Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

I read the first few pages and last few because it's just too long so probably missed something there.

I think this would really would depend on a lot of different factors. I think that if the grandparents are wealthy, travel regularly, and CHOSE to not buy themselves 1st class seats.....then no, I wouldn't have my kids give up their seats.

If the grandparents almost NEVER travel and could really cannot afford 1st class seats, I would have then talked with the kids and offered the grandparents their seats (initially).

It feels really yucky that the grandparents are INSISTING that they get the seats or they don't come when they literally booked themselves economy seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents wanted to sit in first class so badly, why didn't they purchase first class to begin with?

Because they didn't want to pay for it. They figured they could whine and guilt their way into first class.

It's the typical Boomer mentality. They want the most expensive option, but want someone else to pay for it.

This.

Normally, I would always say put the kids in coach and put the adults in 1st class, but these grandparents are being awful. I would seriously want to cancel the entire trip.

I’m a boomer and we pay for our kids and grandkids.
The reason is not all of them are in the same income bracket. If we were to get together as a family, some could afford to travel, and some could not.
So do we as parents/grandparents only pay for the ones who can’t afford it? The answer is no. We pay for all.
Don’t be so quick to judge boomers. I’m still trying to figure out how we raised a bunch of entitled brats!

That's how my grandparents were- they always paid for big family stuff. I distinctly remember them saying things like "hey we are just spending your inheritance". They would never ever have let their adult children pay for anything on their behalf. I know some people here are talking about values of respecting elders, etc, but there are often competing values that others may prioritize. Doesn't make you a bad person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents wanted to sit in first class so badly, why didn't they purchase first class to begin with?

Because they didn't want to pay for it. They figured they could whine and guilt their way into first class.

It's the typical Boomer mentality. They want the most expensive option, but want someone else to pay for it.

This.

Normally, I would always say put the kids in coach and put the adults in 1st class, but these grandparents are being awful. I would seriously want to cancel the entire trip.

I’m a boomer and we pay for our kids and grandkids.
The reason is not all of them are in the same income bracket. If we were to get together as a family, some could afford to travel, and some could not.
So do we as parents/grandparents only pay for the ones who can’t afford it? The answer is no. We pay for all.
Don’t be so quick to judge boomers. I’m still trying to figure out how we raised a bunch of entitled brats!

That's how my grandparents were- they always paid for big family stuff. I distinctly remember them saying things like "hey we are just spending your inheritance". They would never ever have let their adult children pay for anything on their behalf. I know some people here are talking about values of respecting elders, etc, but there are often competing values that others may prioritize. Doesn't make you a bad person.

Same, my grandparents took us to Europe multiple times and my parents take my siblings and family on vacations. I can’t imagine my parents trying to boot my kids out of 1st.

[Anonymous]

I HOPE I'm raising kids who would not think twice and gladly offer their seats to their grandparents who wore themselves out playing with them when the kids were younger. The difference in body fatigue and trip recovery is huge between teens and the elderly. I can't say they won't be the type to pout and put themselves first or that my parents would insist the kids get to try out and enjoy first. It's hypothetical but I don't judge op's family for having selfish teens or demanding parents (older men have less tact than anyone). It could happen to any of us but in your position I'd force the kids to coach

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents wanted to sit in first class so badly, why didn't they purchase first class to begin with?

Because they didn't want to pay for it. They figured they could whine and guilt their way into first class.

It's the typical Boomer mentality. They want the most expensive option, but want someone else to pay for it.

This.

Normally, I would always say put the kids in coach and put the adults in 1st class, but these grandparents are being awful. I would seriously want to cancel the entire trip.

I’m a boomer and we pay for our kids and grandkids.
The reason is not all of them are in the same income bracket. If we were to get together as a family, some could afford to travel, and some could not.
So do we as parents/grandparents only pay for the ones who can’t afford it? The answer is no. We pay for all.
Don’t be so quick to judge boomers. I’m still trying to figure out how we raised a bunch of entitled brats!

That's how my grandparents were- they always paid for big family stuff. I distinctly remember them saying things like "hey we are just spending your inheritance". They would never ever have let their adult children pay for anything on their behalf. I know some people here are talking about values of respecting elders, etc, but there are often competing values that others may prioritize. Doesn't make you a bad person.

Same, my grandparents took us to Europe multiple times and my parents take my siblings and family on vacations. I can’t imagine my parents trying to boot my kids out of 1st.

My grandparents lived in a small trailer their whole lives.

[Anonymous]

Well your dad sounds like a real turd for demanding the seats.

But that you didn't offer shows me the nut didn't fall far from the tree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I already know what would happen in my family. We were upgraded but my mother was on a separate itinerary so she wasn't. My kids had a full on argument with my mother trying to convince her to take one of their first class seats. She kept refusing, they kept insisting. We finally worked out a compromise (with the help of a very nice purser who was amused by the boys) of letting the two boys rotate their seats and my mother acquiesced to taking one of the first class seats.

Anyway, I don't think your parents should demand it, but I'm a little surprised that your kids wouldn't want to give their grandparents the better seats.

I will take things that didn't happen for $100

And you will lose. We always travel with my mother, and since she lives in another city she meets us at IAD as a connection for onward travel. Not sure why you find this hard to believe.

