To take children business class

[CrabSnake]

We're flying long haul in a few months (12 hours) and the thought of doing that with my 2 year old and 4 month old in economy is really not appealing! I know people don't like kids on planes anyway and even more so if they've paid lots of money for their seat. But we'll have paid lots of money too so is it really that awful to take them business class?

Yanbu. Ds' first flight was business class at 6 weeks old, and we've flown bc ever since. I couldn't care less what anyone else in the cabin thinks.

same as with any other class on the plane: don't let them disturb other people.

Do it! You are a paying customer!

I wish I'd paid for business class tickets when I flew on my own with dds from Oz to the UK and back. I just paid for an extra seat for dd2 who was 13mo at the time, so we could spread out. Business class is a good shout as you will have your own area so to speak.

I would not spend the extra regardless, but if you want to and are prepared to ensure they do not disturb others, your choice.

Better than the alleged Kirstie Allsop approach.

@Primrosecottage

Wow all the posters who travel frequently and only experience ‘impeccably behaved’ children. Not sure what I am doing wrong but I often have to listen to screaming, over tired children and babies being walked up and down the aisle. One particular flight a mother brought her baby plus toys and plonked him in the area by my feet which I had paid extra for so as to have more room.

Having said that there are obnoxious adults too, I do inwardly sigh if young children are near me as in my experience it’s nonsense that they sit quietly and I need to work but I would never say anything.
I didn’t take my lot flying until they were over five because ds in particular would have not been able to sit still.

Was that it business class - there should have been plenty of room for them to play in front of their own seat. We paid £16K - I’d have had words with the parents.

The worst flight I ever had was economy to Canada - a baby screamed bloody murder for the whole flight - I felt so sorry for the parents - the poor mum was really upset - the Dad to be fair took it in his stride and walked up and down for almost the whole flight - there and back!

No issue with kids in business class. It happens plenty.

As someone else has mentioned, check out the layout of business class before you reserve seats. Some seats appear as being side by side in the middle plane, but to go from one to the other involves walking up around by the toilets and where cabin crew are, and down the other side. Was on a flight once with a child who climbed over the divider to get back and forth to his Mum. Cabin crew made him stop as he was hanging over into other people's space as he climbed.

Also, be aware that people will use long haul flights in business class to catch up on movie-watching - sometimes what they wouldn't get to watch at home, so expect 18s-rated movies on screens. Was on another flight where a woman was walking her toddler up and down the aisles tutting at what people 'thought was appropriate to watch in the middle of the afternoon with small children around.'

@ohbygolly

No issue with kids in business class. It happens plenty.

As someone else has mentioned, check out the layout of business class before you reserve seats. Some seats appear as being side by side in the middle plane, but to go from one to the other involves walking up around by the toilets and where cabin crew are, and down the other side. Was on a flight once with a child who climbed over the divider to get back and forth to his Mum. Cabin crew made him stop as he was hanging over into other people's space as he climbed.

Also, be aware that people will use long haul flights in business class to catch up on movie-watching - sometimes what they wouldn't get to watch at home, so expect 18s-rated movies on screens. Was on another flight where a woman was walking her toddler up and down the aisles tutting at what people 'thought was appropriate to watch in the middle of the afternoon with small children around.'

I know what seats we'd pick - the paired window seats me and DH once chose where I (window seat) had to climb over him to get out. Not great for an adult - perfect for a 2 year old!

DD was great on the first flight we took her on. She cried a little bit but I think it was mostly because she was tired and couldn't sleep which hopefully wouldn't be the case if she had more space.

I fly business long haul a lot with work. There are always kids; they are never an issue - they sleep, they watch iPads or play quietly. And the background hum of the plane drowns out most noise. I've been disrupted far more often by overweight businessmen snoring incredibly loudly right next to me. Would rather have a family next to me!

@SardineJam

Also, in business class I am sure the reality for the majority is that it's not them who paid for the tickets but their company instead

I've got no problems with people taking children in whatever class they like, but why does it matter who paid for the flights?

I think it’s fine. They’ll be able to sleep more easily and will probably be less disruptive than in economy. I always kind of envy crying babies in economy - 24 hours squashed in such a tiny space makes me want to start screaming too, but I know I’d end up being zip tied to my seat and marched off by police upon landing 😂

Once one of the small toddlers being walked up and down by her zombie father reached up and patted me kindly on the arm. I must’ve looked terrible, she had the expression of ‘there, there dear, we’ll be there soon’ 😂😂

Not quite the same but on long train journeys I take my dgc first class.
I don’t care what other passengers think and dgc is always well behaved so far.
I usually get a table just for 2 so a bit more private.

