Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

[Anonymous]

boomers at it again, they are not entitled to anything after they've stolen so much from you and your children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids would have offered to give up their seats on their own.

Things people say who have never been in the position.

Well, I was in a similar position, but no kids. DH and I gave up our seats.

Well, you're a sucker then. I wouldn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

We never go direct - always through AMS or Heathrow.

Again, I think OP and DH should give their seats - if anyone does. But, I don't think I would

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

This is the type of crap my inlaws would try to pull. Cheap out on tickets, then try to guilt their way into the better seats.

No, you're not taking the seats I paid for away from my kids. Get back to coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why didn't the grandparents booked their own first class tickets? Was first class sold out or did they just not want to spend the money?

I would be so pissed. My FIL tries stuff like this all the time. We stopped vacationing with him many years ago because he was always doing these shakedowns.

OP here. My dad sounds just like your FIL. He is super controlling, demands respect, and throws a temper tantrum anytime he doesn’t get what he wants. He has alienated dozens of family members over the years. He is a textbook narcissist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

So you people really think coach is that horrible? It’s not high comfort, but it isn’t torture FFS. Suck it up and save $4500 per person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

We never go direct - always through AMS or Heathrow.

Again, I think OP and DH should give their seats - if anyone does. But, I don't think I would

The guy who earned the airline miles that are paying for 4 business class seats and all of the hotel rooms, the guy who already spends an inordinate amount of time on airplanes should give up his seat?! That’s nuts.

[Anonymous]

Nope. Tell them it’s fine if they don’t want to go bc of their plane seats.

If you say yea, the requests will continue all throughout the trip. Stop it now before it starts!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

We never go direct - always through AMS or Heathrow.

Again, I think OP and DH should give their seats - if anyone does. But, I don't think I would

The United nonstop from Dulles started less than 2 years ago- before that there were zero nonstops from the DC area to Athens/Greece.

https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-athens-arrival/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell your parents to upgrade their tickets to premium economy, and then the kids can sit in those. Those seats may not lie flat, but they’re bigger and more comfortable than regular economy.

This is a really smart suggestion. Thank you!! Both sides compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

We never go direct - always through AMS or Heathrow.

Again, I think OP and DH should give their seats - if anyone does. But, I don't think I would

The guy who earned the airline miles that are paying for 4 business class seats and all of the hotel rooms, the guy who already spends an inordinate amount of time on airplanes should give up his seat?! That’s nuts.

I said "if anyone does" and that I didn't think I would.

My husband earns all our airline miles and would most definitely push back if my parents were pushing him (or my kids) on what to do with his miles. If he had paid cash would they act the same way? OP's parents are pretty crappy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s economy, not cargo. The grandparents will survive. If they truly *needed* business class, they would have paid for it. They’re freeloaders. And I bet they are not 85.

Right? It's not that the OP is dining first class on the titanic and sending her parents to steerage. And come ON people, it's what - a 6 hour flight?

9 hours in the air to Athens. 10 on the return. Remember you have to fly all the way across Europe- it's quite a bit further than anywhere in western Europe.

We never go direct - always through AMS or Heathrow.

Again, I think OP and DH should give their seats - if anyone does. But, I don't think I would

The United nonstop from Dulles started less than 2 years ago- before that there were zero nonstops from the DC area to Athens/Greece.

https://simpleflying.com/united-airlines-athens-arrival/

This is the most helpful thing I've learned on DCUM. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If the grandparents had asked nicely it would have been fine. I don’t deal well with blackmail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This speaks to American culture.

Can you imagine this dynamic in an Asian family?

There is no respect for family especially the older family members.

Name another culture where this would even be an issue?

I am not American. My parents would no way ever expect my children, their grandchildren to give up seats we bought for them. If we offered, they would refuse and probably be insulted. Then again, they buy the tickets in the class they wish to travel, which is either business or economy plus.

Asian is a broad term, so try and narrow it down a bit.