Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats

[Anonymous]

If I see the grandparents, I would realize I raised my daughter wrong and be full of regrets.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone stays in the seats they purchased. If y'all can't afford to upgrade your parents, they stay where they are seated and you stay where you are seated. If your father needs a business class seat, he really should have bought one. I get that they are really expensive, which is why most people don't do it that way, but it does not also follow that your kids should lose their seats because your parents are joining the trip. If it comes to that, how about if you and DH, as the alleged grownups here, give your parents your seats, move to coach, and let the kids stay where they are? Seems like an equally valid choice as the kids moving.

That's what I would do, my DH and I would give the seats to my parents (though, wouldn't be happy about it). This is just IAD-ATH it's not a super long flight. Now, if we were talking Asia or Australia, different story.

[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 wouldn't. Don't feel bad about it one bit. They can pay for it if they want it.

[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.

Some of us don't have the same relationship with our parents. Then again, I wouldn't have invited my parents on a trip.

[Anonymous]

I guess I’m an outlier but I feel like the grandparents should feel grateful to be included at all and not making these unreasonable demands.

[Anonymous]

Huh, I guess since we can only afford coach seats, I shouldn't bother inviting my parents to go along. Older people obviously need first-class seats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Logistically, can you even do that? Switch tickets? These are international tickets with the names on them.

They will not care if you swap once you have boarded.

Perfect. OP’s dh gets to stay in business class because he’s the one who earned these perks. The other 5 family members can take turns sitting in coach. Why should anyone have to be uncomfortable for the entire international flight?

They wouldn't allow a round robin like that. Maybe one or two switches, but just keep moving around wouldn't work.

Still, the kids and grandparents can switch once or twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids would have offered to give up their seats on their own.

Things people say who have never been in the position.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I guess since we can only afford coach seats, I shouldn't bother inviting my parents to go along. Older people obviously need first-class seats.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I guess since we can only afford coach seats, I shouldn't bother inviting my parents to go along. Older people obviously need first-class seats.

They don’t, but your elderly parents in coach while your teens are in business? That would be unacceptable to me

[Anonymous]

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.

Millions? Did they pass any to you? My mother inherited a few million awhile back and gave my siblings and I 10K each.

Let your parents fly coach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh, I guess since we can only afford coach seats, I shouldn't bother inviting my parents to go along. Older people obviously need first-class seats.

They don’t, but your elderly parents in coach while your teens are in business? That would be unacceptable to me

What if your parents were abusive? What if they were bad people? What if your teen had a broken leg?

All of these absolutes are so strange to me.

Also, she never said elderly.

[Anonymous]

Why didn't the grandparents booked their own first class tickets? Was first class sold out or did they just not want to spend the money?

I would be so pissed. My FIL tries stuff like this all the time. We stopped vacationing with him many years ago because he was always doing these shakedowns.