How should these airline seats be used?

[badbaduncle]

Very differing opinions so just wanted to hear your views.
4 travellers going away (2 parents, 17 and 19yo.) 2 staying 2 weeks (1parent, 1 child), 2 staying 3 weeks (same)
4 return flights booked but due to availability they are not together. The 3 week trip has 'premium economy' flights, the 2 week trip economy flights. 10 hour flights.
1 parent is exceptionally tall, the other has mobility issues and arthritis.

1.The 2 week trippers think the fairest is that they get the PE seats on the way out as the 3 week trippers get them on the way back.
2.The parents think they should have them on way out as they have physical needs and this would be more comfortable
3.One parent and all teens thinks the other parent is annoying on a flight as they fall asleep and snore loudly and create embarrassment
4.The teenagers think that as the parents don't drink or watch the TV the seats are wasted on them.
5.The parent who organised the trip (to their home country) - and paid for it all -thinks everyone should shut up and be grateful and we can swap around a bit.

What do you think?

Why is it even a debate? The parents who have paid for and need the additional room it get the seats. If they’re feeling generous they could swap for part of the journey but I’m bemused why your kids even think it’s up for debate. Are they normally that entitled?

Parents get the comfy seats. Kids go in economy . Not fair otherwise.

I'd usually say that unless the teens are paying for it, the parents should get the better seats, although in this case that means that one teen gets to go in PE and the other doesn't so I'd say 1 is the fairest way, as everyone gets the PE seats for one leg of their journey.

Parents sit in the premium seats. Parents order drinks to give to the kids, kids order N/A drinks and swap with parents. Kids watch entertainment on their own devices (don’t most airlines have this now as standard?) Non snoring parent wears earplugs to avoid snoring parent noise.

Everyone gets told to stop complaining.

5
And that parent decides who sits with them!

Those who physically need it, in this case the tall person and the one with mobility issues should get them.

I organised it and paid and am a 3 weeker. Other 3 weeker is DS who is of normal size and proportions, very good company and no snoring. I am tempted to say the airline have informed me we must sit in our ticketed seats due for safety reasons to avoid the snoring 😂I won't though, because I am quite nice really (well kind of)

Short answer - 5.

Long answer if you really want to try hard - Premium Economy is nothing more than a few extra inches legroom and food served on a real plate instead of a plastic tray.

Parents sit in the PE seats on the way out. One of those parents (preferably not the one with the mobility issues) swaps seats with the 3-week trip teen during meal service (1 hour). This is ONLY done if both those seats are aisle seats, so they don't inconvenience fellow passengers. This is also done in a smooth, non-time consuming manner that doesn't cause blockages in the galley area or disturb the flight attendants as they're preparing for the meal service.

In my family, parents would sit where they felt they wanted / needed to, and teens would shut up and just be grateful for the opportunity to go on a 10 hour flight, paid for, on their way to a holiday.

They're lovely, they just found out that there is better food snack and entertainment in PE and the whole "I want a fancy seat" is was bit of a laugh really. It'll be me and DH on way out and DS and me in PE on way home. Poor old DD can suck it up in economy and if she's lucky I'll buy her some sweets 😂

Forgot to add - this ensures that both teens get a 'taste' of PE. The 2 weeker will have the whole return trip. The 3 weeker can get a couple of hours on the way there.

Both children get a lesson in how life isn't fair, but you also shouldn't put yourself ahead of your parents / any other people, in situations like this. It's nice to be considerate of others and offer them the better option before claiming it for yourself.

I'd go the first option seems fairer to me as then everyone can experience Premium Economy.

2 as 5 could be annoying for other passengers. I would also send the DC's back after two weeks so that the parents who paid for the PE seats a) get a longer holiday and b) get the better seats.

The DC are coming across as entitled brats.

4 people travelling, 4 upgraded seats, I'd go for one trip in PE per traveller, so 1.

We don't treat the children as second class citizens in our family. Nor do we value people by their financial contribution - we consider studying/lower pay jobs/unpaid jobs etc as all equally valuable within the family unit. The physical issues obviously don't necessitate a PE seat, since they weren't booked for that reason, or for the return flight. (If there was an actual physical need, obviously that would be different).

So treat everyone equally, one upgraded flight each.

Poor old DD can suck it up in economy and if she's lucky I'll buy her some sweets

Lovely, one member of your family doesn't get to experience Premium Economy, way to make her feel 'lesser' and unfairly treated.

The parents. The kids can get the decent seats when they're paying for them

You're making the assumption that a 3 week holiday is an option for everyone, it isn't hence the arrangements. The 3 week flights in PE were CHEAPER than the 2 week ones in economy.

Feeling lesser and unfairly treated is not an experience my DC would acknowledge.
Fascinating that they are viewed as both entitled and hard done to by different folk on MN😂

I have DC similar ages, 20 and 18, I'd definitely do option 1

Option 4

Extremely tall people cannot easily fit into an economy seat. Unless you manage to book the exit row. Anyone here saying everyone in the family should have a go in PE - and that physical factors aren't an issue I can only assume is a real shortass. no one will suffer psychological damage from sitting in economy rather than PE, it's hardly like being put in cattle class whilst the rest of the family travel in first.

5

Parents get the better seats. Kids bodies are so much more malleable even if the adults didn't have mobility issues.

Premium economy really isn't much different. Its not like its first class, I don't think everybody needs to get a turn.

Kirstie, is that you? 😉

Option 1 seems fairer for everyone all round to me.