To not want the dc in economy while we are in business?

[Flymeinbusiness]

Would be great to get others opinions...
We had some flyer miles and managed to book a much looked forward to, long haul, trip in business class for us and our 2 DC - 10 &11 in the summer holidays. Fast forward a few months and the PIL have decided to join us for the beginning part of the trip and booked economy tickets to join us. (They don't have any miles and the price a few months later for business for them both was unaffordable.)I feel terrible that my in-laws who are in their 70s will be in the back of the plane while my DH, DC and I will have big seats to ourselves. My DH thinks that both DC should take the economy seats and that they will be okay alone for 8 hours given we aren't too far away if they need us but I think one of us parents should be with 1 DC in economy instead as I don't want them alone on the flight. He thinks IBU to not let them and that I should enjoy my seat and not sit in economy. (I don't mind either although business will be a nice start to the holidays) Am I being overprotective? (Kids are good flyers generally and have done quite a few long hauls in the past)

PIL should stay in economy, if they weren’t happy with the seats they would have paid for business, they are staying an extra week so could have used that money to upgrade if they wished.

As a flight attendant I would strongly advise against this. What if there’s an emergency? You won’t be allowed to move to be with your children and you’ll have no idea where they are in the ‘panic’. Absolutely not.

Just tell him you checked with the airline and the DC’s have to be sat with adults. Men would never go to the trouble to look.

This would definitely be a factor - by moving the children to economy the PIL’s would be getting a BC seat x2 for, presumably, less than it should cost.

I would always 100% swap seats with the elderly family members for their comfort. I would not make the kids move. Its your job to swap not theirs.

Easy - one PIL and one DC in economy on the way there then other PIL and other DC in economy on the way back. You don’t have to give up your well deserved business class seats, each child and parent gets a go in business class and the children have a responsible adult sat beside them on each leg

Personally we would always put the comfort of our parents first. They would definitely be in business class if there was a choice. I couldn't leave the kids on their own. I would put one adult with each child and swap half way through the flight.

I've flown business on several airlines many times and cabin seat swapping is definitely NOT permitted. They won't even be able to visit you (but you can visit economy).

If the PILs wanted to fly business they should have booked it and they have made their decision based on an economy flight anyway so stick with the plan.

other PIL and other DC in economy on the way back

Go back and reread the thread and then come back and tell us why this is a silly idea? 10 pages and the answer is in the OP.

PIL are in their 70’s and can surely sit down for the duration of a long haul flight! It’s not like you’re asking them to stand up, while you’re lapping it up in business class! Come on!

PIL will have plenty opportunities to stretch their legs, food and drink I presume will be served throughout, it’s hardly a bloody hardship for them.

You booked your holiday and they chose, yes CHOSE to tag along! No way should your DC sit in economy (which the majority of us HAVE to) to appease your DH!

You & partner should definitely be in business class for both flights. Since you don't say otherwise, I'm assuming the miles came from flights the household budget paid for, and that comes from you & partner (including if one of you is a SAHP). Let yourselves enjoy it.

From there it depends on whether you've told the kids, if they're excited to fly business, how much they'd actually feel the benefits, and if the airline would allow the kids to sit separate from all the adults.

10 and 11 is young to be left alone unattended. All it takes is for them to be sat next to a perv…or for them to be playing music to loudly and annoy passengers…or for someone to see two kids travelling alone and swipe their phone.

No way.

Are they unaware what flying Economy will be like, are they suffering dementia or have never flown?

If that is not the case, then honestly, they booked those seats, they can sit in them. If Economy is not for them, they should have booked business class and if they can't afford it they could have asked for financial help with it from you (no obligation for you to agree!) or, not come on the trip.

I don't follow why your kids/you should give up your seats for them - they are presumably capable adults in their own right?

Seriously I doubt that airlines would ever take an unaccompanied 5yo, I'm sure their must be a minimum age to even use the service of about 8.
Some 5yos still need help using adult toilets and reaching taps. That would personal care would be beyond the remit of cabin or ground crew.

Quick Google tells me BA have a minimum age of 12 for unaccompanied minors and I'd guess most airlines would be similar if they provide the service.

U and ur husband go economy and pil stay with the kids, why he kids have to swap and not u? Why would u let ur young kids fly alone unaccompanied ffs

oh sorry didn't realise the only airline is BA pardon me

if someone left their kids to travel unaccompanied id think the absolute worst of them. I have zero patience for naughty disruptive children whilst travelling and its beyond selfish of any parent to make it someone else's problem, which is what they are doing.

Business class seats have been lie flat in the vast majority of airlines for years.

For info (and I may well be wrong) but I think back in the olden days BA did used to allow 5 year olds to fly unaccompanied in certain circumstances..(single sector, direct ...) so what the poster mentioned is credible.

I certainly saw some very small people handed over to the cabin crew by the ground escorts on some flights I worked on.

BA (sadly) ended their UM scheme a few years back.

could well be those with dwarfism/disabilities requiring assistance

Yes and when it comes to business cabins BA are one of the lowest rated of common long haul carriers flying out of the UK, if they have flat beds it’s safe to assume the others do.

🤔

Nope, I really don't think so. I spoke to a few over the years (don't worry, not stalking, it was sometimes part of the job) whilst I didn't ask for ages they were definitely school age kids with a wide range of ages..

Anyhow just checked the current state of play elsewhere and AF still do proper UM service, 4 year olds solo within metropolitan France, 5 yo can fly solo internationally.....it's amazing what kids can do given the chance.

https://wwws.airfrance.fr/en/information/passagers/enfants-non-accompagnes

Ok I've read through 10 pages of comments and I am extremely disappointed no one has mentioned the plot to Home Alone. Parents flying in 1st and kids back in economy is why they didn't realise until halfway through the flight they'd left Kevin at home.

One parent sits with them on the way out, the other on the way back

Actually I got it wrong, apologies. @ExpectingaRainbow did not say she had been a 5 year-old unaccompanied minor at all. She did say that she has personal knowledge of at least one airline having a policy of allowing minors from age 5 to sit in a separate cabin to their parents. That seems madder than allowing them to be unaccompanied minors, since at least as an UM you should have a dedicated member of cabin crew to look after you.