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.

My 16yo would certainly be impressed by it, we've flown a lot always in economy as I can't afford business and he's love to do it! Keep it a surprise for him 🙂

I’d tell him so he can be excited about it. It would make me look forward to the flight, rather than dread it!

Ah I'm so torn.

I surprised my kids with a "last minute" holiday the other week and also had done BC and told them the night we drove to the airport. They were absolutely ecstatic.

But they'd have been just as excited if we'd waited to tell them on the way to the airport after the hotel.

So I'm torn and no use at all

I'd tell him before just because you usually get a bigger luggage size and he can pack more.

I'd prefer to know as half of it would be in the anticipation for me and I could look forward to it. As a compromise, could you tell him a couple of days before.

Oooooo we are doing this as well for ds2 and dd, they are traveling overnight by themselves (early 20’s)

we are keeping it quiet, going to pretend that we are able to book into the business/first class checkin because DD has CFS and we will let them know at that point when they go through security without us

ds2 was saying yesterday that he was going to be uncomfortable on the way back and i was desperate to tell him 😀

that does only give me a few minutes to tell them to eat and drink anything they want and to pick up the little bag full of smellies even if they don’t want it themselves 🤔

We went to lapland years ago on a meet santa one day thing….

it was the day after dds birthday and we said as a special birthday treat we were going to stay in a hotel ( 2 hours drive!) the next morning we said that the best place locally to eat breakfast was in the airport and we would have to go through security to get there …luckily we had taken our passports with us

my children fall for everything 😀

Tell him now and let the excitement build!! How absolutely heartwarming that you have such a great relationship with your DSS. How lovely for you both, it brought a tear to my eye.

I'd have been thrilled at 16.

It’ll be a surprise whenever you tell him. Would he like knowing it’s coming and the build up and researching it before hand/picking something to wear? Or more of an on the day type person?

I’d tell him. Then, in the unlikely event that he’s not impressed or excited, you won’t be disappointed on the day.

The trouble with long haul business class, though - I’ve done it more than once - is that it absolutely ruins you for long haul cattle class again. One thing I’d really love loadsamoney for, would be the ability to book first or business without even having to think about what it costs.

Honestly it's been the best thing, as soon as we realised BC was a possibility in our budget our main focus was - OMG imagine how excited DSS will be. I feel super lucky to give him this experience and want it to be magical.
DH upgraded me without telling me when we were dating and I was just in awe....I want him to have that.

Lol, I had a much lower-key version of this on our last holiday where I booked the extra leg room seats as a surprise!

This

So would I. In fact I think only a spoilt and over privileged 16 year old would not be impressed.

I woudl definitely tell him beforehand if it were my son! But that's because o know, like me, he would LOVE looking at the photos, menu and finding more out about the business class experience. Whenever I've flown BC (not many times and also from Aus to UK), the build up was very much h part of the enjoyment!! I got so excited just thinking about THE. FLAT. BED!!

Tell him! I'm sure he'll be excited. We are fortunate to fly business class most of the time. It's the first thing my teens ask when we have booked a holiday. They love taking pictures onboard and sending them to friends to boast 🤦‍♀️😂

I'd tell him! Different situation but I treated DH to business class flights to Kenya on a recent big birthday (he'd never flown BC before whereas I had with work) and he was so excited looking up reviews and menus and the lounge and checking out the beds etc. He wouldn't shut up about it 😅

@Digitaldedado I did this for my DSD 18th, trip to Dubai. Printed out a seat map of our cabin and let her work it out herself. Both of them were absolutely thrilled and it really added to the excitement of the upcoming holiday. So I would tell him!

How lovely! I'd tell him as he sounds like he'd really enjoy the build up, looking up the details, and that will just feed into the excitement for him!

Yes tell him so he can do a 360 of the cabin, choose his seat, look at the dining options etc. I love doing this!

I’d totally keep it as a last-minute surprise and I’d also ham up all the chat about how you’re all going to be so uncomfortable in the long flight in economy.

Presumably you are also flying back to Aus business, so he has the entire trip to anticipate the return leg.

Tell him!

Usually the loooooooooong flight is something you steel yourself for, knowing it will be worth it when you get there.

Why play games? Let him relax and enjoy the time looking forward to the flight, as you are!

Tell him so he can look forward to the flight

When dd was 16y she'd have definitely been impressed and excited at the chance of flying long haul business.