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.

Depends if he's flown economy a few times then yes keep it a surprise (I would for my teenager), but if he's not then might as well tell him or he might not appreciate the upgrade as much as you just because he's got nothing to compare it to

Oh I love this, business class is such a treat!! I’d definitely tell him so he can look forward to it, look at the menu and the special features on the plane etc. I love doing all that and I’m in my 40s 😂

He will know when you check in as you’ve got a separate check in desk - I think I’d tell him before maybe the night before so you can get all excited together (the night before the holiday is exciting! We always get a take away and go to bed early and lie aways messaging the group chat haha)

Do it as a surprise - I would LOVE to learn that at the airport.

My DC hate surprises. My older DC got really grumpy and started crying when I tried to surprise him with a Disneyland trip. Your DSS is a lot older so really depends.

From what you say I would tell him ahead of time. A lot of the fun of a holiday is the build up. As he is 16 I assume potentially gcses loom? Maybe as a surprise at the end of gcses if that is pre travel?

My teenage son would love this and he'd enjoy knowing in advance. He always likes the upgraded service with anything! Teens love all that.

My only worry would be if you ended up being bumped down to economy for some reason and he'd be disappointed but he sounds like a great kid who would just accept it and be fine whatever.

We had a surprise upgrade at the boarding gate. Would have liked to have known earlier in order to use the lounge!

It's such a big thing, and it's not an upgrade so no risk of us being 'downgraded' we've done multiple classes as a family, but DSS has never experienced this.

Because games are fun?

They live in Australia.

Given that you are really excited about it, I think it’s mean to not also let him join in on the excitement. To me there are 3 phases of events: the looking forward to it, the actual event itself and the memory and by not telling him in advance you are taking away one of those elements from him.
the only benefit to not tell him is additional excitement for you but nothing for him.

Whilst I get why you want to surprise them, they may pack differently knowing they have it so I would tell them in advance and allow them the full opportunity to get the most out of it.

This is an easy one for me because I hate surprises and especially the part where you’re expected to put on a performance for the person springing the surprise. But even if your DS is into surprises, I bet at 16 he’d rather be treated like an adult and share the enjoyment of the planning, than have the upgrade presented to him like a gift.

I would think most 16 years old would be. I would have been.

I wouldn’t be able to not say anything, I’d be too excited to see my daughters face because I know she would be really excited and would be so looking forward to the flight (she usually suffers back kickers) unless I swop.

She would also panic re the cost she is more frugal than me but ultimately would be so excited!

you could do some "research" with DSS pre holiday.

All watch a youtube video of YOUR PLANE - economy review. So you are "prepared for the journey"

then also watch the Business class version in a "oh it will be lovely to do that some day"

DH and I are so torn. It's kinda a bucket list thing so we want to make it special

I'm still in shock that I'm going myself to be honest. I've flown in every cabin class but we've done it with work / points etc...
But this time we've paid it and it feels even more exciting because they can't it away DSS is the most amazing boy, very humble. He has wanted nothing more that to go back to the uk, his mum never let us take him home until now. We've flown to Asia with him, premium economy and economy - but now we just want to make this Uber special

I think if he's a bit nerdy (I don't mean this in an offensive way, my DH is like this too) and likes looking up plane/cabin stuff def let him know in advance. If he's the kind that doesn't really like researching and just wants to experience, surprise him.

Tell him! My dh often gets upgrades on Emirates and our now adult dc were so happy every time. But my ds was a bit like yours, loved doing research and look on YT etc. So looking forward to it is half the fun. Especially on such a long flight, must be fantastic!

Yeah they would. Because it is great. Last time on Emirates I didn’t even want to get off after 7 hrs. 😅

The not telling him is killing us and it's only been 24 hours !!

Tell him!!

Let him enjoy the build up

Anticipation is more enjoyable than a surprise and lasts longer.

It will be a nice surprise if you tell him now.