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?

The double standards on MN is hilarious

‘but it’s not his child’

imagine if a step mum came on here saying she didn’t want to pay for SDD sear because it’s not her child

cue outcry from outraged mumsnetters saying poor SDD, and you’re not fit to be a step mum, and you knew he had kids when you met him etc etc

stop being so bloody selfish OP, book extra legroom for £80 and buy an inflateable footrestp

I don't think you're allowed to do this.

This is the best idea. I would not shell out so much money on them.

They’ve been dating a year. He’s no one’s “step dad”.

Jesus since when does shagging a parent for 12 months make YOU a step parent😂 he’s a boyfriend, at most.

Also I’d like you to find even just one single post where anyone was criticised after 1 single year. After 10 years- yeah maybe. If the children were joint- absolutely. But this isn’t a step parent situation, he’s mum’s boyfriend, he certainly isn’t step dad of the year

I think you should fly on separate days for both legsof the journey. It gives her time with her family without you and solves the issue around flying in different classes.

Very interested in the idea of flying from another city in Europe - can anyone tell me which city would tend to be the cheapest? Thanks.

Not your kid, not your problem. She can be as ‘pissy’ as she likes but literally no one wants to go to OZ in economy ( ive only done it once and never again!) so if get your comfy seat and leave her to work out her logistics that work in her budget .

What does she think?

I’ve never found premium economy to be worth the extra. It’s a con in my opinion.

Depends on the airline, departure dates, departure and arrival destination. Skyscanner is a good website.

I disagree. Being able to stretch out and recline makes the biggest difference. It’s not a patch on business but it’s a significant improvement in comfort to economy

You might look greedy and selfish to casual observers, but what matters is your relationship with your gf and how you both see the situation. If she's perfectly happy sitting in economy with her DC and would like you to be comfortable, then go for it.

I was going to suggest premium. I'm too old to do anything more than 6-ish hrs in economy, but could never afford business class.

I don’t love premium either, it’s a huge expense for little more room and marginally better food.
i like the bulkhead or exit row seats
i I had a lovely 6 hr sleep coming home recently in economy exit seat for £65

If you want to hold onto your relationship you sit together.. wherever. Simples.

Have a look at premium flyer deals on flyer talk forum for ideas. Departure points vary on which have best deals.

12 months.
Not your child.
Not your family.
You are taking the time to go and pay for yourself.

Sit where you want.

Posters seem to be imagining their DHs doing it, leaving them with young DCs. Not the case here, at all.

10,000?
If you must - take her on holiday to the Maldives with the money you save. Or on a wonderful trip to Paris etc. Cartier ring?

Or just save 10,000. I would.

Yeah half the time on MN it would be too soon to consider introducing the child

Flying different days seems like the quickest and easiest solution to me.

However, if you want to do some research, PP's have given you good tips re cheaper fares. I also use those methods and they work. I've taken several BC trips to Asia, and the most I've paid is £2000 return. Most were closer to £1500.

I don't think you should fly economy. I have numerous pain issues and can't even do 12 hours in economy now. Let alone 24+. If I can't get a reasonable BC fare then I just don't go.

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

I really [can't?] 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 ..."

I don't understand what you mean by "She’s happy to pay her way down the back but can’t stretch to a business class fare, especially for two"

If you mean that she's happy to travel economy while you travel business, then that's fine, but if you mean that she really wants to travel business but can't afford it, then that is perhaps different.

Also I wouldn't necessarily put a relationship of 12 months on the same footing as a longterm relaitionship or marriage - both of which to me would mean that you treat each other equally

I couldn’t fly economy to Australia, and I don’t think premium is a patch on business class, it’s the flat bed that makes it for me.

BUT flying business class while leaving others in economy just feels wrong to me.

so I don’t really have a solution I’m afraid!

I think that's a really tough call actually.

The trip is for her benefit, presumably you wouldn't be going if it wasn't for her family. You could argue she should pay for the whole thing.

For me the flight to Austrailia is such a miserable prospect I wouldn't go, so at least you haven't said that.

OTOH it's doesn't "feel" at all reasonable for you to upgrade without them.

So do you book separate tickets so that you can do a economy- business class flight?

I'd share the posh seat. So you get it for half and she gets it for the other half. If the child is big enough for their own seat but still small then the fancy seat won't mean much to them I'd have thought. If they're a teen I'd consider sharing the seat with the two of them. Maybe when one of you wants to sleep you can take turns in first?

Either that or you should all sit in economy.