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 can hear a crying baby regardless of where you sit on board.

And I think you have to brush up on aircraft layouts before you make sweeping statements regarding it.

Do you fly Business? I doubt it otherwise you’d have known not to be so ridiculous in your reply.

@lafado Children often take the lead from their parents. I am obviously not talking about the deliberate traumatising of children but the fact that if parents create a drama, children will follow their lead. The problem is that we just don't equip our children at all now but assume that everything is "psychologically harmful".

With that in mind, there should be no surprise when your children wet themselves if they don't get their way in a game of tiddlywinks and you promptly send them to therapy in order that they can be told that they can be told their response is just because of historic trauma

Haven't read all replies so apologies if this has been covered but if you do go, do LOTS of research on airlines and the seat configurations they use. On some flights I've taken the seat plan in business is designed for solo travellers and therefore if there's sudden turbulence and you need to make sure your 3 year old is properly strapped in and safe it could be impossible for you to reach them and remain strapped in yourself.

That totally depends on the route though.

Fly to New York on a Sunday night or Monday morning - probably a lot of actual business people

Fly to Antigua first day of Christmas holidays - vanishingly small chance of actual business people

And as someone who used to fly business class for business, I generally wanted to sleep and take advantage of the enforced break from emails while we were in the air, it was pretty rare to see people working away on laptops during the flight

Thank you.

I can tell you the username who's replies you definitely don't need to catch up on...

To be honest we had the same dilemma (although we were mostly in agreement)
We just flew 12 hours with a 9 month and a 3.5 year old, to be honest if someone offered me 5 grand for a terrible night I'd probably take it, I think it's your attitude and capacity of finances that will dictate.
Also think about whether it's a day or night flight. Night flight the younger one is more likely to sleep, but the older one may struggle, we tried our in the floor and it was too solid, curled up in the seat was ok, but the baby seat is at the bulk head which has huge arm rests that include the TV and table. Perhaps booking 2 seats on consecutive rows might be better, and crossing your fingers for an empty seat beside.
The TV screens were pretty good and we took some new and familiar activity books, story books, and a music player with new music on it.
As mentioned above the jet lag will happen whatever, and the airport etc is the same.
You get priority boarding etc with small children and you can drop and get the pushchair at the gate which helps.
Try not to pack too much, Ba gives you a big suitcase allowance, car seat, push chair, and 2 hand luggage each, but you have to assume you'll be carrying/pushing it plus dealing with 2 struggling kids. So try to pack light.
Not sure I have any other tips. I did see people with kids in premium and in business so they are allowed.

Good luck!

@Glasshalffullorempty something tells me with OP's I don't care about anyone but myself attitude, this is not going to be the children's only source of trauma.

They would be best off travelling along and leaving their children with the stable care of their partner. That way they can go out of their way to upset everyone they come into contact with as they have said numerous times they like doing, and the children won't need to witness it.

If you can afford it, do it!

I've flown long haul with my 2yo 3 times in the last 18 months and once with my 5 month old. If we could have afforded business I'd have booked it in a heartbeat.

We took DS in economy recently he slept other than the first 30 minutes and the last 15 because I woke him for landing, that was an early morning flight so we'd been up since about 1am. He's 4 but sat between DH and I and had his head on my lap, it was fine. Quite relaxing actually!
If the money makes little difference to you, do it, if it's the difference between having another trip this year, or cutting out something you'd like to do on this one, don't.

Rubbish
I can assure you that you don't hear babies from economy in 1st- you may hear baby from 1st in 1st.

I have done 6 x 1st and 4 x club flights long haul and 4 club short haul (1-4 hour flights) since my year start in February plus 1 LCY economy and 1 economy short haul.

How about you? You seem to be confusing plane layouts on long and short haul?

Lol to those people who think she shouldn’t travel business class.

Wealthy people have kids too. They don’t suddenly start travelling cattle class in case little Johnny annoys another wealthy person on the flight. Hilarious.

We did business class with an 18 month old. Was great having extra space and luggage allowance and access to the lounge during the layover. It seemed to make economical sense as we didn’t need to pay for them but might have bought them their own economy seat. Not sure I would want to pay for a 3 year old in business though although I do think economy will seem a lot harder now next time.

@lafado Sorry I don't see that at all. She just doesn't want to be cowed by someone who obviously hates the fact that she can and you are therefore dressing it up as trauma.

It honestly depends on the airline and their seat configuration (although these days they all reserve the right to change the aircraft without notice), whether you're going east or west, how long the flight is, whether the arm rests go up, how many adults are flying.

The best approach is to assume it's going to be difficult, and plan and act accordingly. I don't think being in Business makes that much difference if you have an irritable child who won't sleep. In my experience, 18mo-3yo are the worst ages for long haul (which I consider anything 8hrs+). If you have to do it, just go coach. It won't be worth the extra money as it'll be shit either way.

@Glasshalffullorempty I thought to participate in the threads people need the ability to read, sorry for making that assumption.

Exactly! It’s public transport for goodness sake. Whoever has a ticket has as much right as the next passenger.

I think it depends on what kind of parent your dh is. Will he play an active and equal role in keeping your dc occupied, comfortable, fed? Will he take them to the toilet / change nappies in the small toilet? If so, then business class is great for the space for your dc to lay down/sleep/play. And so much more relaxing for how.

However, if your dh is the kind who would happily pass all the parenting responsibility over to you, then I'd steer well clear of long haul, in whatever class. Nothing more irritating than having 2 young children clambering over you, demanding your attention and preventing you from enjoying your meal, while watching your OH lay back with headphones on, snoozing and enjoying the drinks, food, films, music...

Totally agree. Many business people select this option to get some work done in relative peace or to get a proper rest ahead of a business meeting.

muaa · Today 19:30
WillyLows · Today 19:29

Why are people in business more worthy of a peaceful flight? Genuine question...

Apparently they have more rights to peace because they paid more money...

I mean, it’s not “apparently”. That’s literally why they (or their company) has paid for them to fly business. A large part of it is because they want to have a peaceful flight in which they may work (or sleep in preparation for a day’s work).

This thread is just hilarious.

I’m not confusing anything. But you certainly are with your nonsense about toilets and galleys. And whilst it would be very easy to post any number of links illustrating aircraft layouts disproving your nonsense I’m not going to bother because I know you’re a haverin cuddy and so do you.

If you’ve got the cash, I wouldn’t hesitate.

I’ve done both economy and business long haul with kids. It’s obviously much easier in business. There was another child in the cabin but you wouldn’t have known as everyone was quiet and well behaved.

However there was a spectacular fight between 2 ladies on the return in economy, that was much worse than the crying baby.

Of course you have just as much right to fly business as anyone else.

Really?
We have flown BC with small dc with no issues and as mine have grown up seen others do so.

I would say the move to more individual capsules makes it potentially harder with smaller dc because you can't hold their hand on take off or landing.

derailing the thread slightly but are you the person who shrieks into their mobile in the quiet coach on the train too? You are not the only person on the planet and manners cost you nothing 🥴Do you no consideration for other people or do you just think that because you can afford it, everyone else has to just put up with it?

But nowadays there are probably just as many people who do it just because they want to.

@lafado I am not not insulting you, I’m describing you