Parents in business, kids in economy

bylromarha

Moot point as we can't afford it! Friend thinks I'm too lax as a parent in many ways...eg I let 11 yr old son walk 10mins to bus stop, then get on bus to school. She'd never do that with her kids. Wondered who was closer to normal on this one.

Incidentally, I was upgraded last summer by the airline. I travelled in business in one cabin, my 2 kids sat next to each other in a different business cabin. I had to go through a galley & 2 curtains to see them...I was back row of business, they were 1st row. Was fine by the end of the flight with the distance between us but v uncomfortable to start with, and as expected, their behaviour was exemplary. Cabin staff complemented me on them. Which, tbh, is how the conversation started.
Thanks for all your views.

silvercar

Quite common (if you read flight forums) to do this with slightly older children. Basic reason is the balance between comfort and price. If parent has to go to work or has a long drive the next day the benefits of a flat bed on a long night flight are worth paying; for a younger person who can laze the day away, it may not be worth the money.

malkie76

bylromarha wrote: »

Moot point as we can't afford it! Friend thinks I'm too lax as a parent in many ways...eg I let 11 yr old son walk 10mins to bus stop, then get on bus to school. She'd never do that with her kids. Wondered who was closer to normal on this one.

Incidentally, I was upgraded last summer by the airline. I travelled in business in one cabin, my 2 kids sat next to each other in a different business cabin. I had to go through a galley & 2 curtains to see them...I was back row of business, they were 1st row. Was fine by the end of the flight with the distance between us but v uncomfortable to start with, and as expected, their behaviour was exemplary. Cabin staff complemented me on them. Which, tbh, is how the conversation started.
Thanks for all your views.

Which airline was this, and what was your route ?

silvercar

bagand96 wrote: »

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.

Very, very rare example. And the behaviour of the passengers who did escape on that occasion eg retrieving large cabin baggage and taking it down the slides, stopping near the plane to record the fire on their phones etc just goes to show that no one knows how they will behave in such a situation.

duchy

malkie76 wrote: »

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.

I don't remember if we were or not however your credibility comment is nonsense as I've certainly booked us (and many times booked clients -I'm an ex business travel agent) on seperate PNRs. (In this instance I was upgraded because I held frequent flyer status with the airline). Memory tells me we probably were on two PNRs as I remember been surprised that the GA knew he was travelling with me when he said he'd upgraded me but couldn't upgrade my son who was further down the UG list. Couldn't swear to it though - we travelled to the States 3 or 4 times a year at that point .

You can't have a revenue and an award ticket on the same PNR.

Often I'd bring him on my flights using miles for him (makes more sense for the status holding traveller to use the revenue ticket and the less travelled companion to use the award paid with miles for reasons obvious to anyone who uses miles).

Obviously in these instances our PNRs were linked in the system (you are aware this is possible ?). There are other instances where linked PNRs are used - for example if a parent is taking the child abroad and leaving them there to return at a later date eg visiting grandma for the summer, visiting a NRP, travelling to boarding school or when it is cheaper to book a child in a different fare class eg B and M when a child discount is available but not on the cheapest Y fare etc. Oh and of course when a parent's company is paying for the parent ticket and the parent is paying for the child to travel too To claim a parent and child must be on the same PNR is absolute rubbish . It doesn't breach any CAA regulation !

(Nothing like a travel expert........who makes it up as he goes along !!! In this case commonsense makes it clear why Malkie is just at best confused and at worst inventing CAA rules :rotfl:)

You need to work on your credibility Malkie

malkie76

You don't remember ? Nuff said

CAA remark had nothing to do with PNRs. Did you report the airline or not for breaking CAA regulations ? Presumably someone with your experience would be immediately aware which regulations I'm talking about.

malkie76

Of course they were. A really obvious one too, which really brings your story into question.

Unaccompanied child in an exit row ? Really ?
http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx/doc/148/docs/80/airport_data/1996annual/default.aspx?catid=5&pagetype=90&pageid=9855

The following categories of passengers are among those who should not be allocated to, or directed to, seats which permit direct access to emergency exits :

Passengers suffering from obvious physical, or mental handicap to the extent that they would have difficulty in moving quickly if asked to do so.
Passengers who are either substantially blind or substantially deaf to the extent that they might not readily assimilate printed or verbal instructions given.
Passengers who because of age or sickness are so frail that they have difficult in moving quickly.
Passengers who are so obese that they would have difficulty in moving quickly or reaching and passing through the adjacent emergency exit.
Children (whether accompanied or not) and infants.
Deportees or prisoners in custody.
Passengers with animals.

duchy

A thirteen year old isn't an IATA child (He was also nearly 6 foot at 13 mind you)

Next

(Text removed by MSE Forum Team)

You'd think you'd been around these boards long enough to know I post what I know about and not what I imagine I know !

Care to list your other imaginary breaches ?

FWIW I personally think over 11 is too young but that's how the CAA choose to phrase that regulation - Theoretically a very slight 21 year old could have more trouble opening the door than a husky 13 year old and maturity has little to do with age- as previously mentioned on this thread the incident at LAS showed there's no way to predict how individuals will react in an emergency.

In my case we (and subsequently he) had the emergency row right behind the J cabin so I could literally see my son as the FAs went through the curtain if I looked back- Had he been miles back in economy I might not have accepted the upgrade but that's a personal call.

malkie76

IATA consider under 16 a child. However, now you've resorted to unprovoked personal attacks. When you attack the poster and not their point you really don't hold any credibility.

duchy

No sweetie I just returned the rudeness you started.
If you can't take the heat- stay out of the kitchen.

Oh and IATA's definition of a child is ages 2 to 11. Look it up !

https://www.iata.org/whatwedo/safety/Documents/IATA-Guidance-Safety-of-Infants-Children-onBoard.pdf

(This document also has the recommendation mentioned earlier that children travelling in separate cabins to accompanying adults should be treated as UMs)

A UM by definition is under 12.
Over 12 UYP although not all airlines offer the service as they are not obliged to.