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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you pay for your dc to fly business class?

117 replies

zarmak · 16/02/2019 16:14

Just that really. DS and his friend are going on their big gap year holiday, and the other boys parents have paid for them both to travel in Business class. It is a 14 hour flight.

Would you ever do that? I just really hope he doesn't get a taste for it.

OP posts:
bluetheskyis · 16/02/2019 19:23

BlueJava absolutely! I hope it spurs my children on to knowing what’s important and getting g a ‘taste’ for it so that they too strive and know what makes someone successful. Making money, and spending it on luxury travel.

bluetheskyis · 16/02/2019 19:25

A gap year in itself is a huge luxury for most families FFS

HollowTalk · 16/02/2019 19:27

I have read this exact thread before! Everything about it was the same - the boys on the gap year, the parents of one paying for the other. OP, did you post this before?

UbbesPonytail · 16/02/2019 19:27

I would just view it as your son has been treated to his seat and make sure he knows how lucky he is.

Like previous posters, when it’s DD’s turn, I’ll be there for emergency funds and maybe a nice hotel for the night every now and then.

Are they only going to one country? They can’t have bumped them up to business for every flight!

ILoveMarmiteToo · 16/02/2019 19:29

No fucking way! I had a gap year and roughed it all of the way which was character building. This sounds the opposite.

NCjustforthisthread · 16/02/2019 19:32

Yup - we would and normally do fly business if it’s more than 14 hours (I used to live the other side of the world often with a stop in between) - We are very fortunate to be able to afford this.

Thingsdogetbetter · 16/02/2019 19:43

The other backpackers will laugh and tease them mercilessly! The whole point is to rough it and do EVERYTHING on the cheap. 'Spoilt little rich boys' are not cool on the backpacking trail.

SoupDragon · 16/02/2019 19:50

The other backpackers will laugh and tease them mercilessly!

How would they know?

user1471426142 · 16/02/2019 19:59

Hell no. I probably wouldn’t bother pay for it myself and I certainly wouldn’t be paying business class for a teenager on a gap year. Part of the experience is staying in crappy hostels etc. I’d probably buy a few experiences as a gift or upgrade the odd hotel but I just think flight upgrades are a waste for a group of youngsters off on an adventure.

oblada · 16/02/2019 20:04

Definitely not. What a waste of money on two presumably fit young boys! I wouldn't pay for it myself either. Maybe when I'm older. But not now no.

bluetheskyis · 16/02/2019 20:05

Oh SoupDragon - the little princelings/pricklings aren’t going to mention it? Of course could be they’re hanging out with the rest of the over privileged kids somewhere anyway so no one gives a shit

lboogy · 16/02/2019 20:07

I would if I could afford it. However, a gap year is supposed to be about leaning life lessons b4 going off to uni or paid work so I'd expect some contributions from dc towards the trip

sweetpeach91 · 16/02/2019 20:08

Probably not, I thought most gap years were funded by the students themselves? If my child wanted to take a year out of education then that's fine but I would certainly contribute nothing towards their trip!

I would most likely end up subsidising them when they're actually at uni (which I'm happy to do to some extent as they're getting an education) as maintenance loans are rarely enough to cover everything and not all students can manage jobs on top of studies (learning difficulties/MH issues/intensive subjects etc).

At4oclockthenormalworld · 16/02/2019 20:14

So most of us are in agreement we wouldn't be able to fund our DC flying business class on their gap year but to say this incredible treat will turn a kid into a snowflake?!!! Bit of a leap I reckon.

As Ubbes said it's entirely possible if we bring our kids up the right way they can accept what may be a once in a lifetime experience and not overnight turn into entitled monsters.

I think a previous poster pointed out that a gap year in itself is a luxury too and not one I was able to afford.

SoupDragon · 16/02/2019 20:14

the little princelings/pricklings

Blimey, you sound horrible. You don't even know these young men or what they are like.

mysteryfairy · 16/02/2019 20:18

My DC have flown long haul business class with me. My DH flies long haul for work extremely frequently and we are consequently always Avios millionaires. I wouldn’t hesitate to upgrade my DC flying long haul without me as it would cost us nothing. I think there is a high likelihood that this is what has happened here.

Lizzie48 · 16/02/2019 20:22

We've never been in a position to afford business class so the option wouldn't be there for us to pay for our DDs to fly business class. And I don't think we'd pay for it if we could afford it. Young people can easily cope with travelling economy class.

I've always thought of gap years as being about slumming it as well.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 16/02/2019 20:30

Nope I wouldn't unless someone was much taller than average and it was going to cause them back issues or something in normal class. The main difference is you can stretch out and sleep better. A teenager / early 20s would be fine with a poor night's sleep one night! Think of all the things that money could have gone towards, additional travel or amazing experiences abroad. They've given up a safari or something for a bit of extra leg room

Frazzled2207 · 16/02/2019 20:31

No way, what a waste!
I did plenty of economy class long haul flying in my twenties and suffice to say I survived the experience.
A gap year is about slumming it a bit surely. They paid for their own ticket, great. I'm not sure what is achieved by upgrading them.

Bobbybobbins · 16/02/2019 20:32

I would say - either he can have business class OR you will give him the money it would cost to upgrade.

This is if you can afford it of course.

ForalltheSaints · 16/02/2019 20:35

No I would not, nor even for myself.

Ethel80 · 16/02/2019 20:41

It's very extravagant but I don't really see the issue if the other parents wanted to pay it though.

I think I might rather the cash to extend the trip or get some nicer accommodation now and again but it's a nice treat for them.

PotolBabu · 16/02/2019 20:42

As someone whose flies (and whose kids- 7 and 2) fly 14+ hours regularly hell no. We fly Business Class when work (DH or mine) allows us to. But to spend that kind of money to get from point A to B, nope. Especially for a young person with no disability. When did Business Class tickets become ‘treats’ for teenagers?

Inniu · 16/02/2019 20:47

Like a previous poster DH has huge amounts of air miles. When our kids were very young they used to expire because we could’ve never use them. I have upgraded loads of people for free.

That said I don’t think my kids would want to be upgraded on their gap year.

Roussette · 16/02/2019 21:07

Lord alive... anyone who thinks this is normal is deluded. OK, you might get the occasional gap year student who is incredibly grateful and takes it in the spirit it's meant but chances are not

Of course they'll be mentioning it to other backpackers showing off no doubt. If they don't, good on them, but it's a huge huge privilege that not many can do