Kids in economy, Adults in Business ! Is this allowed !

[RubyViolet]

Friend is taking her Grandchildren to the USA to holiday with their Dad. Dad lives full time on West Coast, it’s a long flight.
Granny and daughter/ Auntie have bought Business Class returns for themselves but Dad has paid for the 12 and 14 year old to sit in Economy.
Is this even allowed ? I know BA have ruled that no under 14’s can fly unaccompanied now. I don’t know who they are flying with but l can’t help feeling that this is unfair on the other passengers who will have 2 very lively unaccompanied kids amongst them for 14 hours.

@Chune
🤣 love the Home Alone reference!.
Now I want to watch it, love that film but I can't cos it's not Christmas and the law states you can't watch it until December.

I think it's a bit mean but I don't think at that age they would be a problem for other travellers

Hmm. I don’t think it’s vile or a dick move. I do think it’s not something I’d actually do, but when I consider it I think granny being comfy in BC when the kids bring smaller will be just as comfy in econo isn’t the worlds worst idea. My 12 tear old gets in a flight, plugs in his headphones and doesn’t move until we disembark. BC would be an utter waste.

12/14 generally won't need the extra room business class provides. Children of that age are more than capable of comporting themselves in a dignified manner. One of mine wasn't due to SN, but barring that I can't see a problem.

People who put their kids in economy while they travel business are the same. Its like saying “see you on the other side, I don’t care about your experience.” But the dad isn’t travelling with the kids. He’s not on the flight at all. I assume the grandma and auntie are paying for their own flights.

Unaccompanied minors are those kids who fly totally by themselves. This is something entirely different and is allowed by most airlines, including BA, when the child is over 3. If the kids aren’t behaving themselves, the air stewards will get the gran and aunt involved and possibly even downgrade them in flight.

Why is it a dick move? Because I feel if you’re all going together you should all travel together.

Not granny and auntie swanning off into BC and leaving the kids in economy. Unlike a lot of people on here I actually like spending time with my family.

But they are traveling together just not sitting next to each other. I love spending time with my children too but wouldn’t put air travel as quality time, most teens will just put their headphones in.

2 very lively unaccompanied kids

At 12 & 14? They’ll be glued to the movies. Enough snacks and they’ll be totally fine.

Staff will know their ‘adults’ are in business so will alert them to any issues.

Meh. Think it’s fine, personally.

Unlike a lot of people on here I actually like spending time with my family. Wow, that’s a reach!

@Chune 😳😂😂😂

I don’t think it’s a dick move.
At that age the extra leg room and seat width in business is not worth the extra money for them - they’ll get much more out of spending that money on other things.

They’ll watch tv, listen to music, and can always pop and see their granny if there’s any issue.

I don't see the issue. A 12 year old and a 14 year old are not small children. Hardly toddlers who might try to run about shrieking if unattended. If there are no special needs then it is fine. They should be perfectly capable of behaving properly.

Surely they will just watch the in-flight entertainment, play on their tablets/phones or read?

Wow, that’s a reach!

Nope, there’s thread after thread on here with people moaning about their families.

Daisypond I said people. People who do this. Not this particular dad in this particular instance. I’ve not actually said anything about the dad in this story at all. I am talking about people who think it’s ok to travel in luxury while other members of their family who they have a duty of care to, travel in conditions they would not subject themselves to.

Not granny and auntie swanning off into BC and leaving the kids in economy. Unlike a lot of people on here I actually like spending time with my family. So you’re very wealthy - good for you. You needn’t pretend your morals are better, just your money.

I’m not sure how taking your teenagers on a holiday but not sitting next to them for the journey part = not wanting to spend time with your kids.

Pperfectly normal, I know lots of people who would do this.

I'd do it too, if I could afford business class tickets for me & DH.

I think it's totally fine. I'd have rather not sat with my parents/grandparents at that age! THey'll watch movies and play on consoles. And they're unlikely to need the extra legroom.

Home Alone 😂😂😂😂 Granny and Auntie are paying for themselves. Dad has paid for the kids and he could afford for them to go in Business. I can see it from both sides. If the kids just zone out with their headphones on it’s all fine.
Just not sure l could do it myself, would feel quite guilty as l lay on my flatbed, 14 hours is a long time.

Friends of my exh always did this even when children were young and would travel in Economy with the au pair.

Great for the parents, but can't imagine it would have been much fun for their au pair having to travel with two rather brattish older children and a younger one with special needs.

You travel with your luggage in the hold without it having to inconvenience you. People who put their kids in economy while they travel business are the same.

No, you put your luggage in the hold because you are required to do so. People put their kids in economy because it is a lot of money for no real benefit to the children. They don't particularly like the posher food or the limitless alcohol and fit in a smaller seat better.

I think it’s fine and know quite a few families who have done it.

I am talking about people who think it’s ok to travel in luxury while other members of their family who they have a duty of care to, travel in conditions they would not subject themselves to.

Yep these poor teenagers getting flown to the West Coast by economy. If I was them I’d insist on a private jet.

Unless there is some huge backstory about the children never having any money spent on them/Granny and Aunty having previous at rubbing lack of money into their faces etc, I think it's fine. My teens plug themselves in on flights and barely surface to the other end. Assuming the kids involved are sensible types and happy with it, its fine.

It's perfectly possible that the grandmother needs to travel in business because of back/joint issues or a known tendency towards blood clots. My mother (late 70s) will only do short haul in economy and always travels business class for long flights because she has bad knees so it's more comfortable for her if she can lie flat/near flat for most of the journey. If she did a long haul flight in economy she would probably have difficulty and pain in walking for the first few days at her destination.

The grandmother and aunt can travel whichever way suits them best, the father is the one who has decided that his DC are fine in economy.