Is business class worth it with two toddlers ?

[muaa]

Would it make the journey better ? My DH absolutely refuses do go long haul with our 1 and 3 year olds.

Would flying business actually make it any easier ? The one year old would still be on one of our laps. The three year old would their own seat etc.

Has anyone done this ? It's so much more expensive and I don't want to do it, unless it will make a considerable difference.

You been lucky haha I had one man ask to move .. soon as we sat down 😂 I’m sure the majority don’t mind though, if a baby cries the whole flight I don’t feel annoyed I just feel sorry for the poor parents walking up and down the aisle for hours. Flying long haul with kids going to be good or awful no matter what class you in I think 😂

Presume that's per person? So you're looking at £9k rather than £1500. Is that a lot for you? It would be for me.
(Otherwise if it's £500 total assume you're talking short haul, in which case business class isn't really any different to economy.)

Layover would diminish any benefits as you have to get off and clear security which adds stress with children

Yeah it's per person.

It's more about a cost - benefit question for me.

Is it worth that much more? That was my original question. Or perhaps get one business class seat with baby and two economy / premium economy for one parent with toddler. We don't all need to sit together and could take turns during the flight.

It depends where you go, but for a short layover, you usually don't need to go through security again. Depends on the airport though.

You sound like a right charmer. I would not inflict my young kids on people who have spent a fortune on business class myself but each to their own. We have flown long haul and only ever in economy and always been fine.

@Neverinamonthofsundays of course, rich people's comfort is worth more.

I think you're the charmer..

How come your happy to inflict your child (I assume badly behaved on planes if you say inflict) to people in economy, but not business?

@

@Simonjt it makes NO sense.

Surely, BC is better for kids and they're actually less likely to annoy anyone.

First of all, in business you usually just don't sit as close to the next passenger. Also, most business class flights now have little pods - dividers. You have way make space than being sat right next to a baby in economy. So I just don't get it. Oh well. Poor rich people, I guess we need to do all we can to protect them.

They are all well behaved teens now and were same as smallies but people, myself included when I fly business class, pay extra for extra comfort and do not want to see small kids when they board or at least we do not. If we are heading off and paying extra for business to be without ours we certainly do not want to be around other peoples!

@muaa

It depends where you go, but for a short layover, you usually don't need to go through security again. Depends on the airport though.

True, but OTOH one problem with any connection, most especially a short one, is the risk of missing the onwards sector if the first sector arrives late.

I know if it's a connected booking the airline(s) should facilitate rebooking on the next available flight, and maybe accommodation etc if that is required, but that might be a situation you'd want to try and avoid with young children in the group.

Personally I've always been a great believer in getting to the final destination in one go if it is at all possible.

If you don’t want to be around children it seems fairly unwise to book something that children regularly use. I can’t imagine being so delicate that the sight of a child makes me uncomfortable.

This thread is not about rich, poor or anything in between. Or those wishing to goad others,whether it be to cover up their own inadequacies or jump on the bandwagon.
it is about what is the right thing to do surely? Being permitted or enabled to do something doesn't necessarily make it the right the to do.

But children do not regularly use business class - the reason it was named as such is fairly obvious. Nor do children regularly fly 1st class. Some yes, but certainly not most.

Slightly different scenario but DH was once offered an upgrade at the gate when DD and I weren’t and we were told that either me or him could take the seat, they didn’t mind, but there was to be no in flight switching under any circumstances. That was American Airlines I think. So don’t bank on being able to do that. Plus without you all being on the same booking reference it means that you can’t all take the fast track security or use the lounge together which erodes some of the benefits.

Then there’s that with a 1YO you’d probably be more comfortable with them in their own seat in premium economy than on your lap in business class, since the seats aren’t usually even as wide as a standard single bed. I’m definitely not anti kids in business, and agree with 100% on what you’ve said about you do your best with the kids regardless of travel class, but based on my own experiences I think 4 premium economy seats would be more comfortable for you all given the ages of the kids.

I don’t think I have ever flown business class and not shared the cabin with at least one child (obviously excluding my own). If they weren’t in business on a regular basis, it would be unusual for us business flyers to see them.

@FlounderingFruitcake thanks for your advice. I think whatever we decide, premium economy is the minimum with two kids. It definitely does make quite a difference.

Oh and if you do all go business (I wouldn’t for the reasons I’ve given above but up to you!) then make sure you go for seats all on the same side of the aisle and don’t book a pair in the middle because there will be a wall between the seats. So when the 3YO needs something (lost cuddly toy! crisp packet needs opening! watch a different cartoon! need to go potty!) it’s bad enough that one of you has to get up every time but it’s even worse when the seats are configured so you have to go down to the galley and back up the other aisle. Sorry as I know it sounds obvious especially if you’ve flown business/first a lot pre kids but honestly it never occurred to me how it works with small kids in tow 😂 So hopefully you can avoid making the same mistakes as me!

Have you flown business class? Any time I have there have been children.

Unfortunately @muaa you would be better off leaving this thread as 90% of your replies are from people who don’t fly business, have made up in their heads that children don’t fly business and decided you are an awful person for bringing children into an imaginary childfree zone! 😂😂

I'm flying soon first time with baby and will let you know how it goes! For me it’s already worth it as I don’t need to worry about any passengers in front of me and will have loads more space for myself and baby plus more attentive service.

@Everywhereaquackquack the thread has been quite entertaining

@Neverinamonthofsundays

But children do not regularly use business class - the reason it was named as such is fairly obvious.

Well it was very business, Madmen style, back in the day but in an attempt to attract a wider range of passengers most airlines have rebranded/repackaged the cabins and product in an attempt to make things appear less formal and more leisure/family friendly, especially on the routes where leisure travel is popular.

These days you'll regularly find a fair number of children, some quite young, in business cabins on aircraft/airlines serving Long Haul destinations ex-UK ( especially the Caribbean, Central America, Florida, California)...Also of course many companies have a business class option for their holiday packages with zero age restrictions...

I do agree you still won't see quite as many youngsters in business cabins on the genuine business routes (e.g. UK to JFK, Chicago etc), but the days of Business Class, being for business travellers only has long long gone...

Slightly dated but relevant:

https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/28880-premium-leisure-airlines-pandemic

I've got to be honest. I would be really peeved if I had spent business class money on a flight so I could relax and then there was a toddler bleating in my ear.

Why? Are you another who decided it’s a childfree seating area? 😂

id like to complain to the airline. I decided business class was childfree and paid for business class seats to relax and it turns out I made that up in my head and children do sit in business class. I am OUTRAGED