To Risk Upsetting Other Travellers

[JustPurple]

I am going back to work at the end of October and am looking to squeeze in a last minute holiday before I go back. We will be flying long haul and have an 8 month old baby.

We usually fly premium economy when we travel with TUI because I'm not great with large groups of people. WIBU to take an infant into premium economy? I feel like people would be cross if she made any noise when they've paid out for an upgrade, presumably for a calmer and more enjoyable experience. The baby doesn't usually cry for any length of time but she's never flown before.

Last time I checked there was no requirement to be stepping off the plane into a 'Very important meeting' in order to book a certain type of seat, the ability to pay was the sole 'entry criteria'.

Yes, in my opinion babies are not fine in Business class and the airline - who may the rules - don't agree with me.

It is not a matter of opinion. The airlines decide what is fine, not you. As long as airlines say it is fine, as a condition of carriage, it is, in fact, objectively and absolutely fine.

It is a little like me travelling cattle class on a train and saying that it is not, in my opinion, fine for people to purchase a first class ticket.

@zzzzz
What is wrong with a child free zone?
And BTW I foster my niece full time and I'm pregnant so it's not like I have an aversion to children.

We flew Emirates to Dubai a couple of years ago with DD. Sat behind DD was an (unconvicted at the time) murderer.
I would have preferred a baby who screamed frankly.
( I knew he wouldn’t murder us before anybody says anything. It just felt incredibly creepy. I needed a large martini to calm my nerves!)

Good on you for holding your ground.

I suggest you just ignore people trying to pick a fight. It's all very zen.

Apparently if we have different opinions we should mind our own business!

Nobody has told you to mind your own business. Nobody has reported your posts. Nobody has tried to shut you up. They've just pointed out the flaws in your reasoning.

book away. Years ago I had a lot of airmiles with United. I booked an economy flight from heathrow to US with a baby in my lap. When I got to the desk they upgraded me to business class. I pointed out the baby and they said no problem go right ahead.

Op, my top tip for travelling with babies is each of you should have a bag with all the supplies - nappies/wipes etc. so no looking for "the bag". Also pack absolutely everything in ziplock plastic bags so things don't get mixed up and you can reach in and pull out the snacks or the nappys/wipes or the books really easily.

What is wrong with a child free zone?

I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with it, but it obviously isn't sufficiently profitable for the airliners to decide to have one.

I noticed quite a few child-free hotels last year when I was scouting Christmas holidays in Gran Canaria. Didn't choose one myself but somehow still managed to end up in what was practically a geriatric retreat. 😂

@AynRandTheObjectivist

TonnoEMaionese told me to mind my own business.

@zzzzz
But it isn't about the age it's about the noise.

This is the most amusing thread I've read in a while.

Surely if you are concerned about passengers first class would trump business!

Sit wherever you fancy (can afford).

If someone wants a child free zone, I hear private jets work wonders!

I've no kids and it wouldn't bother me at all. Maybe having extra room would be easier with a child.

TonnoEMaionese told me to mind my own business.

It's clear from the context (something along the lines of "invest in noise cancelling headphones and mind your own business") that she meant minding your own business by ignoring any children on your flight. She plainly did not mean that you didn't have a right to post here.

We have flown long haul business class with our baby and nobody batted an eyelid

The stewardesses came and asked us if we needed anything but otherwise we were left to get on with things

I honestly can't believe that people flying premium economy are going to have any sort of god complex

But it isn't about the age it's about the noise.

Ah yes, flights, those sanctuaries of silence and comfort.

We've flown long haul in Virgin Upper (which I would say is somewhere between most airlines business and first) numerous times since DC1 was 3 months old (DC1 now 5 and DC2 now 2). You might be shocked to learn that we have come across numerous children in the upper cabin, as well as plenty of normal, non-entitled adults travelling without children who don't bat an eyelid.

Granted, our kids are very well behaved and we are well prepared with stuff to keep them occupied/comfortable but honestly, it's not a big deal.

You'll find plenty of kids in premium OP, don't sweat it.

I'm cabin crew. I can assure you that it's very common to see babies in most cabins. Business class has a huge variety of people, they're far from all business people. Also most 8 month old babies are very good travellers (often a lot more chilled than their parents). Unfortunately they aren't such chilled travellers once they can walk!

I flew long haul in business class with my dd when she was a baby and a toddler. It never occurred to me that there was any issue with that!!!

Both my kids have flown both economy and business on BA and Virgin on long and short haul. It’s fine. I keep them calm. I entertain them. One time DS2 was not at his best. And cried a lot. Turned out he was coming down with something (not infectious before people jump on me) that required hospitalisation eventually. No one has ever said anything.

What is always stressful is immigration especially in the US after a long flight but that’s why if you fly business class and get off earlier it makes life easier.

Business class is filled with people who are not flying for business - I doubt they would be able to afford to run the service if they only allowed business people.

We’ve flown as a family of 6 (3 adults and 3 children) several times to the Far East - as long as you aren’t deliberately annoying the other passengers then it is fine, just like any where else on the plane.

My DC have flown all classes depending on where we are going and who is paying. You should book the ticket you want for you and your DC and then fly it. Airlines are happy to have DC in any cabin.

There's a lot of eye rolling though when a baby/child comes into PE/business as people have paid for a relaxing, chilled experience. It does kind of ruin it for others I'm afraid.

It does kind of ruin it for others I'm afraid.

That's funny, because being judged for accessing a public service kind of ruins things for mothers (let's not pretend that fathers get the same shit). What do you think the parents paid for?

I guess given that all passengers are created equal, your choice is either to suck up the fact that other members of society who pay the fee are allowed into your hallowed section, or hire a private plane.