Parents in business, kids in economy

silvercar

We've split up on two occasions.

The first was me and OH travelling and his work was paying for a business ticket for him, there was 1 reward flight available in first and none in business. So I travelled in first. We coped travelling apart.

The second was when there were 5 of us travelling, me, OH, boys aged 19 and one of our parents. 4 hour flight and we intended that we would all travel economy. Parent decided that they would prefer to travel in comfort but didn't want to travel alone, so I accompanied parent in Business and the other 3 travelled in economy. Nobody felt they weren' t that someone didn't want to sit with them. Flights are expensive, so it makes sense to balance cost with comfort.

dickydonkin

I [STRIKE]wouldn't[/STRIKE]....couldn't do it!

I wonder how many such 'parents' who choose to separate their family to save money by dumping their responsibilities to someone else at the back of the bus are the same passengers who complain when an airline splits their family group up in a single class cabin.

If I couldn't pay for the kids to travel up front, then I would rather travel at the back of the bus with them.

Although I don't have that problem now as the 'kids' have flown the nest, I suspect that I might have grand kids in tow very soon!

That said, look around and fly ex EU and you will find some fantastic long haul business class deals going around. I have just returned from Hawaii flying business for little more than an economy fare.

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I wouldn't do it, mostly for the implied tones of "we don't want to sit with you". Doesn't send a particularly nice message to children.

This! ^

stoneman

malkie76 wrote: »

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.

I was just about to mention that obvious one while reading the thread, but see you took care of it

SW17

stoneman wrote: »

I was just about to mention that obvious one while reading the thread, but see you took care of it

Which obvious one were you going to mention?

bylromarha

RuthnJasper wrote: »

I wouldn't do it, mostly for the implied tones of "we don't want to sit with you". Doesn't send a particularly nice message to children. If I'm going on holiday with my family I would like to talk to and be with them.

In the unlikely event of anything ghastly happening, I'd like to think that I could at least tell them that I love them one last time, even if there was no possibility that I could save them or survive.

Whereas my kids would think it was the best ever start to the holiday if not sitting with parents. They love the responsibility and live up to it so well.

They wouldn't receive the adult assumed message of "they dont want to sit with us", they'd have the child thought of "wow, they trust us, they know we can do this, they love us heaps to show us their trust this much & we get to choose AS MUCH we want on VOD. Plus they wont be looking scared and telling us they love us every time there's a tiny bit of turbulence" :-)

Spendless

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.

Is he at Secondary school now? If so, I think that's pretty normal and what a huge % of people do. If he's still in Primary school, I know a lot of people get their knickers in a twist about kids travelling independently. Why people think a Summer born yr7 should be more capable that an Autumn born yr6 child, I've no idea.

Incidentally I have a close relative who won't let her 14yo children travel to school. They are taken to/from school by car.

Sorry, I know a bit OT but I thought the plane seat scenario had probably been covered.;)

If you want my personal view though, my gut reaction is to say I'd refuse on grounds I'd prefer to spend the flight together, but in reality it would probably be on a case by case scenario. Since there is currently a personality clash between by 2 which we are still working through, I'm unlikely to leave them by themselves. In the case of the spouse, it would also depend. My DH is currently on a plane back from the States, where he's been at a conference. Tomorrow he is working over 100 miles away, whilst I'm not at work. In the event we were travelling together today and one of us was offered an upgrade, I'd let him take it as he is more in need of sleep than I am.

dickydonkin

bylromarha wrote: »

Whereas my kids would think it was the best ever start to the holiday if not sitting with parents. They love the responsibility and live up to it so well.

They wouldn't receive the adult assumed message of "they dont want to sit with us", they'd have the child thought of "wow, they trust us, they know we can do this, they love us heaps to show us their trust this much & we get to choose AS MUCH we want on VOD. Plus they wont be looking scared and telling us they love us every time there's a tiny bit of turbulence" :-)

Not 'heaps' enough to pay for them to sit in the pointy end seemingly!

bylromarha

dickydonkin wrote: »

Not 'heaps' enough to pay for them to sit in the pointy end seemingly!

Never measured love as the amount of money spent in this house. Our kids are content in the people they are, not with the amount spent on them.

dickydonkin

bylromarha wrote: »

Never measured love as the amount of money spent in this house. Our kids are content in the people they are, not with the amount spent on them.

I'm sure they are - but I bet they would be even more 'content' sitting with their loving parents in relative luxury rather than being abandoned and having to slum it at the back crammed into an economy cabin.

But back to the OP's question, dumping kids in the cheap seats to be fed rubbish off a plastic tray while their parents enjoy a flight in relative comfort and being served edible food and premium drinks is something I just wouldn't do.

Many see the flights to a destination as part of a family holiday - and the whole family should share the experience in my opinion, and if money is prohibiting all the family sitting in a premium cabin, then the parents should also slum it in steerage.

On another point, you just don't know who your kids are going to be sat next to on a flight.........and I have certainly seen some weird types who even I would feel uncomfortable sitting next to!

Blue264

dickydonkin wrote: »

On another point, you just don't know who your kids are going to be sat next to on a flight.........and I have certainly seen some weird types who even I would feel uncomfortable sitting next to!

Thank god someone else has raised this point as it's the first thing that sprang to my mind. I very nearly kicked off at an older woman a couple of months ago who was swearing loudly at her husband throughout a BA flight, because there were young children just across the aisle from her.

The other side of the coin is that's it would be awkward sitting next to someone's children without the parents present for any great deal of time. I like to have a drink and relax on long haul flights and wouldn't feel able to do that if I were seated next to unaccompanied children.