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)

They aren't locked in the hold. If there is a problem, one of their parents can go back to them.

Sitting around fabricating scenarios about a perfectly routine airline flight is absurd. Are they really such snowflakes? How do they manage school or walking around the neighbourhood?

Ten and 11 year olds should be capable of being responsible and well-behaved in public without a parent hovering over them.

1 parent , 1 child in business for first half of flight, swap for other half...or any other combination that doesn't leave the children unaccompanied,although the airline might prefer you to sit in the seats you booked

How will the parents know if there’s a problem?

You’re being a bit silly. Not sure you’re all that familiar with 10/11 year olds really. Very few I know would be confident in this situation and even fewer parents would be ok with it.

I’m enjoying how no one is factoring the airlines rules into this.

Well most children haven't had that experience.

I don't see in 70's as that old they'll be fine in economy too.

Suggest PIK uograde to premium or business at the airport checkin.
Their choice their decision

I'd suggest your DH and his dad take the economy seats and you, MIL and the DC have a lovely time in business.

Realistically you could start off in your purchasesed seats and then let MIL and PIL.swapmwoth DH and one of the kids swap with them for an hour or so during the flight.

I would under no circumstances leave both kids to it at one time in economy, that's really unfair to them.

If he is so desperatefor them to go business he needs to pay for the upgrade or givr up his seat.
if he wont pay for an upgrade he needs to give up his seat.

It would be Me and my DC in business both ways.
DH switches seat to economy both ways.
Inlaws use your DHs seat and one does outbound business one does return.

Its not the 80s you cant just play musical chairs on a flight

The idea that children would get a luxury experience while their elders were cramped back in economy on the same plane is just beyond the pale.

Elders 🙄 This attitude thar kids should give everything up because others are older really fucks me off. Flying economy is what most people do and presumably the in laws wouldn’t have booked if they couldn’t have coped with the ‘cramped’ conditions. 😅

I wonder how some people ever manage to leave their houses.

We’ve flown in a different cabin to DCs a few times and never had a problem. Lots of friends who did the same and never mentioned any issues. And if there is a problem, the cabin crew let you know very quickly.

Having said all that, I wouldn’t change in the OPs situation.

They’ll be in economy on the way back anyway - so what does it matter - seems to me you are making this far more difficult than needs be.

Sit in the seats you’ve paid for - job done!

I've flown on BC a few times recently with work and DP has come along self pay in economy. We swapped several times on a 10 hour flight. This is on 2 different airlines. I think you could easily swap DH and MIL around for example.

DC and PIL in the fancy seats, you and DH can slum in kid free in economy.

The idea that children would get a luxury experience while their elders were cramped back in economy on the same plane is just beyond the pale.

😂 Ridiculous post.

I think you should stick as you are - in the seats you’ve paid for. There are loads of reasons (listed by PPs) why having kids unaccompanied in economy is a bad idea. Plus those are really quite young ages - I have a ds 9 and no way would he be able to sit alone on a plane (or with a sibling) in a year or two.

DD was sat apart from exh and ds on a flight when she was 13 odd and was sat next to someone who made her feel really uncomfortable. It’s just not worth the risk.

Your PIL chose to book those seats - they can presumably sit in them! Why should your Dc lose out because of someone else’s freely made decision? Plus the PIL will have to sit in them on the way back.

Thats really interesting @Itisyourturntowashthebath @Takoneko and @Southlandssue when I last flew our coach was late for pick up so we ended up just about catching the flight. However there were no seats left together and we were split up from two of the children, so we basically spent the whole flight taking turns standing in the aisle next to them.
I wouldn’t leave the children in economy Op , I would leave the seating as it is.

It’s only 8 hrs! My mother did multiple 20+ hr trips on her own in economy when she was in her 70s.

No way would I ever fly separately from my kids. If your DH feels so strongly then he should pay to upgrade them.

PiL will be allowed to visit you in BC if there's any spare room, and may even be selected for upgrade if it's one of those flights where there's been a mixup and you manage to let the cabin crew know that you're part of the same family.

”One of those flights where there’s been a mixup”? Do you mean a flight which has been overbooked in economy, where there are free seats in BC? So a few lucky economy passengers are selected to move up a class and free up some space in economy?

I’m sorry to tell you that “being part of the same family” doesn’t get you to the front of the upgrade queue. Upgrades are most likely to go to people who have lots of loyalty point.

When you fly as an unaccompanied minor the airline allocates a staff member to be responsible for looking after you. It's not the same as people just plonking their kids next to strangers at the back of the plane and hoping for the best. The seatbelt sign could be on for most of the flight and they wouldn't be able to get to their parents if they needed to.

I'd personally stay in the seats I booked and my parents would laugh their heads off as they headed to the back and my kids and I all waved and cheered as they went past. Which is exactly what we did!

They decided to invite themselves along and booked their own seats, if they have mobility issues etc they should have considered that when booking, not a chance in hell should the kids get bumped in favour of granny and grandad who muscled in

If you're going to put this 'compromise' to your DH at least get him to do the first half in economy, in case the airline says no to you swapping.

Why don’t you add money to the grandparents’ funds and upgrade them to Business Class?
Then everybody’s happy.

There’s absolutely no way, no how, I’d move my kids - or as a grandparent ask them to move from Business back to Economy.

There’s no shame in sitting in Economy.

If they wanted an adult treat, they should have booked business class seats when they decided they were going along too. Sure it's nice to treat people but not when it means your children missing out

Why should anyone else on the plane be responsible for your kids because all the adults want a jolly up the front :-( Because they will be if something happens.