About flying business class

[KittiKati]

DH has fibromyalgia & MS. It’s extremely difficult for him to sit in a plane seat for any length of time whether short or long haul.

We were talking about holidays and he suggested he flies business class and me and DS fly economy. I said I didn’t feel that this was appropriate and would rather save up the extra money and we all fly business class.

He seemed genuinely put out by this and is acting like I am being unreasonable? Interested in other peoples opinions please

@SavoirFlair - it's relative though. The seats in economy on long haul flights are shit in comparison to those premium cabins, the experience is not as pleasant either, although all staff should offer the best service for their cabins (in terms of safety and politeness).

My DH is a very tall and very broad fella and so we usually fly business as he can’t physically fit in most economy seats.
I offer to go in economy as I don’t need the space but he is always very put out when I suggest that.

Yes it is very expensive. Usually it doubles or triples the price of the whole holiday had we have gone economy or premium.

If you fly Virgin Atlantic you can bid for upgrades before you fly which usually works out cheaper than booking business/ first. But it’s not a guarantee. He could book his seat, you in economy then you could bid for an upgrade later on.

We also use the British Airways American Express credit card for most purchases day to day. Once you’ve spent I think £10k in a year, you get a companion voucher on the anniversary of you joining. So you buy one seat in business or first and get another free. You can’t use them for all flights and they’re best used well in advance but you can save thousands.

As another PP has said, it may depend on your destination. We have flown Business Class in Europe with BA and the only seating difference was they blocked out the middle of the three seats so you had more width but no extra leg room.

It might be better, if you can, to request (and pay extra) for a seat with extra legroom.

Why do you fly business then? If it's worth so little to you...

OP I think it depends on the attitude you reckon he will take with you. If he will recognise that you've had a tougher time than him on the flight and treat you accordingly (relaxing time at the spa or whatever while he looks after DS) then I'd say YABU and should let him have it as he needs it. If you think that he will never mention it and just see it as his right and your duty then I'd be more put out.

MS or ME? Don't want to sound unsympathetic, but if it's ME, he's being a complete dick, if it's MS, he's just being dick.

I've had a massive spinal injury that ruined my surgical career, left me paralysed below the neck pre-emergency surgery, and I have shed-loads of metalwork in my neck and spine. I'm also 6' tall so not hugely tall but not short either, although I'm quite slim. My spine, especially my neck, is very stiff, poorly mobile and very painful.

I have never suggested, and would never accept, sitting in business class while my wife and kids sit in economy. I would see that as the height of selfishness and couldn't even contemplate it for a second before dismissing it.

As an aside, I've also done a fair bit of business class flying, particularly transatlantic. European flights are usually pointless with the exception of one or two specific airlines which you'd be unlikely to use on holiday, e.g. business class flights on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul are great whereas BA business to anywhere in Europe is NO extra legroom and simply a blocked middle seat plus a crap meal. My favourite transatlantic carrier is Virgin, and Virgin Upper is far superior to BA equivalent. You can get much cheaper carriers if you shop around and change routes/airports, e.g. Aer Lingus, Delta, etc., but with children, I tend to find that speed rather than comfort is of the essence.

Just my 2p worth.

Business is all about the longe perks too. Would he be in there enjoying all the free food and drink while you slum it in Pret?

Short haul there’s no point you don’t get much, or even any, extra space. With BA for example they are all identical seats, just with the middle seat blocked off in business. For long haul it makes a lot of sense. A better compromise might be though that you all book premium economy which are typically nice big comfy recliners and that you book the extra legroom bulkhead seats at the front. If you tell the airline he has a disability (presuming his conditions count as a disability of course) then you shouldn’t have to pay for selecting your seats in advance.

How long is this flight?
To be honest we have the opposite issue - my husband is 6ft 2in and it is better he is in business class. I am very happy for him to go there by himself - why pay thousands more when my children's feet don't even touch the ground? My husband has for years insisted we all fly business class or nothing. I have managed to get him to agree recently but on very long flights (long haul two legs of journey around 24hrs) he insists I sit in his business class seat for some of the time and he brings me business class treats during the other leg. Yes I know you are not meant to share a seat but we have done this a few times and no one has said anything. I have now agreed to go premium economy while he does business and sometimes on shorter haul flights we have been sitting very close to him.

Is the issue more that you get to watch the kid(s) for the entire flight?

YA being a bit U if it’s just about perceived unequal treatment - paying extra to avoid pain and fatigue is reasonable, it doesn’t sound like he’s trying to have a luxury experience.

YA probably not being U if the issue is that he’s leaving you to do all the parenting and won’t countenance the ‘all in business’ option as it means he has to help.

@DJSteves - lounge access allows people in to accompany the business traveller, one adult and children have always been allowed in as well.

I said I didn’t feel that this was appropriate and would rather save up the extra money and we all fly business class.

Why is it inappropriate?

It's a reasonable adjustment for his MS. Would you like to have his MS as well?

no @DingDonkey its not worth “so little” to me. I fly it because in my line of work my clients or employers have paid for it for the long haul flights required. This then accrues points etc.,

im just saying, the guy has MS but people are focusing on the perceived benefit of him getting a bit of “luxury” when he suffers daily. It’s like the people who moan about disabled parking slots being close to the doors of shops .

they’re terrified of missing out on a perceived benefit for THEM, so forget to remember how much the person is suffering and needs a bit of help

Holidays by train to say south of France are an option you could consider.

Interesting comments about the wine. We've only done this once after DH nearly died in the USA and his consultant said he needed to be able to lie flat. The insurance company was a nightmare to deal with, but with the help of the social care team at the hospital, we compromised that we would fly with BA, me and the DC in the back and DH in Business. The hospital filled in the fit to fly forms and requested that I could assist DH in-flight if necessary as they had taught me how to change his dressings.

BA were simply amazing. They allowed us all into the BC lounge in the US so it would be easier for DH. On the plane, the cabin crew member in charge of DH's part came through to find me and tell me he was ok. Then an hour or so into the flight, a different member of the crew came through looking for me. I was really worried but he said that DH was entitled to wine but due to his meds had asked if I might be able to have it. They asked which sort I would prefer. It was nice wine!

Surely he can just walk up and give it to OP?

I have MS. Flying economy is excruciatingly painful, business only just bearable. The impact lasts for days.

I have arthritis, in my knees and fibromyalgia and would never suggest this for myself unless the whole family did, it’s weird.

I’d check the price OP. I’ve just decided against BC at Xmas as it came out at £28k!

Sod that

How old is your DS? The issue with a long haul flight is getting support for the kids, if you kid is ok though, then it might mean you can go sooner. Otherwise why don't you all fly business class together? If you are flying far why not?

Premium economy is definitely worth it with Virgin. Not BA.
How long is the flight? I'd be happier all flying premium, and I'd be saving my Tesco vouchers for it!

And also the Fibromyalgia! Having FM myself I can see why he would want to fly business for a long haul flight or for a flight more than 3 hours. I can manage 2 hours in economy and that’s it.

Well said!

Exactly.

The amenities of business class carry little interest for me. It’s completely about coming off the plane without being in pain. Op, you don’t seem to really appreciate how difficult economy seats are for some people.

you can insist the whole family flies business class, but it will mean fewer trips

If you need to "save up" to fly business then it really isn't worth it. Economy class isn't great but it's perfectly doable for able bodied, average sized people.
It sounds a bit like you're jealous of your husband flying business - I'd rather fly economy than have MS any day of the week!