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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

316 replies

Flymeinbusiness · 27/06/2023 19:30

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)

OP posts:
19lottie82 · 27/06/2023 19:53

Would the airline even let you swop the seats?

DonnatellaLyman · 27/06/2023 19:54

Isn’t this the opener to home alone 2?

If DH is bothered he can go in economy with one child, and then the children can swap over for the return leg so get to go business 1 way each.

You can’t sit your primary aged children alone in a separate part of the plane, don’t be ridiculous.

ExpectingaRainbow · 27/06/2023 19:54

Just to correct previous posters, this would be allowed. Children over 5 can be sat in seperate cabins (well with BA anyway). Although, can you imagine getting to your seat and discovering a 5 year old sat next to you whilst their parents lived it up in business class.

As for the actual question. PIL should sit in the seats they booked and paid for. If there was an emergency situation or a particularly scary flight, I would hate to not be able to get to my children.

viques · 27/06/2023 19:56

Aparecium · 27/06/2023 19:48

The dc might find it a great adventure to sit away from their parents for a while. Why not start and end the trip in the business seats you have paid for, but then the dc swap with their dgps for the rest of the time? If meals are an issue, then swap before or after the meal.

I don’t think the cabin staff will let people randomly swap seats half way through a flight unless there is a very pressing reason.

ConsuelaHammock · 27/06/2023 19:57

It would depend on how much I like my in-laws. I couldn’t afford business class anyway so not something I’d ever have to think about.

Irridescantshimmmer · 27/06/2023 19:57

I would not let kids aged 10 and 11 travelling alone in economy without adults to keep an eye on them, mostly because of the chance of them getting preyed upon by predatory adults. I reckon its a safeguarding issue, your in laws can take care of themselves in economy.

minipie · 27/06/2023 19:58

Eh? People in their 70s fly economy all the time, including my parents and ILs. They survive 😆

If your PILs can’t cope with economy then they can either pay for business or not come. There is no moral obligation for you to give them your seats.

UNLESS the PILs are going to be providing a load of free childcare on the trip. In which case, I suggest you and DH go in economy and the PILs fly business with the kids. (They may prefer economy…).

beelover · 27/06/2023 19:58

I'm a grandparent. There's absolutely no way I would take seats from young grandchildren leaving them sitting alone in a different part of the plane. Your husband sounds like a complete arse.

Talia99 · 27/06/2023 19:58

The only long haul flight I ever go on, the business class seats (and first class) are upstairs and while I’m sure the airline staff have a way to get between them and the economy seats in flight, members of the public don’t (separate doors and boarding tubes).

Therefore, some of the ideas about them visiting you or swapping seats might not work depending on the type of plane.

5128gap · 27/06/2023 19:59

Its kind of you to even consider it. But you've booked this for your family and should carry on as intended. As a GP there is no way I'd want to deprive my DGC of their treat seats (because for me BC would be a treat!) and would be happy in the seats I'd booked and paid for. As a parent I'd also want to be near my DC.
I have to say though it's really nice to see someone giving thought to the comfort of older relatives rather than the usual attitude that they're just a nuisance lucky to be there at all. You sound like a nice family.

WingingItSince1973 · 27/06/2023 20:00

LlynTegid · 27/06/2023 19:37

OP do you present a property show with someone called Phil?

Ha ha that sprang to mind though she did want her kids in economy 😂

Takoneko · 27/06/2023 20:00

@ExpectingaRainbow That is genuinely quite shocking to me. The idea of a five year old sitting alone on a plane feels so neglectful. They would be sat at incredibly close quarters to an unknown adult without supervision, it’s also a situation where they are potentially going to be scared or distressed. There’s just so much that could go wrong in that situation.

Glittertwins · 27/06/2023 20:01

Absolutely no way would I dump the DCs. It's their holiday which presumably you've paid for as a family. If the in laws have gate crashed then that is their problem, they made their choice when choosing their flight options!

SaltyCrisps · 27/06/2023 20:03

I agree with your DH. From what you say your PIL couldn't afford to buy business tickets, and I agree that it's hard for them, in their 70s, to be at the back and away from you all. I think probably your children are at an age where they'd probably see it as a bit of an adventure to sit away from you. I don't think one of you needs to sit with them to supervise.

Either way, though, in your shoes I'd definitely offer the two comfy seats to your elderly PIL, in the way that I used to be expected to offer my bed to guests when family came to stay when I was a child and then teenager. Be kind to them OP, as they won't be around forever Flowers

Spareus · 27/06/2023 20:07

They are too young to be unaccompanied in economy. PIL have the seats they chose. Or your husband does a swapping rota with kids/pil to allow them some respite in bc for a bit. You have a complimentary drink and a snooze in a comfy seat 👍

Paddingtonsmarmlade · 27/06/2023 20:08

id make pil stay in economy. If you don't want to do that then one parent and child goes business on the way there and swop for the way home

Thankfulforthenewday · 27/06/2023 20:10

In laws sit in the seats they paid for. Kids that age need to be with their parents.

musixa · 27/06/2023 20:10

You plus one DC in economy for the first half of the journey, your DH plus the other DC in economy for the second half of the journey. Or could do it one pair outward, one pair return.

I wouldn't have the parents sitting in economy while I was in business, personally.

MexicanDrinkingWorm · 27/06/2023 20:11

I agree with everyone else on the emergency thing. What if say one of them started choking on something and you’re all living it up in business while strangers are scrambling to help them as they’re turning blue? (Unlikely I know, but more likely than the plane going down)
I think you’ve got two options, either you two let your in laws have your seats with the kids or you leave the grandparents where they are. Or if you’re business both ways then do a leg each?
your kids will probably never forget getting to sit in the fancy part of the plane, it’ll make their trip!

IDontWantToBeAPie · 27/06/2023 20:12

Leaving your children with strangers is idiotic. Not only because it's your job to parent them not someone else.

If DH is so worried about his parents then you and he should sit in economy.

Nevermind31 · 27/06/2023 20:12

Children under 12 need to sit with their parents (by law?).

Thankfulforthenewday · 27/06/2023 20:12

If the plane got into trouble I would want to be with my kids and husband. I love my parents but they are adults and most 70 year olds I know are fit and healthy.

Iloveacurry · 27/06/2023 20:14

Sorry but I think you’ll find a lot of people who are in their 70s fly in economy. They decided to join you. Did you invite them? Besides, if I was travelling in economy and had 2 unaccompanied kids next to me, I must admit I’d be pissed off.

WeCanShoutToTheMoutains · 27/06/2023 20:15

What if the person they were sat next to started to watch an inappropriate movie with sex scenes in? What if they were sleeping would your DC be brave enough to wake someone?

No way would I be separated from my children on a plane. Every time we flew over the Atlantic the seat belt sign came on and no one could move. Plus I am sure they don't allow economy class people into the business class cabin.

Your PIL have booked their seats, that is where they sit.

TheFlis12345 · 27/06/2023 20:16

You all need to stay in your booked seats. You won’t be allowed to swap for the whole flight unless you actually swap the bookings and no decent crew will allow you to have a swapping rota as some people have suggested. Other passengers will have paid for a calm flight, not a game of musical chairs (I used to work for an airline).