Parents in business, kids in economy

bylromarha

Wondered if you had any thoughts on this?

Kids aged 10 & 11. Very sensible. Only reservation I had when discussing with friend was meeting up after exitting the plane. Knowing kids, they'd live up to the responsibility of behaving well without any problem at all.

If we had the money, we'd do it. Anyone travel this way before?

peachyprice

I know others have done it, but I wouldn't. I couldn't treat my children as less deserving than us, we're all equal in this family. No decision to me made at all.

duchy

I did it by accident once. I was upgraded at the gate just before boarding.
I was upgraded JFK LHR but my 13 year old wasn't.
As I had status we were only about six rows apart and I did wander back to see him a few times.

It was a night flight- he was an experienced traveller and was fine with it. He had an emergency row seat so was comfortable.

Had he been a day flight or a longer flight I'd probably not have done it.

With two kids it would very depend on their personalities - if they were likely to argue or fight or didn't know how to behave in general on a plane then definitely not.

For me a family holiday is just that so no I wouldn't choose to do what you are suggesting. Another option would be to have one parent and one child teams and one team travels in J on the outbound and the other in Y and swop for the return journey.

This applies to long haul -on short haul C isn't worth the extra anyway

Be aware some airlines regard parents in J and kids in Y as an unaccompanied minor scenario and charge/need forms accordingly.

budgetflyer

Mental. Why would any normal parent even consider this?

jackieblack

I wouldn't, for several reasons.
Firstly, as peachyprice says, I wouldn't treat my child as less deserving.
Secondly, however sensible they are, had there been any kind of emergency I wouldn't want to have not been with them
Thirdly, I was recently on a flight sat behind 3 children in PE whose parents were in UC. No doubt their parents thought that they were sensible, would behave and that the eldest would keep the youngest under control if necessary. They were wrong. Very wrong. Cabin crew ended up moving them to an empty row at the back of the section.

SW17

I know quite a few people who do it, but not with children that young (though I'm sure some do). If they were a bit older maybe it would be ok in terms of them being able to handle it themselves.

I don't think I'd do it myself on the basis of fairness and because when I'm on holiday with my family I want to be with all of them, and that includes the flights. Mind you, maybe when mine are older they will be the ones asking to sit separately...

bagand96

Think BA at Vegas a couple of weeks back. Your plane starts its take off roll, all of a sudden there's a big bang and there's a fire ball engulfing one of the engines and everyone needs to get out.

Doesn't matter how sensible your kids are what happens next? Your instincts will probably tell you to start making your way back to steerage and find your kids, instead what you should be doing is getting out the nearest exit ASAP...

Not great for your safety, your kids safety , and those other passengers who's way you might get in whilst they're trying to get out.

Its an extreme example yes, but it can and obviously does happen.

maman

Have you thought about putting your children in business while you go in economy?;)


I once took a large group of children into First Class on a train as although we'd booked seats many of them were occupied. I did it to make a point to the guard who was hiding in his room unwilling to come out and help me move people. The faces of other travellers in First Class were a picture. Guard appeared immediately (CCTV?) and I told him we'd move when he had cleared our seats as I wasn't prepared to have the children scattered throughout the train. Fortunately, the children were very well behaved and we were complimented by other travellers at the end of our journey. Guard never showed his face again.

richardw

Any sensible airline should regard them as unaccompanied minors and charge accordingly.

malkie76

duchy wrote: »

I did it by accident once. I was upgraded at the gate just before boarding.
I was upgraded JFK LHR but my 13 year old wasn't.
As I had status we were only about six rows apart and I did wander back to see him a few times.

It was a night flight- he was an experienced traveller and was fine with it. He had an emergency row seat so was comfortable.

Had he been a day flight or a longer flight I'd probably not have done it.

With two kids it would very depend on their personalities - if they were likely to argue or fight or didn't know how to behave in general on a plane then definitely not.

For me a family holiday is just that so no I wouldn't choose to do what you are suggesting. Another option would be to have one parent and one child teams and one team travels in J on the outbound and the other in Y and swop for the return journey.

This applies to long haul -on short haul C isn't worth the extra anyway

Be aware some airlines regard parents in J and kids in Y as an unaccompanied minor scenario and charge/need forms accordingly.

I assume you reported the airline to the CAA for breach of a number of regulations ?

Why were you travelling on a separate PNR to your child ? (If you claim you were on the same PNR your story loses any credibility).

edit

To the OP - don't be daft. Fly in the same cabin as your children - either pay for 4 business seats, or 4 economy. Consider 4 premium economy as a middle ground. A block of 4 on a long haul would give you a lot of space.

photome

No I wouldn't do it

Surprised any parent would....no hang on I am not surprised