@Havers no this flight was premium economy but I was merely referencing the posters who say that babies and toddlers always behave impeccably on flights. They behave the same whatever the class is. I frequently see distraught babies, bored toddlers and parents walking them up and down. Some parents seem to be able to zone out completely and ignore them.

I have never known this rare species of child (always referenced on parent forums) in all my years of flying economy, business and a very rare first.
An earlier posted queried why the yabu posters were not commenting and it’s possibly fear of being jumped on and called a child hater or something.

My worst flight ever was five hours when absolute terror when a huge adult man was threatening everyone because he had some sort of reaction to a pre flight medication for nerves. I would take a screaming baby over that anytime.

No I would never directly confront anyone on a flight, always go through cabin crew.

My DS's first flight was Business to Florida, and his second long haul is hopefully this summer, also in Business. You arrive far less fraught than you would in Economy. If you can stretch to it, do it! I genuinely also think it's easier to settle them and they are more likely to be better behaved if you fly in Business and more comfort anyway.

Have a lovely time!

I don’t think you’re unreasonable to take them, but I do think it’s a bit of a “more money than sense” scenario.

Equally, scales of economy and all that. If you’re considering it as an option then you can afford it and that means you’re clearly very wealthy, so I suppose it matters less!

I’m planning to (if finances permit) going to stick DD into the two seat bit with Dh then kip on the outside bit. She can at least go to sleep for a bit and have some space otherwise she will well and truly kick off in economy. We rarely traveled business except for a few free upgrades but tbh with a toddler it would be hell with her sitting in a seat for that long. Hopefully she’ll get bored and fall asleep.

I think, as long as you have plenty to keep them entertained, it’s fine. It’s not the children who are the issue, it’s how the parents deal with a situation if it arises.

I have been on a long-haul business class flight with two quite unruly children and their parents couldn’t have cared less that they were running about and disturbing others, and when you have to get straight off the plane and go to a meeting that’s quite irritating but that has only happened once, and as you are already concerned, clearly you wouldn’t allow that to happen.

I have to fly across the Atlantic a lot with my job, often for extended periods of time which includes taking my DC. As part of the new role i negotiated we’d fly that class and it’s been so worth it.

We do sometimes get looks but I’m thick skinned and my DC have always been well behaved on the flights and sleep throughout most of it.

Do it. Everyone is allowed to travel business if they are willing to pay the price. Some people may not like to travel with children next to them. Personally, I don't like to travel next to people who smell or couples who talk loudly when I want to sleep. You don't get to choose who else is on a commercial flight, no matter how much you pay. Don’t worry about what others think.

It's all down to the parents really. We fly a lot - always business/first (not rich just hustle for deals) and our daughter is such a good little poppet. We pack a Trunki of things to keep her entertained and she's never any bother. We do see looks of 'oh - here we go again' in First but usually she's already charmed the most grumpiest of passengers in the lounge and every single time we deboard we get complements from other passengers and crew. However I've been on many flights with really spoilt kids whoes parents sit back with their headphones on and a glass of champagne and think the crews job is to be a sky nanny!! Not so cool! As long as you parent it's all good! And if you do get judged, who gives one!

I did
Upper class on virgin
Dreamy
Worked perfectly
And if it hadn’t…. 🤷‍♀️ I wouldn’t have more or less guilty than if I’d been in economy

* We fly a lot - always business/first (not rich just hustle for deals) *

On what airline because in my experience- there’s no “hustling” to be had when it comes to airlines and business:first class because a) don’t want to cheapen it and b) so much demand for it

@Toanewstart23

* We fly a lot - always business/first (not rich just hustle for deals) *

On what airline because in my experience- there’s no “hustling” to be had when it comes to airlines and business:first class because a) don’t want to cheapen it and b) so much demand for it

We often fly with points. If you put everything on a credit card that gives you good air miles and you're flexible about when you fly you can build up a fair amount of points pretty quickly. You need a lot of expenses though. I have heard a story of a guy who owned a shopping centre and used to pay the electricity bill on his credit card and it meant he had so many airmiles he never had to pay to travel. Who knows if it's true!

@Daddydog don’t kid yourself. If you fly frequently as a family and you always fly first and business you’re rich.