Flying business class

[Harrypitty]

My girlfriend of 12 months wants us to fly to Australia to see her family. She has a little boy and has a reasonable income.

I but am lucky to be able to afford to fly business class. It’s a long way and I’m getting old and grumpy and don’t want to sit for 30 hours in a cramped seat.

Thing is economy seats cost around £1400 business is around £5000.

She’s happy to pay her way down the back but can’t stretch to a business class fare, especially for two.

I really afford to pay £15000 for all three of us and but now feel bad that I can’t really sit up front with them down the back.

Should me and my bad back suck it up and travel down the back or AIBU to sit up front while they are down the back?

@NeedSomeComfy I’ve surprised myself by being with you too on this, and honestly think if I were the girlfriend in this scenario I’d be totally ok with it actually - though would potentially feel a bit differently about the same situation post marriage and possibly kids together ten years down the line. Though ultimately I wouldn’t want my partner to be in pain and struggling on holiday. Australia is a long flight and you don’t want to add a bad back to jet leg etc. to a holiday with her parents which should be fun for you all and hopefully a bit of bonding time between you and her family. Different for a short haul trip but I think your considerations are really valid, even speaking as someone who has never been able to afford business class in my life and probably never will! The crucial thing though is what does your girlfriend think?! Because it also won’t be a fun trip if she spends the whole holiday pissed off at the flight arrangements (or indeed if you’d spend the whole time feeling guilty anyway). If she’s ok with it then I would just book the business class seat and enjoy it.

Shorthaul into Europe to then transfer to Long Haul flight can be way of getting around the UK's High rate of Airport Passenger Duty on Longhaul departures.

Lots of good points here. Thankyou. I might look at a premium for all compromise. Or if she pays for her seat I’ll pay the upgrade bit.

Due to work commitments we may be travelling separately as she has more time off . If that’s the case then I wouldn’t fell bad travelling up front on my own, but together I would both feel bad and I’m sure she would be pissed!

Ok the UK has very high departure taxes especially Heathrow. So take for example a flight lon to Bangkok over Xmas. From LHR it costs £3380 on cheapest BC Flights. From Rome on the same dates ( with a better airline) it costs £1620.

Now take an early flight to Rome ( departure FROM Rome is 10.20 pm) for roughly £30/40 . Even with extra flights added saves around £1500 a ticket

You can also go from Athens for £1200 with Royal Jordanian

So to "prove" you are in a serious relationship, after 12 months you should give your partner 10 grand ?

How "we" is she being by not paying 10 grand to keep the unit together ?

Have a diary clash, go out on a different flight

As somebody who travels frequently Oz - UK I get the desire to sit in business class - the trip in economy is horrendous.

But please do not be one of those many stories of the partner (often male) chilling in business class while leaving their partner (often female) behind in economy with their kids. You should sit together and you can also share childcare on the flight.

Same

Oooooh I did not know this!

But then I need to check the luggage allowance as straight to Oz there are typically higher allowances.

I think if it’s for a health reason that might be fair enough. I am short, and travel fine on a plane. A person I often travel with is taller and has a back issue. I wouldn’t want them to be in pain or struggle once we got there.

Except he’s only been with this woman for a year and it’s not a shared child!

Honestly OP sit wherever you want, childcare isn’t your responsibility!

Did you not read the post you responded to?

That’s insane. I booked business class flying to Chicago, my partner considered it a waste of money and booked economy. We were the last two on the plane, we kissed each other goodbye, I turned left and he turned right. A few minutes later he joined me in the empty seat next to me in business. An air hostess had witnessed our goodbye and upgraded him. He wasn’t so lucky on the way home though, I was in business and he was in economy.

Yes I saw it’s not a shared child - but people with children are still a package deal.

I think, for somebody he sees as a partner, his way of thinking is wrong. He is seeing them as two independent single people. I would never travel in business and leave my partner in economy. We all travel together whatever way we can afford.

Of course he can sit where he likes. I would just end it and find somebody who wants to see us as a team.

(If there was a serious medical issue I would view that differently.)

But that is not your partner being unable to afford it. That is your partner making a choice to sit elsewhere.

Man to man - all of you need to travel the same class, or resent will come. Trust me. This will end your relationship. Either don’t go together to Australia, go in economy, or go in business. The key is go together, in the same class. But seriously, don’t split via class or you’ll end up single.

As it is her family, maybe she can go solo? But you can’t do split class. I did it once, and ended up single. It was for the best for me. But for you, only you can decide. The other option is you pay the difference and she pays the economy fare to you, but you book economy?

Sounds like a good compromise OP

She's only a relatively recent relationship and her child is not yours. I would definitely fly business in your shoes - it's very good of you to accompany her on a trip to visit her family so far away!

Honestly I disagree. I have children and can honestly say if I was single and then in this woman’s position I would have absolutely no issue with this whatsoever. In no way shape or form would I ever expect a man I’d been with for only 12 months to take any kind of responsibility for my children, he’s not a step parent, in fact after only a year he’s really nothing more than a boyfriend- so I’d be more than happy for him to sit wherever he wants, he’s already paying to come visit my family on quite literally the other side of the world.

Can’t see the issue with it at all.

If my husband did now, when we have our shared children, I wouldn’t be happy. But that’s because these children are both our responsibility. My new boyfriend of 12 months, who is already travelling for me, enjoy your business class seat!

Fly business. That length of flight is particularly rough, and there’s a high likelihood you’d get to Australia and be in too much discomfort to even enjoy it.

It’s not on you to pay to for her and her child.

I would also consider what first impression you are giving to your girlfriends family too. I would travel completely separately if I were you, travelling at the same time but different class doesn't look great, no matter what the reason.

I'm a veteran of that route and have done it in very cheap Economy (Garuda cattle class, ugh), nice Economy, Premium Economy & Business. I tend to go Business now. But it's still a long & arduous flight.

Premium Economy is a reasonable compromise in an airline that gives Premium a separate cabin. Just being at the front of Economy is not worth it, so do some research. If you had a row of 3 together, you could walk & stretch a bit more.

Another work around would be to do a stop over in either HK or Singapore to brea the journey.

If I was your GF, I’d be a bit miffed your up in business and I’m back in cattle.
If I was you, I can’t honestly say I wouldn’t book it and take the wrath😬🫠
Sorry, I doubt that’s helpful 😂

I’ve never been to Australia and it’s the flight in economy that’s stopping me.

It wouldn't be £15000 though if she contributed the £2800 she would have been paying in cattle class, you would be paying for the £7200 upgrade rather that the whole £10000!

Yes I've done this ...saved hundreds even factoring in short haul flight