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.

Nothing against babies traveling in premium economy with their seat buying parents.

I have flown in every class of seat and have only had issues with babies and young children when their parents make no effort at all to contain the baby related noise.

The majority of families in business class are using air miles and therefore not spending their own money on the tickets. So there are frequently young dc in that cabin. Mostly they are no problem. The hum of the engines cancels a lot of low grade whinging. On a long haul flight they will sleep eventually.

Enjoy.

We’ve flown long haul and overnight more than once with the dc, in premium economy. There were plenty of adults there who could have learned something from the kids behaviour, imo. The kids could happily curl up and sleep, or watch films, or eat 😁 The drunk adults making a scene were way more disruptive. Book your flights and enjoy the holiday.

Of course YANBu! I have flown in every class and NEVER been bothered by a child or baby. But adults?? F me but some adults are absolute prats on planes. I’ve seen kids in 1st and biz class - paying more doesn’t guarantee no kids nor should it.

Oh, and I love getting a tow with a kid or two in it when I travel alone for work, cos they’re tiny and take up so little room! No hanging over the armrest or bloody man spreading, and generally watch telly in silence or fall asleep.

Crikey, book what you want if you can afford it. Lol at taking a trial short haul flight first. What a waste of time & money!

Poor people aren't the only ones who should have to listen to babies, while also sitting in the shit seats

I agree. Why should the OP have more consideration for people with more money, I don't understand the logic. In fact, considering all the comforts people with money have, getting to and away from the airport with ease, etc. etc. there is more of an argument for them having to put up with this discomfort on this occasion.

Though hopefully, OP, your baby will be fine. There are lots of great tips online about how to keep children and babies happy on flights

There is a lot of eye rolling at kids in general. In some parts of the world. Last time I was on a flight to Asia in business class everyone was so chatty to my toddler. He was in his seat actually and several people in Business Class walked past and said hello and even played with him. And then helped me out as well. The world isn’t full of child hating ‘business people.’

Also as a very frequent flyer can I say that the most horrible co passengers have all been adults? And when children have not been the most pleasant co passengers it is because their adults were being idiots and not doing their job. Like the one time on our approach to JFK when a six year old refused to be strapped in and her mum refused to force her (we let her come to the right conclusion herself apparently) and we got closer and closer to the runway and the pilot said he wouldn’t land unless she was strapped in. It was RIDICULOUS. But was t the fault of the now hysterical six year old or her clearly lax parent?!

We flew business class with our son when he was 6 months and again when he was a year old. I think a few people were a bit pissed off when he made noise (especially a few businessmen on an early flight to Munich). But we did our best to keep him quiet and we had as much right to be there as they did. Our money is as good as their money.

It’s definitely fine. I might think twice about business (although I probably would still take them and I took a whiney three year old on business) but premium economy is 100% fine. All you’re paying for is a comfort seat.

Of course YANBU. You are paying for your seat!
We have taken DS who was 3 at the time into both premium and upper (Virgin’s version of business). On the upper class flight we did encounter a rude man who said “He’d better not be noisy”- it was a night flight. DS had his tea, had his seat made into a bed and slept all the way home, just like the rest of us! It was an Orlando flight too so loads of children.

We flew with TUI in premium to Mexico earlier this month. There was a small baby in the cabin. She was less of a bother than most of the other passengers if I’m honest.

Just book it OP

Lol, what a hilarious thread.

Yes but there should be somewhere that doesn't allow children so there is a place for people who are flying and need to sleep on the flight.

In your opinion, perhaps. But that place does not exist so the answer to the OP's question is...of COURSE you can take your child in premium.

I have flown in Business for business and pleasure, with and without my child- he was 8 weeks old the first time I took him long haul. I genuinely don't even think about it now, if people have a problem that's really their problem. To be honest at this point I don't think I'd bother travelling long haul with him if I couldn't go in Business. Crack on, OP, and enjoy your holiday.

Urgh, bold fail.

Yes but there should be somewhere that doesn't allow children so there is a place for people who are flying and need to sleep on the flight.

FFS! If you can afford it, do it. The only thing I would say (which applies to any cabin, not just PE) is be active if she starts to cry. People (including me - a notorious grouch) are far more forgiving of a child if the parents are actively trying to calm them or parent them.

People generally get quite bitchy if they think you aren’t doing enough to quiet the baby or parent them.

Heartbreaking. Who would you cast in that movie?

We took DS in first class when he was 14mo (BA seat sale, worked out cheaper than business). I’d recommend it! Fewer people around to annoy, the little sleeping pods meant I got some sleep and he couldn’t harass any of the other passengers (he’s a climber and likes to try to touch people in the seat next to him - they were too far away for him to reach). The attendants brought him lots of little snacks when he got hungry, and there was plenty of room for his toys. Because he could get up and walk about within the pod, he was pretty happy for most of the flight.

It was better than some bus rides. He would been far more annoying to other passengers if he’d been strapped into an economy seat for eight hours.

I do all the time. If they're the kind of people who are so hateful and ignorant that they are angry about the sound of a baby and totally understanding about travelling with children then they're the kind of people I am happy to offend 😊🤷

Also I have really noticed that it is very much only British people who would get angry about a crying baby. Most other countries don't view children as an inconvenience and are very kind and understanding. I

it is very much only British people who would get angry about a crying baby.

Yes, I've noticed this too.

Of course it's not rude; I would almost say the opposite in that you will be disturbing fewer people in PE and will have more room to settle yourselves. I've heard people with tinies say that first or business class is the only way to make plane travel acceptable even if they travel in coach without the children.
No need to worry at all .

Tui is aimed at families surely? I wouldn’t give it a thought

Unless the airline specifically excludes children from this class then crack in. Anyone who moans is just say “children are allowed in this class, take it upmwoth the airline”

I’ve flown business with a baby and found it so much better. More room. And on the flight we were on, there were about 3 other babies in business. It’ll give you a lot more room and it’ll be easier to entertain her with a little more room!