Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My parents get first. Kids get economy. It's about respect. Not sure why this is so controversial.

If I can afford, all will go in first class, if I can't then all will go economy. Keep your upgrades for next trip when just your family is traveling.

[Anonymous]

There are many solutions for this conundrum but y'all don't sound nice enough to travel together.

[Anonymous]

No bratty teens in first class. So entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If kids love grandparents, they would volunteer but if they aren't volunteering, they don't need to be forced. You on the other hand can switch with the parent who can benefit more from a reclining seat.

This is a leisure trip, your parents don't need to go if they don't feel comfortable flying in seats they can afford.

So the kids are in first class while the parents are in economy? Nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No bratty teens in first class. So entitled.

No bratty grandparents either. So entitled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone here would make me mad. The parents demanding the first class seats. The kid who won’t give up her first class seat. The husband who is mad. In the end, my responsibility is to raise my kids properly, so I would make the kids give up the seats. Or I would just cancel the whole thing since everyone sounds like a jerk.

Yeah.I get the feeling this will be one miserable trip regardless of Ops decision. In the end I would compromise. Grandparents first class there,kids first class back home. Or you and your son each give up a seat since their your parents and your son doesn’t care.

Yeah, I kind of agree. Just cancel the darn trip and never invite your parents to vacation with you again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone here would make me mad. The parents demanding the first class seats. The kid who won’t give up her first class seat. The husband who is mad. In the end, my responsibility is to raise my kids properly, so I would make the kids give up the seats. Or I would just cancel the whole thing since everyone sounds like a jerk.

Yeah.I get the feeling this will be one miserable trip regardless of Ops decision. In the end I would compromise. Grandparents first class there,kids first class back home. Or you and your son each give up a seat since their your parents and your son doesn’t care.

Yeah, I kind of agree. Just cancel the darn trip and never invite your parents to vacation with you again.

+1

If my father was acting this ridiculously towards my husband, my father would not be invited.

Parents only deserve respect if they act like decent human beings. These shenanigans are not worthy of respect.

[Anonymous]

OP here. This trip has actually taken a turn for the worse, depending on your perspective.

We came to what we thought was a great plan. My mom and dad take my kids business class seats. Kids go back to economy plus. DH uses PlusPoints to try to upgrade kids, waitlist only.

Well, enter the Father’s Day drama. My kids planned a family cookout for DH and this involved driving out to the Shenandoah area for hiking and a cookout on Father’s Day. Unfortunately, this meant we didn’t drive to my parents’ house (1 1/2 hours away) on that day. I sent my dad a card, flowers, and called him first thing in the morning on Sunday. Everything seemed ok.

On Monday evening I get a short email from my Mom saying that they are canceling their cruise and not going to Athens. She says, “Your father’s back is hurting again and we think the trip will be just too much.” Wow. We call. My mom is super awkward and my dad won’t come to the phone. He’s not feeling well, supposedly. We call the next day. Same thing.

DH noticed that my parents canceled their flights (since he used his PlusPoints to try to upgrade, I guess he can see their record locator). I texted my mom and told her I was disappointed. She understands and apologized for my dad being a jerk. She also mentioned that it was going to be ok since my dad was talking to his doctor to get a letter stating that he is too sick to fly and they can file a travel insurance claim to get back all their cruise payments and airfare.

This whole really bothers me because I know this is just another power play between my dad and DH. He’s not getting the respect he thinks he deserves and is retaliating against me and my family as a result. Plus, I think the insurance thing is pretty sleazy.

DH canceled my parents’ hotel reservations in Athens and we’re going on the cruise without my parents. Last invitation we’ll ever extend.

Sorry, more relationships forum than travel at this point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This trip has actually taken a turn for the worse, depending on your perspective.

We came to what we thought was a great plan. My mom and dad take my kids business class seats. Kids go back to economy plus. DH uses PlusPoints to try to upgrade kids, waitlist only.

Well, enter the Father’s Day drama. My kids planned a family cookout for DH and this involved driving out to the Shenandoah area for hiking and a cookout on Father’s Day. Unfortunately, this meant we didn’t drive to my parents’ house (1 1/2 hours away) on that day. I sent my dad a card, flowers, and called him first thing in the morning on Sunday. Everything seemed ok.

