The outrage about babies and children flying business class

[JPT96]

I always see people say that it’s not fair to fly business class with young children and they would be better off in economy. I find flying in business with my kids so much less stressful than Economy. They are comfy and less likely to whinge as we’re not all squashed in a tiny row of seats (plus the can have a proper sleep if it’s an overnight flight). If someone can afford it- why shouldn’t they be as entitled as the other paying passengers to be in business. Also, why is it ok to subject passengers in economy to crying babies. Their journey is stressful enough!

Historical reasons, mostly. I travel business class for leisure and economy for work 🤷‍♀️ Kids have as much right to be there as anyone. You’re not buying ‘quiet’.

I flew Business Class to the States when dd was a baby. It was bliss. Especially when Nanette Newman walked up and down with her and got her to sleep while I had my dinner! Sadly pre-camera phone days….

It's down to the airline ultimately

I'd rather be sat next to a child than a drunk,.or a letch, and I've met plenty of them in first /business class

I fly a lot with my son , sometimes in first /business. Even as a baby and toddler he was no trouble. I'd see eyebrows raise when we got on but we always had people comment at the end how well behaved he was.

Most (not all, but most) of the time when there's a difficult baby/child on the flight it's because their parents are ignoring them or haven't planned how to make the flight easy for them

It’s actually not even called ‘business’ on half of the airlines these days. BA calls it Club World, Virgin Upper Class etc etc. But by that logic then I should be able to bring my kids into first class instead, which is presumably full of rich people who are not travelling for work? Business gets you a bigger seat, better food and drink, more luggage etc. Nowhere does it say you’re entitled to a more peaceful flight than those in cattle class or to not be surrounded by other passengers you don’t like. Expecting that is entitled and twatish behaviour imo, though you’re obviously free to seethe quietly to yourself at your bad luck when seated near babies and kids in business, I’ve done that myself at times when I’m travelling for work but at least I accept it’s my problem and they are just as entitled as me to be there. Anyway since having kids if I’m lucky enough to be flying alone long haul for work then I’ll actively try to help out parents with babies and toddlers in business or at least give them sympathetic looks as I now know what fresh hell a 14 hour flight with them can be for the parents 😂

To be fair, BA call it Club World, and Virgin Upper Class. Not a hint of any annoying work ;)

Lol... if you don't want to fly with other kids go and charter your own private jet.

If they're well-behaved and quiet then it's fine. If they're loud and disruptive then yeah, you're a crappy person. I do regularly need to work when I travel, and/or arrive rested so I can go straight into work when I land. If you've decided to inflict a screaming baby on me when you know a need for quiet is the likely reason many people have stumped up the money to get away from you, that's pretty selfish. But if it's the sort of thing you'd do, I don't imagine you much care about what other people think of you so you'll just carry on regardless. And if this is example you're setting for your children, I imagine they'll grow up to be just as thoughtless, and you'll be on here bewildered about why they're such brats.

There was a thread a while back about a poster flying business class and a woman came to stand right next to her seat with a screaming baby.

Meh. Fly first then. There is no restrictions on children in first either but as it’s expensive people rarely do.

business is hardly quiet luxury 🤣

resorts are easy. Just book adults only.

I’d much rather have a baby in Business Class than a fucking influencer filming every minute thing.

Perhaps they have considered others and are flying business instead of first because of their baby.

I'm eye rolling here at all the people who seem to think children cry or make noise because they are not being parented properly. Babies cry on flights, if their ears don't pop they can scream for a while. A good parent cannot prevent this. Toddlers can kick off for a variety of reasons. Often because the parent is actually trying to be a good parent and not let them eat an entire Toblerone or whatever they want. Anyone who has travelled with kids will understand how stressful it is. It seems those with quiet babies or easy travellers are patting their backs thinking they are superior parents.

If they are there, fine. But I don't want to hear crying, whinging, mummyyyyyyyyyy, clattering toys, don't want my seat kicked or to have people thundering up and down the aisles.
If you can sit down and shut up for the duration - I don't care how old you are.

Or they considered the poor buggers in economy already having an awful time. Kids are much more likely to be difficult in economy. Also the family paid much more for the flight than you (or your company most likely) for the flight (while consuming much less food and alcohol) so if we’re saying that how much consideration should be afforded to you is based on how much you paid, I’d say you’re being inconsiderate for giving the family dirty looks.

I agree with you except I think on a flight, you need to give them the whole Toblerone if that’ll keep them quiet. Of course babies and kids will sometimes play up whatever the parents do but I do think parents need to deploy whatever snacks and screen time they need to in order to minimise it.

Honestly flying with kids is a nightmare. We’ve only done it once for a family wedding and it was hell. My kids are pretty well behaved, but DS was so little and his ears were popping, he was crying ect. Anything that makes it easier for the child and the parent I’m fine with. We only paid for first class once because DH wanted to try it - and tbh I didn’t get the fuss. I’m a nervous flyer and I’m just as terrified in economy as I am in first class, so maybe I’m not the right person to have an opinion.

I’ve been on the other side of it though, me and DH were mega hungover on a flight back from Amsterdam (first child free holiday after DS was born) and there was a screaming baby. Didn’t say anything obviously, but it was annoying. Always worse when it’s not your kids lol.

This x 100

It's a difficult one as part of me thinks kids shouldn't be in business/first class as it should be a luxury and I want to arrive relaxed and not with some screaming child having cried for hours. However I've encountered some shocking behaviour from adults on planes that they should be ashamed of. So I think ultimately it all comes down to parenting and how well behaved kids are. Let's be honest kids aren't going to get drunk on the free alcohol and start an argument/flight with someone on the plane.

I remember one flight to Toronto with a child in business and I rolled my eyes thinking here we go. The little boy was perfect the whole flight and clapped and squealed in delight on landing which was quite sweet. A woman and her husband and friends caused no end of annoyance and she was drunk as a skunk by the end of the flight and was a right pain in the arse.

So I suppose you can get horribly behaved children who have no boundaries but the same can also be said for some adults as well. It's just pure luck the type of fellow traveller you end up sharing the plane with

Better than having your children separate from you as allegedly happened with Kirstie Allsop on a flight.

Amen.

I’m surprised the cabin crew didn’t intervene - they don’t normally like to see drunk people kicking off. In any class!

I've never flown with my now-primary aged children so I've got no skin in the game, but surely no one decides to inflict a screaming baby on anyone? How could you possibly know how your baby will react to a flight? Especially if you book it months in aadvance. Of course people hope their baby will be the quiet, non-crying variety on a flight but they likely don't know until they are on board. If people need to travel (for weddings, funerals, meeting family) than that's a risk they need to take.

I agree with this, and like the pp who also agreed, I am also a Mum!

I didn’t expect to just switch off and leave my kids to it when they were small (or not, but there’s less to do with a teen and a tween).

Anyone kicking the back of my seat gives me the absolute rage - I put it down to my younger brothers always doing this when we were kids! Kids are probably less likely to do it in business tbh - more room!

I think people have sympathy as long as they can see the parents are trying to soothe the baby however they can - not just leaving them to scream and doing nothing.

If you see a mother keeping the baby happy by bfing them, or a parent walking up and down with the baby etc, people will judge a lot less than a parent who just sits plonked and does nothing.

All kids in business class should have to wear business clothing - suit and tie for boys, suitable business attire for girls 🙂 And do some work on a laptop while flying. ✈️