Dad rides in first while two young daughters ride in coach.

[Anonymous]

I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

[Anonymous]

My mom worked for an airline growing up, so we flew standby for free all the time.
Which meant we took whatever seat was available on the plane - 2 parents, 3 kids. A lot of time we could at least get 2 together so the youngest kids had an adult, but not always. Certainly multiple times an adult was in first class and kids were in coach.
I haven't done it with my kids yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to. Some of you need to chillax.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I'd probably turn down a domestic upgrade if it meant leaving my kids (same age as the kids in OP's story) alone on a flight -- it's been a while since I traveled for work enough to get lots of upgrades, but I seriously doubt domestic first class has gotten way BETTER, and it wasn't all that fancy back then, either. Just not worth the benefits for any potential downsides of worrying about the kids and/or being judged for 12 pages by the DCUM crew later.

But it doesn't seem like anything really went at all amiss on this flight, so I don't see what the actual problem here is supposed to have been. My older one, in particular, generally ignores me on flights so she can watch garbage on her iPad; I don't think she'd even notice, let alone have any difficulty, if I were in a different cabin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would anyone take issue with this? The kids aren’t infants. They’re 40 feet away at most, in an enclosed space.

We have our kids fly First/Business with us when we can, but often (particularly on domestic flights) there won’t be enough seats available. Kids get demoted first. They’re small, know how to fly/behave, and again—not infants who need a parent nearby.

It’s awkward for the adults who have to ride next to your young children. We end up stepping in for you when all we want is a quiet ride to our destination.

Of course I’m going to think of you as selfish and detached. It’s hard not to as I’m helping your child open a snack, etc.

My 10 year old knows how to open a bag of pretzels, thanks.

If you spoke to or otherwise interacted with him beyond maybe an initial head nod or “hello” when first sitting down, he’d have his guard up about you being a weirdo.

Your ten year old still can need help. It's not just snacks. If you cannot sit with your 10 year old, leave them home with the nanny who actually raises them.

Some of us have 10 year olds who are independent and we raised them ourselves. For example I personally put the time in to teach them to cook, do their own laundry, and do basic chores around the house starting when they were 6. No nanny! Now, at 10, they can fly by themselves, go to the store, they even have their own investment accounts. Perhaps your kids aren't very bright, mine have demonstrated responsibility and I don't give them tasks they cannot handle. Watching a movie and eating m&ms a few steps away from me? They can handle that.

No 10 year old is independent. If you cannot be bothered with a 10 year old on vacation, leave them home.

Please. Plenty of 10 yr olds are independent. At 10 my DH was taking care of his (always drunk) father and his much younger siblings every evening, right down to making them dinner and putting them to bed.

Just because your children are incapable of things doesn't mean others are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

You can’t spend a few hours seated at a different spot? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

You can’t spend a few hours seated at a different spot? Weird.

Codependency at its finest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

You can’t spend a few hours seated at a different spot? Weird.

I’m a different poster. I don’t see that as weird at all. It’s simply priorities. I prioritize family, so the idea of leaving them in the back of the plane seems strange to me. If I’m on vacation with family, I want to be with my family. Otherwise, what’s the point?

[Anonymous]

This is how Kevin got left behind in Home Alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We do that too. No big deal. Our kids are well-behaved and have been flying since they were babies. They are polite seat mates, don't fight with each other, and know to get loud and get attention if anyone is creepy. Never been an issue. When we can DH and I sit in first class in the row right in front of them and we can pass things back and forth even while seat belted in.

Your kids aren't as well behaved as you think. Other passengers are helping them since you won't.

That's not true necessarily. Plenty of kids don't need help. I've sat next to lots of children who were perfectly self sufficient. However, I can't imagine flying in first class while any member of my family was in coach. Wow. Rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

You can’t spend a few hours seated at a different spot? Weird.

I’m a different poster. I don’t see that as weird at all. It’s simply priorities. I prioritize family, so the idea of leaving them in the back of the plane seems strange to me. If I’m on vacation with family, I want to be with my family. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Oh get me a bag so I can barf. 🤮

You and your little friend PP are so absolutely full of crap it’s hilarious. I seriously hope you’re just doing this little sanctimonious self-congratulatory schtick for a giggle.

If you’re actually trying to pretend that “prioritizing family” means you must sit directly next to them on a commercial airline flight—where talking is virtually impossible and your kids 1000% have headphones on the entire time—just give it a rest. No one believes you, we all live on earth. We all fly on planes.

Can’t wait for PP to return and tell me how her kids don’t have screens or headphones and they use the flight time to make a quilt together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I definitely would do this, why turn down a first class seat---he probably got upgraded for free.

Because you enjoy spending time with your family? For me, no larger seat or free alcohol is as enjoyable as sitting with my spouse.

You can’t spend a few hours seated at a different spot? Weird.

I’m a different poster. I don’t see that as weird at all. It’s simply priorities. I prioritize family, so the idea of leaving them in the back of the plane seems strange to me. If I’m on vacation with family, I want to be with my family. Otherwise, what’s the point?

Oh get me a bag so I can barf. 🤮

You and your little friend PP are so absolutely full of crap it’s hilarious. I seriously hope you’re just doing this little sanctimonious self-congratulatory schtick for a giggle.

If you’re actually trying to pretend that “prioritizing family” means you must sit directly next to them on a commercial airline flight—where talking is virtually impossible and your kids 1000% have headphones on the entire time—just give it a rest. No one believes you, we all live on earth. We all fly on planes.

Can’t wait for PP to return and tell me how her kids don’t have screens or headphones and they use the flight time to make a quilt together.

They're singing kumbaya while quilting hats for the orphans they're going to help. They win the mommy martyr award.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - since you were closely observing and judging this family, how were the kids behaved? Did they need help from strangers?

While I would never do this, I wouldn't judge. It might be the kids are used to flying as unaccompanied minors anyways. They may have enjoyed sitting together.

Would you feel differently if the family was split up but all in coach?

So- I was sitting across the aisle from this guy, and when we were all getting off the plane to leave I offered to let him go first and he said “you go ahead, I am waiting for my daughters.” I assumed they were teens or young adults. Later, as we were waiting for our baggage, I saw him there with his two young daughters, and they were talking about their plans for Disney.

I wasn’t even judging him during the flight, because he never got up or anything. He just ate his meal and drank his drinks.

Also, maybe I am a little jealous, because my tween gets motion sick on flights, so I have never been able to relax completely, because I guess I am too busy parenting.

I think my beef is with his male entitlement. He rested the whole flight, knowing that his girls would take care of themselves, or in the case of an issue, some nice woman or flight attendent would step in. Most moms I know can never tune out like that.

This explains everything. You are a martyr and expect everyone to be equally miserable. I am a mom that raises her kids to be self reliant and would have sat in first (female privilege!!) and my DCs would have been please as punch to be all cool and grown up sitting without me.

We are raising two different kinds of people, you and I.

[Anonymous]

Yes PP- I was a miserable martyr sitting in first, sipping champagne & watching a movie, after my fabulous 2 week European vacation with my close-knit family of five. Yes, join me in all of my misery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I took a flight to Orlando today and there was a dad who sat in first class while his two daughters, around ages 11-13 and 7-9 sat midway back in coach. I can’t help but judge this dad harshly, and thought that you might want to join in.

Maybe they knew how to take care of themselves and he had some work he needed to do.

MYOB next time.