On Monday evening I get a short email from my Mom saying that they are canceling their cruise and not going to Athens. She says, “Your father’s back is hurting again and we think the trip will be just too much.” Wow. We call. My mom is super awkward and my dad won’t come to the phone. He’s not feeling well, supposedly. We call the next day. Same thing.

DH noticed that my parents canceled their flights (since he used his PlusPoints to try to upgrade, I guess he can see their record locator). I texted my mom and told her I was disappointed. She understands and apologized for my dad being a jerk. She also mentioned that it was going to be ok since my dad was talking to his doctor to get a letter stating that he is too sick to fly and they can file a travel insurance claim to get back all their cruise payments and airfare.

This whole really bothers me because I know this is just another power play between my dad and DH. He’s not getting the respect he thinks he deserves and is retaliating against me and my family as a result. Plus, I think the insurance thing is pretty sleazy.

DH canceled my parents’ hotel reservations in Athens and we’re going on the cruise without my parents. Last invitation we’ll ever extend.

Sorry, more relationships forum than travel at this point.

WOW. On one hand, I’m very sorry that your parents are crazy.On the other hand, now you can actually enjoy this cruise to the fullest.

If you have even the smallest feeling of guilt, shoot it dead. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Your dad is nuts. Enjoy your cruise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This trip has actually taken a turn for the worse, depending on your perspective.

We came to what we thought was a great plan. My mom and dad take my kids business class seats. Kids go back to economy plus. DH uses PlusPoints to try to upgrade kids, waitlist only.

Well, enter the Father’s Day drama. My kids planned a family cookout for DH and this involved driving out to the Shenandoah area for hiking and a cookout on Father’s Day. Unfortunately, this meant we didn’t drive to my parents’ house (1 1/2 hours away) on that day. I sent my dad a card, flowers, and called him first thing in the morning on Sunday. Everything seemed ok.

On Monday evening I get a short email from my Mom saying that they are canceling their cruise and not going to Athens. She says, “Your father’s back is hurting again and we think the trip will be just too much.” Wow. We call. My mom is super awkward and my dad won’t come to the phone. He’s not feeling well, supposedly. We call the next day. Same thing.

DH noticed that my parents canceled their flights (since he used his PlusPoints to try to upgrade, I guess he can see their record locator). I texted my mom and told her I was disappointed. She understands and apologized for my dad being a jerk. She also mentioned that it was going to be ok since my dad was talking to his doctor to get a letter stating that he is too sick to fly and they can file a travel insurance claim to get back all their cruise payments and airfare.

This whole really bothers me because I know this is just another power play between my dad and DH. He’s not getting the respect he thinks he deserves and is retaliating against me and my family as a result. Plus, I think the insurance thing is pretty sleazy.

DH canceled my parents’ hotel reservations in Athens and we’re going on the cruise without my parents. Last invitation we’ll ever extend.

Sorry, more relationships forum than travel at this point.

WOW. On one hand, I’m very sorry that your parents are crazy.On the other hand, now you can actually enjoy this cruise to the fullest.

If you have even the smallest feeling of guilt, shoot it dead. You did absolutely nothing wrong. Your dad is nuts. Enjoy your cruise!

Sorry to say this but I am actually glad your parents have pulled out, OP. If they had gone, no doubt there would have been some other drama to tiptoe around and you wouldn't truly have relaxed. I'm sure there will be ramifications to deal with later but meanwhile you can enjoy your vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This trip has actually taken a turn for the worse, depending on your perspective.

We came to what we thought was a great plan. My mom and dad take my kids business class seats. Kids go back to economy plus. DH uses PlusPoints to try to upgrade kids, waitlist only.

Well, enter the Father’s Day drama. My kids planned a family cookout for DH and this involved driving out to the Shenandoah area for hiking and a cookout on Father’s Day. Unfortunately, this meant we didn’t drive to my parents’ house (1 1/2 hours away) on that day. I sent my dad a card, flowers, and called him first thing in the morning on Sunday. Everything seemed ok.

