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

I don't think you should need an excuse to fly business class, if you want to. If you can only afford one seat then he should get it, but if you can afford three, then why not travel together?

It seems a reasonable request for his comfort. I’m sure he’s rather not have to . It’s very expensive but if you can afford it then why not.

@KittiKati we recently flew long haul and the difference in price between classes was extortionate. However, going out I chose the front seat of economy behind premium econ which actually had more leg room than premium. Coming back, managed to book premium economy for less than the cost of economy (just luck and timing) and we had the bulkhead seats with masses of space in front of us. We paid for choice of those seats (around extra £300 total for the trip) but it was considerably less than the £3000 extra business would have cost but in both cases we could actually walk round the front of each other to use the loos etc.

In club Europe you are guaranteed empty seat next to you.

And a number of airlines do BC in europe

Turkish airlines, Lufthansa. I could go on

Business class short haul doesn’t really make much difference. Better snacks, marginally more room (mainly legroom which you can also find in certain seats in economy) and first in/off the plane.

long haul with the beds makes a big difference

I accidentally voted for the wrong one. I think your are being unreasonable. My DP is in the same position. I’ve considered the business class option for him with the rest of us in economy. I don’t see it as a downgrade for us, I just see it as a way to give him a flight with less discomfort.
Shame about the champagne though.

Turkish airlines for example

offer BC to Europe from London with lie flat beds

Disability needs as a perk - that's a new one.

Surely in a loving and supportive relationship where finances don’t allow for Business Class for the entire family without considerable saving effort…. One partner wouldn’t hesitate to support the other who would undeniably suffer due to bona fide physical health conditions

which leads me to believe the OP’s relationship is a bit shit anyway.

so why the waste money on a big holiday anyway?!

Haha what a fly one! You all fly business or none of you do!

For short haul, business class is often very similar - can he do an economy seat with extra leg room so easier to stand up and down as he wants? Flying is flying in my opinion, if he finds it that hard he better not to go.

What a horrible way for a family to operate

one size fits all with bugger all allowances for anyone

Flying is flying?.

That’s like saying eating is eating

have you even flown Bc?

I wouldn’t be having it either OP (I’m making some assumptions that your family isn’t rolling in it and that you personally do more than 50% of the mental and physical work for the family in general, and that your child is young enough to need parental input in the airport and on the flight). I also wouldn’t be looking to save for three long-haul business class tickets though. I’d prefer to choose a destination to which he could manage sitting with me and our child in economy and taking half the childcare load tbh. Hardly a good start to a much-needed holiday for you getting dumped with flying alone with a child while your DH is alone in luxury.

In the context of the entire cost of a holiday the extra business class seats are unlikely to be the biggest cost. I would want to be together as a family.

No indication whatsoever from the Op as to the type of holiday

Airlines basically don't like this as, if you've not paid for business you don't get the privileges...You usually are discouraged from moving between cabins. You will get moved back/"told off" if you start drinking the champers!

Where are you seeing this?

I use Turkish airlines a lot - good connections in IST for my business trips to Asia - and I've never seen a Turkish flight from London direct to anywhere but IST or Bogota?

Are you talking about flights from London to Istanbul then back to Germany, for example?

Yes Istanbul

of which one half is in Europe 😂

I am disabled. I have ME/Fibro/CFS/chronic pain. I’m sure your dh would much rather not be poorly.

Those people saying he’s being unreasonable are clueless.

And you can fly BC

Or not clueless, like the Op presumably, just unreasonable

Or not clueless nor unreasonable but just disagree with you

my point is that in a loving supportive family where money is a factor…. It’s not a one size fits all. You adapt and give and take.

but sure… each family has their own way of doing things