I'm sure that's the case, but your amazing perfect children arguing to have her sit in business and your mother arguing back and the "purser" kindly looking at your wonderful family while they are blocking the aisles as everyone wants to board the plane is a magical story I can't get behind.

FYI, Purser is the title of the highest ranking flight attendant on the plane. It's not commonly used by the average passenger, but is a commonly used term among airline staff and frequent flyers. It's descended from ocean liners, when the head of the cabin attendants kept the books/money handled on board.

Even less so would they smile kindly while someone blocks the aisles having imaginary arguments on who gets 1st class

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents wanted to sit in first class so badly, why didn't they purchase first class to begin with?

Because they didn't want to pay for it. They figured they could whine and guilt their way into first class.

It's the typical Boomer mentality. They want the most expensive option, but want someone else to pay for it.

This.

Normally, I would always say put the kids in coach and put the adults in 1st class, but these grandparents are being awful. I would seriously want to cancel the entire trip.

I’m a boomer and we pay for our kids and grandkids.
The reason is not all of them are in the same income bracket. If we were to get together as a family, some could afford to travel, and some could not.
So do we as parents/grandparents only pay for the ones who can’t afford it? The answer is no. We pay for all.
Don’t be so quick to judge boomers. I’m still trying to figure out how we raised a bunch of entitled brats!

That's how my grandparents were- they always paid for big family stuff. I distinctly remember them saying things like "hey we are just spending your inheritance". They would never ever have let their adult children pay for anything on their behalf. I know some people here are talking about values of respecting elders, etc, but there are often competing values that others may prioritize. Doesn't make you a bad person.

Same, my grandparents took us to Europe multiple times and my parents take my siblings and family on vacations. I can’t imagine my parents trying to boot my kids out of 1st.

My grandparents lived in a small trailer their whole lives.

Um, and?

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine sitting up in first with my teenagers while my parents flew coach.

If your husband is Global Services, kind of surprised he can't swing two upgrades for them as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't imagine sitting up in first with my teenagers while my parents flew coach.

If your husband is Global Services, kind of surprised he can't swing two upgrades for them as well.

OP said earlier they didn't have enough Plus Points left. Which makes sense especially if they used a bunch of PPs previously to upgrade some of the nuclear family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the parents wanted to sit in first class so badly, why didn't they purchase first class to begin with?

Because they didn't want to pay for it. They figured they could whine and guilt their way into first class.

It's the typical Boomer mentality. They want the most expensive option, but want someone else to pay for it.

This.

Normally, I would always say put the kids in coach and put the adults in 1st class, but these grandparents are being awful. I would seriously want to cancel the entire trip.

I’m a boomer and we pay for our kids and grandkids.
The reason is not all of them are in the same income bracket. If we were to get together as a family, some could afford to travel, and some could not.
So do we as parents/grandparents only pay for the ones who can’t afford it? The answer is no. We pay for all.
Don’t be so quick to judge boomers. I’m still trying to figure out how we raised a bunch of entitled brats!

That's how my grandparents were- they always paid for big family stuff. I distinctly remember them saying things like "hey we are just spending your inheritance". They would never ever have let their adult children pay for anything on their behalf. I know some people here are talking about values of respecting elders, etc, but there are often competing values that others may prioritize. Doesn't make you a bad person.

Same, my grandparents took us to Europe multiple times and my parents take my siblings and family on vacations. I can’t imagine my parents trying to boot my kids out of 1st.

My grandparents lived in a small trailer their whole lives.

Um, and?

Pps assumption that it's the norm for grandparents to pay for family trips, like theirs did, is incorrect.

[Anonymous]

Unbelievable how the family dynamic is so selfish all around. I would definitely make my teenagers sit in coach and give my parents the upgraded seats. In fact it would give me so much joy to give up my seat to have my parents sit in comfort. Wait til you are your parents age. Your kids won’t be giving you any business class seats. SMH

[Anonymous]

I would give grandparents two first class seats, and let them get a voucher for their own seats. But then I would change my flights and fly on a different flight, put the kids in coach and fly business with my husband. Maybe even fly in a day earlier for some relaxed private family time. Have a separate nuclear family experience without the stress/bitterness of having to be on the same plane with them. The trick to dealing with entitled people is to work around their bad behavior. The way to deal with cheap people is to treat them and work around their cheapness - shame them with kindness. As an aside, for teens who do not need to be sitting with me, I would always put them in coach. You want to teach teens to be flexible and good travelers - and chances are they won't be sitting in business on their dime until they are middle-aged - they need to know how to cope with everyday annoyances like middle seats and bad food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unbelievable how the family dynamic is so selfish all around. I would definitely make my teenagers sit in coach and give my parents the upgraded seats. In fact it would give me so much joy to give up my seat to have my parents sit in comfort. Wait til you are your parents age. Your kids won’t be giving you any business class seats. SMH

I hope (and am financially planning towards) to be able to treat my kids and their families to vacations when they are grown and would never in a million years expect or allow them to subsidize my traveling with them, much demand my grandchildren sacrifice something on my account.

[Anonymous]

When I read the OP's message I first thought that she and her husband should give up their seats, go back into steerage, and eat some humble pie.

Or better yet, the whole darn family gets bumped into coach.