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!

Pity there weren't a bunch of people with their kids in her section, really.

Oh god we had some like that on our recent flight! Tried to push to the front of the boarding queue and were most affronted at being told to go back to the back - kept asking people “are YOU priority boarding?” “Yes we are”. “Oh. Well what about YOU, are YOU priority boarding?” “Yes”

Clearly couldn’t cope with the concept of people with kids having an extra £50 for club class too.

Totally agree. Irrespective of cabin class, babies & children can be just one of many sources of irritation when you choose to travel in a tin can containing hundreds of people.

But it can be amusing to see the looks on the faces of fellow passengers at the departure gate when That Family shows up with a squawker in arms + a couple of stroppy toddlers. You can sense the massed silent prayer of “please God, don't let them sit near me.”

Why on earth do parents take small children on flights anyway, unless you are moving to another country.
Holiday- not compulsory- wait until older
Family events- too young to remember them, same as a MN wedding, its an invitation not a summons. Either leave with family and go alone or not at all.

No skin in game , only flown a couple of times as an adult. Expensive, not been required, and its because of situations like that, drunk adults, screaming kids in a confined space, that it doesn't appeal, even though I would have liked to travel more.
If I could guarantee Affordable flights, civilised behaved adults and children, space to move I'd enjoy it but unless I win euromillions a private jet isn't an option.

I’ve travelled business class more times than I want to remember. DT’s have travelled business class from being babies because it makes for a more enjoyable flight. They have also been to expensive restaurants and hotels around the world. No plans of changing our travel arrangements.

Why on earth do parents take small children on flights anyway, unless you are moving to another country

DS has always been absolutely fine on flights, so why wouldn’t we take him? We like holidays, he likes holidays, so we go.

Maybe because they want to?

Your child may be fine but huge numbers clearly aren't as threads like these suggest.

Every time! Ours were loudly and irately counting the number of people in front of them in the boarding queue saying there weren’t enough rows in business class for them all to be bc customers. I loudly pointed out from behind them that they’d missed the fact there were 4 seats per row and not 2. They shut up. I have to say that other airlines do business class boarding much better but who cares if you have to queue a bit.

They have as much right to be there as anyone else. The obvious solution is just create adult only flights. If people care that much, they can pay for those.

I believe there are organisations to which you can subscribe, albeit at a cost, to give you access to private jets if you are unfortunate enough to be unable to afford your own.
The cost, while hefty, is still less than just opting out of ‘flying commercial’ and booking a private jet. Just saying.

More Mumsnet ageism.

Just like my parents did with us and I’m very grateful they did just as your children are and will be even more so as adults too. It taught my siblings and I how to behave in these scenarios and where I got the travel bug from

Nothing to do with age and all to do with behaviour and manners (or complete lack of them)

rich people problems

Yes it was rather ageist of them to only ask families if they were in business class, and then feign horror when they were, wasn’t it?

The most irritating passengers are those who are drunk and rowdy travelling en masse, but these are unlikely to be in business!
I’ve flown quite a bit with my kids in business since they were babies. They are very good fliers. One trip
And what a was accompanying my DH and his colleagues to the States and in the airport there was a lot of ‘oh no who’s going to end up sitting next to Mondays’ kids’. Well lucky for the man who did. He had a five minute conversation with my three year old then my son became engrossed in a movie. My baby not a peep.
On a flight to Australia my kids were good as gold too - my son (three and a half) did discover the snacks in the galley early on and made a few trips and somehow made friends with all the flight attendants. But they were quieter than most of the grownups.
If you buy a ticket your child is entitled no matter what class. A parent is responsible for their child behaving properly. But babies can and do cry and no one wants them to stop more than the parents.
@olympicsrockThere are plenty of people who travel in business (Virgin no longer have a business but Economy and Upper class) who are not doing any business or even travelling for it. And there are loads in economy who are. You can’t gate keep a service like that.

Well, my dad was really sick with cancer and I went to help my mum out.

Then I had to go again when he died.

Fun times.

I’ve flown hundreds of times in all cabins and hands down my worst ever flight was in first when a bear of a man snored so loud he kept the entire cabin awake all night. It was horrendous although something of a bonding experience for the other 10 or so of us!

To go and see family, weirdly enough even though our DC may not have remembered every detail of trips when they were babies/toddlers the grandparents and rest of the family still wanted to see them.
it’s also tricky leaving small kids behind when visiting family overseas- where on earth would you leave them for a week or two or three???
It’s such a bizarre question - are parents supposed to just stay at home or in the U.K. until their kids are, what age, 10,12,14??

If I spend extra on a business class flight I don’t expect to be subjected to small children and babies crying that even noise cancelling headphones don’t block out

Well, in that case the problem is your failure to manage your expectations, not the presence of small children. Unless the airline you're flying with make clear on their website or booking info that small children aren't welcome, it makes absolutely no sense to expect this.

Seriously?? You can’t imagine why grandparents (or other relatives for that matter) who live in a different country don’t want to wait until the child is 8/9/10 years to spend time with them? Or why a family might not want to give up holidays for several years after having a baby? This place is bonkers sometimes 🤣

If you are willing to pay for your children to fly business then they are just as entitled to be there as other passengers.

but whatever class you fly in you should do everything you can to prevent your children from spoiling the trip for others.

A huge proportion of the country do not have the option, its a first world problem.

I travel Business a fair amount. Occasionally there is a child and about 50% of the time they aren’t parented correctly. Cultural differences means that often the cabin crew are expected to deal with them. Saw this on an Emirates flight to Oz a few months ago.

And parents who do some performance parenting and use outdoor voices and have a running commentary on what they are planning to do. It’s almost like the whole of the cabin are their audience!