AIBU to take the upgrade?

[Flightdilemma]

Wanted to ask the MN view on this.
Going on a long haul for a special birthday next year with dh and kids (19 &16) We are flying premium economy.
We’ve been contacted by the airline to say there are 2 business class seats available for a very reasonable price to upgrade.
My AIBU is, do me and dh take the seats? Obviously the kids would be still in PE, but we could nip back and check on them regularly and there will be WiFi on the flight so we could WhatsApp. For info, They wouldn’t be interested or would like the food or wine in Business Class and would spend most of the flight plugged in watching movies not talking to us anyway!
One of us thinks we should go for it, the kids will be absolutely fine as they are older teenagers,, the other thinks it isn’t fair on them and we should all fly together.
I’d be interested to hear views for and against going for the upgrade…
We haven’t broached it with them yet…

Can’t believe you hesitated long enough to ask on here!
Do it - and don’t feel guilty, enjoy it

I wouldn't. I was on a plane emergency as a child. It was scary with my parents. I can't imagine what it would have been like on my own.

Thats a good point could you swap seats every so often

Hmmm they're adults and sitting together though? So not on their own really.

Do it! I don't even think you need to check on them, they can't go anywhere and one is an adult!

Defo go for it. I would have done it as long as mine were over about 12/13.

Thats a good point could you swap seats every so often

Between cabins? Many airlines aren't keen on that/don't allow it.

If there was an emergency and I couldn't get to my kids however old I'd be devastated.

Of course go for the upgrades.

Why are you even paying for premium economy for your kids?

Yeah go for it. The kids can fly business when they’ve got jobs! Haha

I guess this is relevant for non life threatening issues. We had bad turbulence trying to land in Orlando in the summer and had to abort and go to another airport. DD started crying (she’s 14) and needed reassurance. Also I wouldn’t want her to sit next to anyone other than her brother if we did the same, as I don’t trust people. Part of the reason we scrapped an idea for her to travel on her own this summer when the kids visited their dad in Asia. In the end she travelled with her brother one way with her in the window seat, and her dad the other. Now we have seen how scared she was with turbulence we definitely wouldn’t let her fly alone

If there is an emergency, the 19 and 16 year old will be out of the plane faster than rats down a drain and probably before their ageing parents have even got their seatbelts off.

I would take it, but I think they'll be gone by now, someone else will likely have snapped them up straight away upon being asked!

I would! It's not like they are kids that can't do without you

No way! You are going on holiday as a family…either you all upgrade or you stay together. Sorry but I think it’s really mean to even consider leaving the kids while you have nice seats.

Definitely upgrade!

We’ve been contacted by the airline to say there are 2 business class seats available for a very reasonable price to upgrade.

This is just called marketing?

If I was going on holiday with other people I wouldn't upgrade my tickets and sit elsewhere.

For me it would depend how comfortable they are with flying. Our twins are 17 and I personally wouldn't sit away from them on a flight because they are a little anxious about flying but if they are fine with flying go for it

Yes!

@Flightdilemma did you take the upgrade?

Yes…and no… turns out there are now enough seats for us all to upgrade! However the transfer of the points from credit card to the airline can take 10 working days 🤦‍♀️ so in a race against time to get them safely in the airline’s points account to make the upgrade.
So the points are floating around in the ether somewhere and until they land we can’t use them. If, by the time they land the seats are still available, then happy days. If not, then we’ve transferred thousands of points for no reason. 🙄
And no amount of calls to the airline to chase down the missing points can speed things up apparently 😩
So no idea if any of us will take the upgrade at this moment in time…

And name change fail!! 🤣

Not really kids are they! They be fine on their own 🙈 absolutely take it (I say this as someone who flew long haul alone several times from the age of 7)

I hope you get it all sorted but for what it’s worth, I wouldn’t take upgrade unless the whole party could. I think it’s rude to arrange to travel together then bugger off because you got a better offer. Am clearly in the minority though!

My GPs lived abroad so I flew many times as an unaccompanied minor. It was fine. I wasn't scared and I found it exciting! You will still be on the same plane as your DC so I really don't see the issue. Business class on long haul is just such a nicer experience. Prem economy doesn't come close. Hope it works out for you!