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)

This is mad, I'm worried about turbulence etc on a flight when I'm next to my DC let alone leaving them in another cabin entirely. I can't believe your DH is even considering it. Then there's other predatory adults, accidents that can happen (them taking ill or something as another poster has mentioned), them being scared or worried about something... I wouldn't even entertain the suggestion.

Does he not like your kids?

PIL in economy or PIL pay up.

Apart from the bad, there's the good. I like sitting next to DD on a plane. She's good company. It's the start of the holiday for both of us.

And she'd be worried about things like going to the loo, organising her things, the meal service etc. I mean there aren't a lot of times you'd send you 10 and 11 yo out into a mainly adult environment without you are there?

There is no question in my mind that you and your children keep the business class seats and the in-laws stay in economy

This.

Is this a joke?

You want to shove your 2 kids in economy to be looked after by strangers, so your PILs can have fancy seats, and the 4 of you can enjoy a luxury flight while your kids slum it? And no doubt bother other passengers. Because they won’t just be able to sidle into business class when they want a drink or to ask you when the flight will land.
Or your other suggestion - to have one child in economy and one in business - how would you decide? Do you have a favourite?
This is madness. You, your DH and your kids have business class tickets, and that’s where you sit. Your PILs chose to come on your holiday and can sit in the seats they booked. Presumably they knew the situation beforehand?

The children are young and should sit with their mother and father. The pil are probably ok with the seats they bought. Don’t feel guilty, pil could have paid extra if they really needed to. If they really couldn’t afford upgraded seats then they probably couldn’t have afforded to come on trip at all, think about it. They will be fine in economy.

Every word is right on.

@Flymeinbusiness not sure if it’s possible but can the PIL upgrade to premium economy? It’s usually much less than business, plus it’s normally near to business class.

I always book premium economy long haul, and on one occasion I was upgraded to business. They are more likely to upgrade your PIL than the children.

I would keep the DC with you in business.

Your pil have chosen economy they sit in those seats

if you/your dh are upset about them the pay to have them upgraded to business

I'm almost sure that you can't leave an 10 &11 year old alone in economy. If there's 3 in the row then an adult would need to help them with oxygen masks in case of loss of cabin pressure. If there's 2 seats there needs to be someone over 12 to help in an emergency too.

We were in Spain last week and my 2 kids and their 12 year old cousin were quizzed by the airhostess as to how old they were so they could sit together.

My advice? Keep the business class seats for your kids. You paid for them and what a fun and exciting experience for kids!

Did they not realise you were in business? Either way not your problem. They booked economy so they were obviously happy to travel economy. I would never dream of pushing DC to the back!! Maybe if they were fully grown adults themselves you could ask if they would swap with their grandparents but whilst they’re under 18 absolutely not! Why doesn’t your DH go and join his parents in economy if he’s so worried doubt them?

no one held a gun to PIL's heads and forced them to come on this trip. if they booked those seats they should be prepared to sit in them.

sounds like they've been hinting at how old and frail they are now they've caught wind of your better seats.

if they're so old and immobile and short on money why did they decide to tag along?

It's like the fox, chicken and grain puzzle 😁

Tell DH the kids need an adult with them, and you want to enjoy your business class seat. The rest is up to him to figure out.

to add.
business class isn't a whole lot better for someone as disabled and frail as being suggested. they just get a bigger seat, extra space and legroom.
think its worth letting them know that its only first class with beds for them, maybe they'll go quiet then.

My Business class BA seat turned into a bed.

Does DH not like his children? What do they think about being bumped to cattle class by themselves? The PILs had choices when they booked.

If the grandparents had an issue with flying economy then they wouldn’t have booked these seats.
Plus having seen children alone in economy kicking seats and acting up while their parents were god knows where seated on the plane, I think you should accompany your own children. It’s for everyone’s benefit.

As a grandparent, I wouldn’t entertain bumping my DGC or DSIL to economy, much less be involved in any scheme to leave the DC in economy alone.

I feel terrible that my in-laws who are in their 70s will be in the back of the plane

You may find it shocking OP, but people in their 70s fly long haul economy all the time. The vast majority of all those who get on a plane fly in economy. I get that you and your DH like to be generous to your ILs but frankly the shock horror over economy is nothing compared to possibility of the seat belt signs coming in for an extended period, the real ones where cabin crew also strap themselves in, and your kids are on their own.

If you really want to treat your ILs, let them sit in business instead of you and DH.

Thought not.

Stop patronising them and everyone else who manages without air miles.

DDIL, I meant. Fat thumbs. Or DS for that matter.

If I was a grandparent (I am plenty old enough) I would be furious over the ageism of ‘OMG people in their 70s can’t endure a perfectly ordinary flight in economy’

No way should either of your children have to sit in economy to accommodate your ILs. If you insist, the grandparents and children can stay in business and you and dh sit in economy.

Id give up one business seat and kids can swap halfway, then the grandparent can also swap.