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.

There’s just as many shitty people in business class as there are anywhere else. Having money doesn’t make you immune to being a wanker. In fact a lot of people here can only afford business class because they made cuts where their children were concerned.

To anyone saying they paid for the holiday, not the kids, so they should get the nice seats (Kirstie) I wonder if they pull that line at home. I bought the house so you’re sleeping in the shed.

I wouldn’t do it but my children have not been lively on a long haul flight since they were 2 years old! Not sure it’s a concern for other passengers.

i'd be concerned and would find myself going back and forth.
dh was sat once next to an Alzheimer customer (travelling with a caregiver who didn't sit next to him) who was incontinent of stool (8+hr flight)
i loose track of posts about women gropped by the people next to them. i had a laptop dropped on my head by an idiot who didn't apologize.
i personally think it's tacky and would expect gran and aunty to pay up the difference for all for family to sit remotely close to one another.

DS(14) is much taller than me now, so maybe he and DH could go in business class and leave me in economy.

For those saying I am sure teens could cope to put on oxygen masks by themselves, I am sure they could. But wouldn’t you want to be near your children if there was an emergency like that, I know I would.

Also, maybe we have an unusual teen, but he sometimes still likes to talk to us! Maybe it’s different if you have an only child, as siblings could keep each other company. Although I am sure if my parents had done this DB and I would just have argued or ignored each other for the whole flight.

My dc are traveling transatlantic next half term, they can't wait. I doubt they will be anymore annoying than when we travel with them.
Unaccompanied dc aren't that unusual whatever class they are traveling in.

I don't think that teenagers particularly need or deserve super luxurious conditions--it's wonderful for them to be able to go travel the world, but there's no harm in learning how to "rough it," as they will not be able to fly business on their own earnings if they want to be independent travelers in their 20s. Not that sitting on a plane with a million free movies to watch is roughing it!

If the plane crashes they'll never forgive themselves for not being there to comfort the children as the plane spirals out of the sky.

If i had the money i would definitely do it too haha. Kids in economy and me in business class.
Theyare 12 and 14 op
Not 2 and 4.

@24hourhomeedderandcarer
Haha kids are def not EQUAL to adults.
And adults DO deserve better. Because we work our asses of to earn it. Kids just ... go to school/play fortnite ;). Haha

At 12 and 14 I am assuming they would have been flying to see they dad even if their Aunty and Grandmother weren't going , they are fine at that age
BA business isnt luxury by the way , having done it once I wouldnt pay for the seats myself , let alone anyone else

To anyone saying they paid for the holiday, not the kids, so they should get the nice seats (Kirstie) I wonder if they pull that line at home. I bought the house so you’re sleeping in the shed.

Well, I imagine most parents have the master bedroom despite only using it to sleep in 🤷🏻‍♀️

**2 very lively unaccompanied kids amongst them for 14 hours.
2 very lively unaccompanied kids amongst them for 14 hours.

They’re 12 and 14, not 2 and 4

Fairly normal - my parents did it and we see a lot of it when we travel. 12/14 old enough to travel alone - I did it at 9.

Do people do the same on trains, put the children in cattle class while they go in First class?

there's a few clingy parents on this thread I think

Last week, there was a thread with multiple posters urging the OP to dial 999 because her 15 year old was in a tent by himself

I fucking loved flying unaccompanied from 13 upwards. Not all teenagers want to be babied.

I've never considered it but DD 9 and I'm now counting down the years until I can partake in this plan (only joking-maybe)

Last week, there was a thread with multiple posters urging the OP to dial 999 because her 15 year old was in a tent by himself

Wasn't it because he had ASD and was scared because his father had vanished?

It happens a lot. Sometimes the back row of business class is only a thin wall and a curtain away from the front row of economy anyway! If there was any problem the cabin crew would just get the parents, they aren't unaccompanied children..

Ive done a flight where David Beckham's teenage son insisted on travelling in a different class with his friend because he was at that age where he was embarrassed of his dad!

XX that was because they were at a festival, the father had left the tent 5 hours previously to go to the loo and had not returned and had not been in contact with the son, and it was now the middle of the night.
To be fair if DH and I had gone camping (never going to happen!) and he had popped out to the loo and hadn't returned 5 hours later I would have been getting concerned never mind if it had been DS in the tent not me.

I don't think it's being babied sitting with your family while travelling together

A 12/14 year old will not be “lively” on a flight where there’s films and gaming to be had. Trust me.

I’d happily sit next to one of these kids, it would be so much better than being stuck with a yapper.

It's a bit different on a train,Cits a totally different carriage with doors, the children could get off without you seeing etc. A plane is a sealed mode of transport and usually the economy passengers are behind the business ones and can't get off first.. It's more like they are in a connecting room..

Re the "we all do the same in our family" comments - if you hired a holiday lets it's quite common to have a bigger master suite and smaller kids rooms with single beds or bunk beds, so I'd say that was on similar lines.

The only serious arguments are the ones about crashes or accidents, but you'd just have to choose seats so that, despite being in different classes, you'd be between the same emergency exits and therefore get directed to the same exits or life rafts in a worse case situation.

@ineedaholidaynow I'm not saying that it was wrong to be concerned about the father or the son. But calling 999 for a completely unharmed 15 year old who is safe in a tent is insane. No wonder the emergency services struggle to get to genuine emergencies.

I have lived in a lot of countries and I have never come across anywhere like the UK in its determination to deprive teenagers of any independence or autonomy. Then YP get to their 20s and are derided as snowflakes when, in fact, they have not been allowed to develop any coping skills in their teens.

I know of a Lord (House of Commons) filthy rich, who sends his wife and children in Economy class while he has a great time in First Class. (on the same flights by the way)
And anyway because she is such an awful woman, I actually don't feel sorry for her at all.

I know someone who has their own private jet and his wife and kids are only allowed on it when he is.

It isn't a dick move and me and my husband will be doing it when our child is 12.

There are ppl who do think it’s a dick move and you won’t change their minds by just stating that it isn’t.