To be the only one to upgrade on a group trip?

[Checkenberger]

I have a group trip abroad in the plan stages with close family.
My best friend works for the same airline we are planning on booking with and has me on her staff travel plan.
I can therefore get a first class ticket for about £200 return
Would I be a horrible person to leave the rest of my family behind in steerage to enjoy a 3 course meal plus 2 lighter ones, full bar, lay down bed etc? Would i be any less a cunt to do it just one way 🤔 or should the trip just begin at the airport and stay together the whole time?

@Eviangeica you’re nice to assume that @TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne was asking an innocent question about business travel. In fact they were just being pa and facetious about @Checkenberger‘s use of “lay down” instead of “lie flat” in an attempt to make themselves look and feel clever and superior. Sadly for them they achieved the opposite effect.

I work for same company & that would only get you a standby ticket so what if the flight goes full and you don't get on or you do get on the flight but don't get the upgrade and end up sitting in economy anyway but maybe not next to them

That is part of my dilemma.
She is on an old contract and I have never been knocked back before, she has an older number or something which she said takes priority, not sure how much difference that makes in reality but it's always been spot on. It's not the only flight going to that destination that day and the group wants the earliest one so I even thought that if I don't get on it, I'll get on a later one haha. She has me spoilt

I think I'd tell a white lie and say my friend gave me the flight or upgrade as a gift, then you aren't choosing to ditch them in quite the same way.

Where's the question in the sentence "I've never heard of a lay down bed"?

If it’s a third of the price then it’s a no-brainer. Ignore the fact that it’s a different class.

Is it enough of a price difference for you to use some of the savings to treat the group to a meal out while on the holiday?

Unless you have a medical condition that means steerage would put you in debilitating agony, I think it would be a dick move.

What a miserable way to start a holiday. I'd think you were a proper twat if you were a family member of mine. First Class is lovely but not that lovely that I'd sit on my own in there. Particularly not when you know your own family are laughing their heads off at you being a twat.

You tell.them it's cheaper and pay for drinks for a few nights.to make the money outlay equal.

I think it’s poor form, but can’t really explain why. I go away with friends once a year, and one of our group travels a lot with work so has many perks. At the airport she splits off to do fast-track through security, and straight into the lounge, rejoining us on the plane. The rest of us are slumming it in queues and Costa. There’s nothing WRONG with it, but it strikes me as not being in the spirit of a group holiday …

Your nieces and nephews will pity your off-spring.

I would have no issue at all with a family member flying in a higher class than me because it was cheaper for them. And then I'd get slightly pickled with the adult kids and start the holiday well.

Hopefully the flights are open and you don't get bumped. That's a bit of a risk for a cheap ticket when on a group trip.

I have Global Entry and so I can fast track out of the country and into the country. When I travel with my (adult) kids, I just tell them I'll meet them on the other side. No way in a million years am I taking my shoes off and liquids out of the case just to keep other people happy.

Well of its cheaper to book via your friend then thats ypur excuse. Who wouldnt want to save money?. Tell them you will take them to lunch with some of your savings!

Or split the savings across all the tickets, but you are still getting your luxury. I mean technically you would be doing them a favour!

So you would be leaving your sister with all of your kids as well as her own? Even if they are in their late teens/twenties, that is not setting the right tone for a holiday.

Travel together. Holiday together. Don't be the one that they're all talking about behind your back.

Unless you plan on going off and doing your own thing on the holiday as well, in which case you would be setting their expectations perfectly.

how long is the flight? I think I’d be tempted to take the seat but maybe offer to take everyone out for a meal when you are there as a treat using some of the money you saved

That's quite rude they were obviously joking. What else would you do on a bed apart from the obvious?

Ah!

Thank you.
Yes, I must be a bit thick.

Tell them you're doing it for the cost saving and will do a lucky dip to swap with whoever wins it on the way back, plus you'll buy a meal for everyone one night to make up for your cheaper ticket cost.

This comment and the 'steerage' comment say everything.

You’d be a fool not to take that.

id just say to my sister ‘I can have business for a 1/3 of the regular price, do you mind?’

she’d be an arse to mind!
id be delighted for my sister.

I would arrange to check in separately. Then make like I alone got upgraded when I checked in. Make it a fait accompli.

If you can justify getting a different flight to them, then I’d do it. But in the same plane, then no.