Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t even imagine a scenario where I wouldn’t give my parents the most comfortable seats.

Same. I’m astonished at most of the responses on here.

I’m astonished that you are astonished. Have you never met a person who has a family member who is an ass? You have to indulge the ass(es) somewhat, but there are limits.

[Anonymous]

Will the airline allow this?

[Anonymous]

Those mileage tickets are crazy hard to earn. If your DH wants to gift them to his kids, your parents really shouldn’t be asking. I would never have been in this position in the first place - wouldn’t have booked family in different classes. But if I were, there is no way I allow my parents to dictate to my DH how he uses those miles. And no way my parents would throw some type of tantrum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Americans are so weird.

+1

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those mileage tickets are crazy hard to earn. If your DH wants to gift them to his kids, your parents really shouldn’t be asking. I would never have been in this position in the first place - wouldn’t have booked family in different classes. But if I were, there is no way I allow my parents to dictate to my DH how he uses those miles. And no way my parents would throw some type of tantrum.

This. With the change in miles over the last couple of years the tickets are much harder to come by. I’d be super angry about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree that you should be giving the first class seats to your parents, but it also rude for them to demand it.

+1

[Anonymous]

Only a wife’s parents would do this and it be a live issue. If wifey used her miles to do this and hubbies parents tried to pull
This move, it would get shut down.

[Anonymous]

I would never, ever, ever burden my kids in this way. I am of the age that I am well aware of the MASSIVE financial advantages that broke my way over the course of my life. I am would buy my own tickets and sit near but not adjacent to my kids and grandkids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is kind of off topic but my dad and stepmom are quite wealthy world travelers. They only have two grandkids (my kids) and despite them taking 7-8 trips a year they have never invited us, or joined us in a trip and visited us maybe 3-4 times in 14 years. We are expected to show up at their house when it’s convenient for them 1-2x/year. So I guess I would see this as an opportunity to try to spend time together as a family and while the demand was rude I would give older people first class seats. You don’t know how much time you have left.

“You don’t know how much time you have left” is not a valid reason for OP’s parents to throw tantrums.

[Anonymous]

The only thing I don’t understand is why OP thinks it’s magical to all travel together…. The rest all makes sense.

We run all our small business expenses through mileage credit cards just so we can book business class on long flights. Running our business about kills us, so the idea of giving away those hard earned miles, including to entitled parents would be tougher for me.

Heinous confession - i once flew to Asia in first class to meet my parents (using miles, last minute flight) and found out my dad was joining me at my Chicago connection in a coach seat. I did not offer to switch.

[Anonymous]

i think the grandparents should sit where they bought tickets. the entitlement is a no go with me.

the best i could offer is that the kids and grandparents do halfsies with the business class seats. probably have the kids start in business sand offer too switch at the halfway point, if you let the grandparents start in business, they are not going to move.

[Anonymous]

Whose parents are this kind of weak financially? As noted by the poster above, my parents killed it as equity and real estate investors riding their generational wave. They would be ashamed to put a hand out. They both know how well things broke for them and how much harder they are now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP - can you parents reasonably afford to upgrade?

OP here. I really don’t know. Money is super secretive with my parents. On the one hand, we were squarely middle class growing up. Dad was military, very controlling. Then, my grandfather (lawyer who owned his own law firm) passed away 15 years ago and left millions to each of his 3 kids, including my mom. There was a lot of extravagant spending for years, but not so much now. Don’t know if my parents are struggling financially and want DH and I to help pay for things or if they’re just milking us for all we’re worth.

I’m sorry, OP, but you really sound like an awful person. And why did you invite your parents in the first place if you hold them in such obvious contempt?

Okay, but I really would love for my children to experience a memorable vacation with extended family before it is too late. We travel a lot as a family of four, but there is something magical about a multi-generational trip that includes both children and grandparents.

Yeah, OP, this trip sounds like it's going to be Shangri-effin'-la.

Your parents suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think the grandparents should sit where they bought tickets. the entitlement is a no go with me.

the best i could offer is that the kids and grandparents do halfsies with the business class seats. probably have the kids start in business sand offer too switch at the halfway point, if you let the grandparents start in business, they are not going to move.

Sounds like someone has never taken a red eye flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whose parents are this kind of weak financially? As noted by the poster above, my parents killed it as equity and real estate investors riding their generational wave. They would be ashamed to put a hand out. They both know how well things broke for them and how much harder they are now.

Life is a panoply. Many people don't have opportunities, or don't take advantage of those available. We are comfortable financially (public schools, good government managerial type jobs now) and have one of our parents living in senior affordable housing, with no more than a few thousand in the bank.