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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

331 replies

RubyViolet · 27/07/2019 13:48

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.

OP posts:

Rumblejungle · 27/07/2019 15:37

It’s not hyperbole! You are saying you are more valuable by paying for yourself only to go in business class.

Those of you saying it is ok - are you saying that you are worth more than your children? Nobody need alcohol on a flight. You can get that in Economy anyway. It’s about the comfort of the seat and the space. The majority of parents if they were out and their child was cold and uncomfortable would give their child their jacket and be cold themselves rather than the child because their child is important to them. That is what being a parent is about.

You don’t give a child a thin blanket on their bed, so they are cold and take the warm blanket for yourself! You split up the blankets so everyone had the same. Flight seats and comfort should be the same. You don’t let two people be comfortable and two people not, you all have the same.

Original poster

RubyViolet · 27/07/2019 15:38

@Dontsweatthelittlestuff they are all holidaying together at the son’s place in the US.
I take your point about separate tickets being bought, the Dad paid for the boys and Granny and Auntie paid for themselves in a separate transaction. I suppose if you took it literally they are 2 separate parties to the Airline, but as they will be checking in together they will be considered one party surely ?
Granny will be trying everything to get them upgraded l am sure !

OP posts:

MyBoysHaveDogsNames · 27/07/2019 15:38

I've just done this and it was good. Kids were happy watching films and having snacks when I popped back to see them.

I am happy in economy but my husband really needs the extra space so we decided to fly separately.

Spent the money we saved on extra days away on holiday so children were happy with it.

I can't feel sorry for children who get to have a perfectly comfortable flight and a holiday in America!

sheknowsshesachocolategirl · 27/07/2019 15:39

Flight time is about 11 hours, not 14......
We had to do it with our 2, although they were in premium economy, they were fine. My worry, to be honest, was how they would have coped had there been an evacuation on take off or landing. We did brief them though!

Original poster

RubyViolet · 27/07/2019 15:39

Sorry to people l @. I just realised that is not the done thing here !

OP posts:

C8H10N4O2 · 27/07/2019 15:41

I never understand why people order nice food for themselves but crap for their kids at restaurants either

Try asking for a half size or child size portion from the adult menu in most "family friendly" restaurants and you will be quickly pointed at the children's menu of crap. Same experience asking for one portion and two plates (which also constrains kids to eating the same as a sibling).

So you have the choice of buying twice as much food as the children can eat or beige and chips.

Good restaurants cooking their own food rarely have a problem with smaller portions or sharing portions but their clientele is rarely as welcoming to children.

Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah · 27/07/2019 15:41

t's bollocks. They're either in your family, or they're not. If they are, they sit with you

Is that the law?

I fully intend to do this when ours are a bit older!

SoupDragon · 27/07/2019 15:43

It’s not hyperbole!

All the handwringing and daft comparisons really are.

You are saying you are more valuable by paying for yourself only to go in business class.

No, it's recognising that kids won't get any benefit out of it. It's nothing at all like any of the silly comparisons whatsoever.

sansou · 27/07/2019 15:45

Yes! Although our DC have been fortunate to fly business longhaul too with us as well.

They were 13 & 10 and we were separated by a curtain, the loos and a few feet and the air steward helpfully instructed them not to disturb us. (Massive approval vibes emanating from the cabin crew!)

We use DH's airmiles for longhaul flights every 2/3 years and on that occasion, we didn't have enough airmiles for business seats for all of us so the DC sat a few feet behind us.

It's not uncommon. When they earn their own money, they can buy their own airfare and sit wherever they can afford to. We fly on budget airlines for shorthaul holidays so it's still a massive treat for the DC & I to fly and be able to sleep comfortably in business class.

C8H10N4O2 · 27/07/2019 15:46

Not quite sure why the grandmother and aunt, buying their own tickets, have to sit in economy just because the kids' father hasn't paid for business.

The teens will be fine - plenty of teens fly unaccompanied and binge out on the movies and games.

SoupDragon · 27/07/2019 15:46

I always sit in the more comfortable front seat of the car rather than squidged in the back. I bet most adults do.

Jaxhog · 27/07/2019 15:50

If they're well behaved - fine. But if they have any brattish tendencies, then it is very unfair for other economy passengers. I speak from experience btw.

gardenbats · 27/07/2019 15:52

The kids wouldn't appreciate business class or having to stay quiet (I think they're not allowed in anyway?). At that age I would have vastly preferred it and enjoyed the independence. It's a plane not a football stadium, they can pop down to see them but I'd imagine they'll be glued to the screens anyway.

Hardly vile or comparable to treating them like luggage.

GotToGoMyOwnWay · 27/07/2019 15:54

Just in way out so will come back to read later - we are off on holiday this week. 2 dcs - one almost 17 & other 19.

They’ve REFUSED to travel in business with us & insisted they fly economy.

This is first year that we’ve agreed though!

I feel awful about it - they OTOH are mega happy they don’t have to have us droning on apparently in their vicinity

perplexedagain · 27/07/2019 15:58

I think it is a shitty thing to do personally

fancynancyclancy · 27/07/2019 15:58

No, it's recognising that kids won't get any benefit out of it. It's nothing at all like any of the silly comparisons whatsoever. Exactly, the comparisons are baffling.

perplexedagain · 27/07/2019 15:58

But can see GotToGoMyOwnWay's point

underneaththeash · 27/07/2019 15:59

My DCs don’t appreciate business class at all. They’d much rather sit in PE. Next time we go long haul over 10 hours, we’ll sit the oldest two (who will be 14&12) and DH and I (and DD who will only be 9) will go business.

Yeahyeahyeahyeeeeah · 27/07/2019 16:00

No, it's recognising that kids won't get any benefit out of it

I think my kids would appreciate a flat bed.... but they won’t be getting one!

fancynancyclancy · 27/07/2019 16:01

Clearly you’re a very selfish parent SoupDragon! I let mine drive as the seats in the back don’t have the warming option.

SoupDragon · 27/07/2019 16:03

Clearly you’re a very selfish parent SoupDragon! I let mine drive as the seats in the back don’t have the warming option.

Exactly why I sit in the front.

SoupDragon · 27/07/2019 16:04

I think they're not allowed in anyway?.

They are.

Namenic · 27/07/2019 16:04

12 and 14 is fine unless behavioural issues.

Booboo66 · 27/07/2019 16:32

So you have the choice of buying twice as much food as the children can eat or beige and chips.

@C8H10N4O2

This is why we tend to eat out at meze or tapas restaurants. It's the best way around that I find.

Dapplegrey · 27/07/2019 16:35

Dapplegrey I see that side but then I have 2 siblings so we often didn’t sit next to parents anyway & we have travelled a number of times with relatives where we have been scattered all over the plane only sitting with 1 sibling or cousin (out of choice).
That is true. Come to think of it on budget airlines my adult dc, dh and I have sometimes been seated well apart (not by choice!) so that would be the same situation if there was an emergency.

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