On Monday evening I get a short email from my Mom saying that they are canceling their cruise and not going to Athens. She says, “Your father’s back is hurting again and we think the trip will be just too much.” Wow. We call. My mom is super awkward and my dad won’t come to the phone. He’s not feeling well, supposedly. We call the next day. Same thing.

DH noticed that my parents canceled their flights (since he used his PlusPoints to try to upgrade, I guess he can see their record locator). I texted my mom and told her I was disappointed. She understands and apologized for my dad being a jerk. She also mentioned that it was going to be ok since my dad was talking to his doctor to get a letter stating that he is too sick to fly and they can file a travel insurance claim to get back all their cruise payments and airfare.

This whole really bothers me because I know this is just another power play between my dad and DH. He’s not getting the respect he thinks he deserves and is retaliating against me and my family as a result. Plus, I think the insurance thing is pretty sleazy.

DH canceled my parents’ hotel reservations in Athens and we’re going on the cruise without my parents. Last invitation we’ll ever extend.

Sorry, more relationships forum than travel at this point.

Be grateful that they are backing out now rather than tagging along and ruining your whole trip. From your initial post it was pretty clear to most of us that this was not going to be the magical multigenerational trip you’d envisioned and frankly it seems like you’ve dogged a bullet. Focus on enjoying the trip with the family you have chosen/created.

[Anonymous]

Why in the world did you ever invite them? Seriously. What is the reasoning behind that poor decision?

[Anonymous]

So your kids can keep the seats your DH got them/sit with you as a family and no one has to deal with your dad’s bad attitude throughout the vacation? Sounds like a win all around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. This trip has actually taken a turn for the worse, depending on your perspective.

We came to what we thought was a great plan. My mom and dad take my kids business class seats. Kids go back to economy plus. DH uses PlusPoints to try to upgrade kids, waitlist only.

Well, enter the Father’s Day drama. My kids planned a family cookout for DH and this involved driving out to the Shenandoah area for hiking and a cookout on Father’s Day. Unfortunately, this meant we didn’t drive to my parents’ house (1 1/2 hours away) on that day. I sent my dad a card, flowers, and called him first thing in the morning on Sunday. Everything seemed ok.

On Monday evening I get a short email from my Mom saying that they are canceling their cruise and not going to Athens. She says, “Your father’s back is hurting again and we think the trip will be just too much.” Wow. We call. My mom is super awkward and my dad won’t come to the phone. He’s not feeling well, supposedly. We call the next day. Same thing.

DH noticed that my parents canceled their flights (since he used his PlusPoints to try to upgrade, I guess he can see their record locator). I texted my mom and told her I was disappointed. She understands and apologized for my dad being a jerk. She also mentioned that it was going to be ok since my dad was talking to his doctor to get a letter stating that he is too sick to fly and they can file a travel insurance claim to get back all their cruise payments and airfare.

This whole really bothers me because I know this is just another power play between my dad and DH. He’s not getting the respect he thinks he deserves and is retaliating against me and my family as a result. Plus, I think the insurance thing is pretty sleazy.

DH canceled my parents’ hotel reservations in Athens and we’re going on the cruise without my parents. Last invitation we’ll ever extend.

Sorry, more relationships forum than travel at this point.

This is actually a great outcome. Enjoy the trip with your husband and kids in comfortable seats. You can all make nice memories without anyone pouting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Going on a family vacation + cruise later this summer to Greek Isles. Originally booked for myself, DH, and our two kids (16 and 14). We invited my parents a few months ago and they decided to join us. Our family booked 4 first class seats IAD-ATH using FF miles on United (DH is Global Services on United and got a good deal) and my parents ended up booking 2 coach seats in cash many months later (no status). Well, yesterday my parents decided they wouldn’t go on the trip unless they flew first class and that our kids don’t need to fly first class and we should allow them to switch. My dad even offered to give each of my kids $50 to move from first to coach so that they could have lie flat seating transatlantic.

DH is super annoyed. My parents are being real jerks about this and how kids don’t need first class and my dad’s back aches so he totally needs first class. What do I do?

Grandparents stay home then, I guess.

No is a complete sentence. Your parents are being a$$hole and I wouldn't entertain it for a single second.