which seemed no big deal. Obviously the food was better but you could get that in a good restaurant without spending thousands. Maybe the big reclining seat, good food etc seems fantastic if you are middle aged but if younger (and perhaps smaller and fitter without a big appetite), it's not such a great thing.

Newmanwannabe · 17/08/2018 00:38

By other things I dont mean the actual flight Hmm. The lifestyle. The job, clothes, disposable income. All the things that go with having a well paid career

user1457017537 · 17/08/2018 08:57

Dungeondragon15 I agree with you some flights on Emirates business class are really good. Business class flights with British Airways you get slightly better leather seat. It also depends on how old the plane is as well. I’m with Princess Diana, back or front it’s still the same plane. The air quality is the main reason to fly business or First. Air quality is really poor in economy.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 17/08/2018 09:12

Air quality is really poor in economy.

This is why we book seats forward of the wing as soon as possible when flying. ppO² is about 25% lower at the back by the time you reach altitude.

Dungeondragon15 · 17/08/2018 10:14

By other things I dont mean the actual flight . The lifestyle. The job, clothes, disposable income. All the things that go with having a well paid career

If the actual flight won't motivate her then how would going business class motivate her? She is not going to know about the lifestyle and disposible income etc of people in business class by just sitting on a plane with them?

Dungeondragon15 · 17/08/2018 10:24

Business class flights with British Airways you get slightly better leather seat. It also depends on how old the plane is as well. I’m with Princess Diana, back or front it’s still the same plane. The air quality is the main reason to fly business or First. Air quality is really poor in economy.

I can't say that I have noticed anything about poor air quality in economy. Is it likely a healthy 18 year old (assuming she doesn't have any respiratory problems) would notice? I have only flown business and first class on British Airways, and to me (in my 20s) it really was just a larger seat and better food, both of which didn't mean that much to me. I think that most people between 18 and 25 years can sleep anywhere, girls usually don't need much space and and don't have big appetites.

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