Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Are you kidding? You can't imagine that some parents invested all their resources to give their children the best chance for success? It's probably the most common and American of stories. My parents gave and gave and gave to their six children, and now live on a fixed income. I am so glad to have the means to pamper them now -- out of gratitude and duty.

My parents took care of us and of cousins (college tuition etc) and would never ask for anything. Good for yours for doing the right thing but they should still never ask. Good for you for doing the right thing and helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hah I would have stuck my kids back in coach. I used to fly coach when my parents were in first. Probably from age 12 onwards.

People always call me a troll when I've mentioned this but, particularly in the ME, I've been seated next to 3-8 year olds traveling coach with parents in first class. It happens!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:All these people talking about the elderly grandparents. I am 37 and my grandparents are in their 80’s. These people have teen grandkids. They could be 50.

People in your family must have been very young when they had their kids. When my kids were in their early 20s, their grandparents were in their 90s.

I can’t even imagine being in my 50s and having teenage grandchildren.

Exactly. My mother is 80 and I have two teens. None of us flies first class, but if I had one first class ticket, I would certainly give it to her and fly coach myself.

Same. I can’t imagine my teenagers lolling about in first class while their grandparents sat in coach for eight hours.

[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.

I'm a WASP. Like an actual one, not a generic DCUM white person from Ohio and my parents would cut off their toes before making a blackmail like request like this. The money flows down, always and forever. In terms of good graces, I would have accounted for the points matter and probably upgraded my parents (we do things like this on occasion as a surprise) but that's not expected. The parental entitlement is killing me. If they wanted to fly business, pay for business.

[Anonymous]

I’m with those that think it would have been a family conversation (you, husband and kids) on how to handle this. Ideally, yes you’d want your kids to be in the coach seats as an opportunity for them to be kind to their grandparents, and not let kids get too entitled. But that could be your family’s decision and opportunity for a lesson for your kids.

Your parents’ demand, well that is a different level. It’s not their place to demand it. I’d be resistant to giving them the seats now, on principle, if nothing else. They can’t manipulate you like that and it is a learning opportunity for your kids too that you discuss, explain your dilemma. your parents may not agree with your choice that you made for your family, that’s on them. They can’t demand it. Nope.

People don’t want to do nice things when people aren’t nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all seem terrible, but you and your DH are the worst for not putting old people in the most comfortable seats.

+1 Grandpa should never have had to ask. I am Italian and no daughter of mine would be a primadonna on her throne in first class while her Grandmother is cramped in steerage. Not after Ellis Island, mia cara.

They were buying tickets after the family Your response is out of line with the timing of events.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your parents are cheap hustlers.

I can only imagine how you treat your own parents, and what lovely names you call them.

My parents communicate clearly, without being passive aggressive or making absolute decisions for everyone. We’d have planned the logistics before anyone made a purchase and not had this issue. We would have likely planned economy plus for everyone to make it less of a class issue. Or all flown coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sixteen and fourteen year olds are fine in coach.

I'd definitely put my parents in first class so they are more comfortable.

+1. Teach your kids empathy and respect for their elders, something I find Americans lack badly relative to other nations as evidenced by the countless jerks I observe on the subway who never give their seat to an older person or a pregnant woman.
- Signed, a European whose mama raised her right

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sixteen and fourteen year olds are fine in coach.

I'd definitely put my parents in first class so they are more comfortable.

+1. Teach your kids empathy and respect for their elders, something I find Americans lack badly relative to other nations as evidenced by the countless jerks I observe on the subway who never give their seat to an older person or a pregnant woman.
- Signed, a European whose mama raised her right

No. The four of you are in first class. I would not swap parents. Now I would have probably paid to upgrade them from the start. But the only way to respond to blackmail is to tell the blackmailer off. So say -- then don't go.

[Anonymous]

You know that your husband is United GS but don’t know that the flight doesn’t have first?
99% sure I am correct on that.

Calling troll on this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all seem terrible, but you and your DH are the worst for not putting old people in the most comfortable seats.

+1 Grandpa should never have had to ask. I am Italian and no daughter of mine would be a primadonna on her throne in first class while her Grandmother is cramped in steerage. Not after Ellis Island, mia cara.

Did you just compare a transatlantic flight for a summer European vacation to steerage? And my family came via Ellis island, they would be embarrassed to take my seats

[Anonymous]

You and wife seat in coach, Grandma, Grandpa and the kids sit in First.

Simple problem, simple solution

[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.

My parents haven’t “killed it.” They worked hard for decades but just got by. Screw you, entitled @$$hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I probably would not want to go on a trip with people who are rude to me.

OP, are you all paying separately for the cruise part of the trip?

Yes. We are on the Celebrity Infinity ship. DH and I originally booked two rooms for us and our kids, a Sky Suite and an adjacent veranda stateroom. We are paying for these. When my parents agreed to join us, they did buy their own room on the cruise ship. They have a Celebrity Suite on the same deck and down the hall from our two rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

What an ignorant comment.