To keep cabin class a surprise on big upcoming holiday?

[Digitaldedado]

DH, DSS (16) and I are travelling to the UK for a month in late summer from Australia. DH and I have decided to splurge and fly business because it's the first and potentially the last time we'll all fly home as a family. DH and I have done tonnes of research, watched videos online and got really excited about it. DH and I both want to surprise DSS at the airport with the 'upgrade' however there is a small part of me that wants to tell DSS ahead of time so he can get excited.
AIBU to keep it a surprise or should we tell him and enjoy the buildup? I'm completely torn.

Keep it a surprise but don't be too disappointed if he's not as impressed as you are

How wonderful! Your know your kid best, but both are great, knowing and looking forward to it and it being a surprise!

Has he flown a lot in economy? If so he probably expecting again and getting to turn left will be a big deal. If he doesn't fly much he might not realise how good business class is. And I'd tell him. If only to not have the awesomeness ruined by lack of enthusiasm.

I really doubt a 16 years-old would be impressed. Or is he excited by planes and travelling?
Be prepared to be disappointed!

My DCs have flown both ways and would be v happy with business, especially from Oz. I think I'd tell them when we booked it so they can look forward to the bed etc.

We've talked openly about BC flights previously, I flew home B/C as soon as the borders opened to see family (my work gifted me the flights), he was really invested looked up the menu online, asked for photos etc.
We joked about all flying business, and his response was you go business and I'll be happy in economy, it's too expensive 🤣 Bless him

In which case I'd tell him in advance.

He will just be excited now rather than but can also enjoy the build up!

How wonderful!! I'd tell him! Half the fun of things is the anticipation, looking forward to it, getting excited, etc. A last minute surprise means you don't get to experience that.

I’d tell him do he can look forward to it, but I hate surprises and part of my enjoyment and excitement comes from knowing in advance so I can research whatever it is.

I would also tell him in advance. I love the anticipation and looking up the beds/menus etc. plus won’t you be in the nice lounge and he will know then?

Half the fun is the anticipation, I would tell him in advance.

Oh what a gorgeous boy!

He wouldn't twig in the lounge, we often fly economy with lounge access due to our FF status.

And yes he is awesome 🤩

If he’s never spent 24 hours in economy he is never appreciating the comfort ( or the significant expense) . You will though so enjoy!

We flew business from Orlando to Manchester last year. It was on Aer Lingus but it was amazing! Told our teens in the airport. It was great! They were both shocked and overjoyed haha.

I'd tell him, he sounds like a great guy and would enjoy the anticipation with you. Just imagine, he'll be looking it up, reviewing what you'll get etc. It sounds amazing.

He sounds like such a nice boy! I'd tell him in advance so he can enjoy the anticipation with you both .

I’d tell him! It will be a surprise when you tell him anyway, so he gets both a surprise and the anticipation.

I did this to my DC once. Totally worth it for their reaction when we didn't walk through the business cabin to the rest of the plane. We flew the route a lot so it was a genuine surprise.

People saying why would a teenager be impressed with this must never have met a teenager 😂

We did similar for our kids to LA and they were over the moon, told them in advance and they couldn’t stop watching YouTube.

I’d be happy with a flight to Australia! Business class will be amazing. Tell him now, so you can all look forward to it together. What a lovely treat, and he sounds like a great lad.

In that case I'd tell him

In that case I'd tell him

We went to New York at Christmas & upgraded from economy plus to upper just a couple of days before we flew.

my daughters (13 & 16) didn’t know until we were getting onto the plane! They were super impressed & excited (as was I, first time I’d done it too!).

I don’t know know how I kept it a secret, but really glad I did.