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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To keep cabin class a surprise on big upcoming holiday?

127 replies

Digitaldedado · 10/05/2024 05:34

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.

OP posts:
ClairemacL · 11/05/2024 09:59

Digitaldedado · 11/05/2024 09:01

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

I think you should tell him now. If he’s as excited as you hope then it’ll be great, or if he’s more calm about it then you won’t be disappointed on the day.

Purplemoonshine · 11/05/2024 10:38

You should tell him so he has the opportunity to choose his meals from the 'select in advance' extensive list most airlines have for BC customers, research whatever he wishes to about the movies/games/seat/space/snacks etc. and so he can be excited in the lead up to the flights. Pick a special moment to let him know.

CrappySack · 11/05/2024 10:44

Purplemoonshine · 11/05/2024 10:38

You should tell him so he has the opportunity to choose his meals from the 'select in advance' extensive list most airlines have for BC customers, research whatever he wishes to about the movies/games/seat/space/snacks etc. and so he can be excited in the lead up to the flights. Pick a special moment to let him know.

I also vote for telling him now so he can get excited with you and do research

mitogoshi · 11/05/2024 10:47

I would tell him as the anticipation is part of the excitement

FarmGirl78 · 11/05/2024 10:51

I think tell him.

You know he's going to love it, and you've got a chance to extend a 24 hr window of excitement on the actual plane to 3 months excitement beforehand. Do it! Tell him!! He can google the menus, and seat type, and geek out in advance and he can have butterflies and look forward to the moment he gets to turn the other way. Please tell him. It'll make it into such more on an event for him.

Original poster
Digitaldedado · 11/05/2024 11:49

We went out for dinner tonight and he was asking loads about the flights....I'll crack for sure

OP posts:
mondaytosunday · 11/05/2024 12:12

When my husband passed away I got to use his huge amount of air miles. I think we flew business at least twice round trip to the States and then Premium economy a few more. My kids were dead impressed! Now I save all my Tesco points and use a Virgin credit card to earn more points so when we go every other year we can go premium - at 18 and 20 my kids still really appreciate it.

PerfectTravelTote · 11/05/2024 12:29

I'm not a fan of surprises. They are usually more fun for the person doing the organising. They get all the fun of the anticipation and all the joy of watching the reaction when the surprise is revealed. The person on the receiving end gets none of that. They get to enjoy the event but they would have had that anyway if they had been able to look forward to it and plan for it.

supercatlady · 11/05/2024 12:34

We did this when we flew Upper class to Florida 10 yrs ago. The kids (18 and 19) didn’t have a clue til we joined the upper class queue on check in. They were thrilled. If he’s already researched BC before I’d probably wait til check in, but you know him best. Has he done the journey before?

CustardySergeant · 11/05/2024 12:39

Oh please tell him. It'll still be a surprise after all, just earlier and he'll then also look forward to the flight even more. He'll just be happier sooner.

twilightcafe · 11/05/2024 12:40

Not quite as fancy, but we didn't tell DC (15 and 12) that we had upgraded to PE when we went to NYC last year. I kept it a secret for 6 months but it was worth it to see their faces when we checked in at Heathrow.

DoYouSmokePaul · 11/05/2024 12:41

I feel that “surprises” are mostly about the surpriser enjoying a feeling of secret power over the surprisee. Tell him FFS.

SoupDragon · 11/05/2024 13:00

DoYouSmokePaul · 11/05/2024 12:41

I feel that “surprises” are mostly about the surpriser enjoying a feeling of secret power over the surprisee. Tell him FFS.

What power?

Do you also apply that to Christmas and birthday presents?

RufustheFactualReindeer · 11/05/2024 14:14

Dd always said she wanted a surprise bithday party

so we gave her one and she did NOT like it 😳

it was 2 months after her birthday for various reasons so it was a proper surprise

spritebottle · 11/05/2024 16:06

mondaytosunday · 11/05/2024 12:12

When my husband passed away I got to use his huge amount of air miles. I think we flew business at least twice round trip to the States and then Premium economy a few more. My kids were dead impressed! Now I save all my Tesco points and use a Virgin credit card to earn more points so when we go every other year we can go premium - at 18 and 20 my kids still really appreciate it.

Sorry to be insensitive but was dead impressed a deliberate pun?

Original poster
Digitaldedado · 17/08/2024 22:10

It's getting close and we've managed not to tell him. We are going to tell him in the lounge, if he doesn't twig at checkin....so excited!

OP posts:
MichaelandKirk · 17/08/2024 22:15

How exciting. What airline are you going with btw

Pearl97 · 17/08/2024 22:16

I’m so excited for you all. I would have loved this to happen to me as a child!

FinalInstructionstotheAudience · 17/08/2024 22:38

spritebottle · 11/05/2024 16:06

Sorry to be insensitive but was dead impressed a deliberate pun?

Show quote history

Dead is a descriptor in 'Northern'!
I was dead impressed with the car
I am dead excited about the wedding
She's dead good at dancing...
Etc

1apenny2apenny · 17/08/2024 22:39

He'll surely twig at checkin as it's a separate desk!!! Sounds lovely OP, if he's like my teens he'll love it!

WolabiMe · 17/08/2024 22:41

Why the last time flying - you going to split up? Or a murder suicide pact?

Calliopespa · 17/08/2024 22:42

Honestly oP I’d tell him the night before!! He may want to change his baggage with the greater allowance etc…

CubistViolin · 17/08/2024 22:49

LiquoriceAllsorts2 · 10/05/2024 13:48

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

Show quote history

Not necessarily. My tween hasn’t suffered enough longhaul in economy to be that excited by an upgrade. I think a large part of the appeal is comparative (‘not awful! Yay!’), so I take the point of the poster who says it may depend on how much he’s flown before now.

Whatwouldnanado · 17/08/2024 22:55

Tell him before the lounge, he may be able to o take more luggage and will have the fun of anticipation longer.

Original poster
Digitaldedado · 17/08/2024 23:32

We don't want to pack heavy, we are travelling around and only want to worry about the logistics of 2 bag each (one carry one checked)
Plus every time we've flown he's been way under anyway, he isn't a heavy packer anyway. Getting 2 32kg bags wouldn't be important to him. We don't think he'll twig at the desk as we often check in at the business desk if it's the same as the priority member one (same as the lounge) It's so exciting and I'm delighted we are able to do this as a family. It 'might' be our last flight to Europe as a family all on the same flights as next time we travel he'll be 18 / at uni so might not want to come etc
That being said we are already looking at B/C to Thailand next year.....

OP posts: