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)

Id give up one business seat and kids can swap halfway, then the grandparent can also swap
You can’t swap.

oh come on. don't let your dc sit alone for 8hours esp in economy. some adults are rude to young kids when walking to, walking from or waiting to use the toilet.

if you must leave them alone, do that in bc.

dh is being simplistic and if it weren't for the duration and toilet (unless you sit them by the toilet in economy), I would agree with him as you say dc are frequent fliers.

So one parent with 1 child in economy is the answer. airline won't let parents switch midway. offer to be the parent in economy.

I travel frequently in first and bc. I won't comment where pil should sit.

If seat swapping is your solution, do check with the airline first that they don't mind this. I have flown American Airlines and DH was in business and I was in economy with the children and we definitely weren't allowed to just swap in and out during the flight. Before anyone gets all hot and bothered about DH being in business, he had to fly about 20 billion miles a year for his job so I felt like he'd earned that upgrade.

I think your PIL should look at upgrading to premium economy as a previous poster suggested. Those seats have more leg room.

My kids would be staying with me, no question.

Tell your husband he’s free to choose a parent to give his seat up for. Surely your in-laws wouldn’t have their GC left alone in economy? Or are they as stupid as your husband? 🤪

I have DC same age and would not let them sit alone unless the other seats on their row were empty, which you won’t know until you get there.

either way, I don’t see why you should give up your seats for PIL. Tell them to book extra leg room if they need to.

Or… your DH should give up his seat and sit with one DC each way in economy. They’re his parents after all.

Stick to your booked seats and enjoy. We travelled with my parents a couple of years ago, we were in business and they were in economy. We normally fly long haul BC, they usually go Economy so it didn’t feel wrong. My kids were younger than yours but I still wouldn’t want to be separated from them on a flight

I would not swap my kids seats. It's not like the grandparents will be in cargo.

I’m with the your PIL are grown ups and have made a decision to sit in economy, there is no need to complicate the issue by downgrading your children. I’d also be surprised if the airline will allow this as it becomes a safeguarding issue.

No way would my children have been separated from me at that age. I'd put my foot down and insist on keeping to the seats that have been booked. The airline probably won't allow swapping around willy-nilly anyway.

No way I'd leave my kids. In the unlikely event of an emergency I'd want to be with them.

Your PIL booked knowing that their seats were in Economy. I mean it's hardly the salt mines!!

Would most definitely not leave children this young (fuck that, any children!) to sit separately, on their own, away from their parents. If your DH is that bothered about his parents let him pay for their upgrade!!

I wouldn't give your in laws the seats, they decided to join you, why should your kids be bumped down and be on their own for hours in economy, granted your kids are old enough to be left but this isn't your problem. If your in laws want business class they pay for it. Don't ruin your own holiday to accommodate people who decide to tag along.

This is MN. The only acceptable thing around here is to put your parents in law or even your own parents in the luggage hold below deck.

Safety issues aside, no way would I disappoint my kids, by taking the business class seats (which my two similar aged kids would be more excited about than the actual holiday) off them, and sticking them in economy. What sort of message does that send them about who you value most? Your DC or in laws?? I’m astounded you’re even considering taking their seats off them at all. Really shitty parenting OP.

For this exact reason I would not sit separately from my child

So many people unable to resist the opportunity to get the knife into inlaws and allowing their spite to fuel their imaginations!
There is nothing in the OPs post to suggest these people 'tagged along' rather than are welcomed members of the group; that they have 'hinted how old and frail they are' or that they are in anyway unhappy with the seats they've booked. In fact the OPs post is silent with regards to the inlaws opinions and attitudes. All we know is what the OP and her H think. Yet somehow we've ended up with a pair of entitled, pushy, seat snatching manipulators who shouldn't even be on the trip unless they're offering free childcare; rather than a well-meaning couple trying to be considerate albeit in a not very feasible manner to parents we know nothing about.

I wouldn't leave kids of that age to sit alone.

I'd be sitting in business as booked. There's nothing wrong with economy for anything, it's hardly a hardship for them. You've just got an extra perk.

However capable dc are the reality is other passengers will end up caring for your children. I have seen this multiple times. That is unfair to those passengers and sends the signal to dc that they don't matter

They are in their 70's not 100. I'd just let them sit where they are booked.

Children should be with parents. I'd be less than happy if I had to sit next to two unaccompanied kids for a long haul flight

Why do your PIL need to be in Business? They've chosen to book economy (rather than not travel), they are clearly prepared to travel economy. Why are you interfering with their choice? There's no suggestion that they expect this.

It sounds as though the norm for your family is economy. Look at it that way. You're enjoying a treat. That has no impact on other people's norm and creates no obligation. A treat for a few doesn't disadvantage anyone else.

How do your DC feel about this?

10 and 11… no way. If they were 15 or so then maybe. Would the airline even allow it? I doubt it.

Can’t believe this is real and you are having the conversation….

I’m not even sure you’d be allowed to swap. Different scenario but I’ve been offered an upgrade before being a frequent flyer and it wasn’t possible to let DH have it since he hasn’t flown BC before. Aren’t the taxes/fees etc reduced for a child ticket vs an adults and even if not would the airline actually let an adult sit in BC on a child ticket?

you need to be with your dc’s. The parents in law will survive in economy!