No. We only fly business and always fly with our children. I cannot understand the 'they need to earn their keep' mindset. Either you have the money to do this or you sit together further back.

Anonymous wrote:It depends on your kids. If they will be basically silent without supervision, fine. If they will play their music out loud or otherwise be obnoxious, then no. You need to supervise. My kid would be silent and also be glad to have me away from him.

This. If they can take care of themselves and behave, fine. If not, one of you needs to fly in economy with them.

And ah, if you fly first class and put your kids in coach, you better not feel entitled you all sit together in the future because "they're kids and can't fly alone."

you either afford business for everyone or scale down your tickets

Anonymous wrote:You do you, OP, but personally I feel that's very rude. I've spent my life in long-haul Economy, Economy Plus and Business, and if I'm the one paying, I don't really want Business class - I'd rather pay for more activities, or a better hotel, at destination. Paying for Economy Plus seats for all would be the most I would stretch to.

+1

Anonymous wrote:My parents did this a few times when we were kids and it didn’t really bother us. Dad wanted to treat mom but couldn’t stretch for 4 kids. We were happy for them.

Same, this happened when we were kids and it seemed fine to me. I would do the same with my kids who fully understand the nuances. My kids also wouldn’t care at all, they have flown business with us and aren’t bothered about being able to lie flat or have more room. They just want to watch movies and eat snacks and they barely move or speak the whole flight!

Anonymous wrote:What if you spill a drink on one of their paper tickets and oversleep that morning, racing to the flight, only to realize mid-flight that you have left one kid behind?

LOL. That's what I was thinking of too!

On a short flight, sure but a 16 hr flight no. That just feels mean. I don't understand the "if we do it once they will expect it all the time." Unless you raise entitled brats, they are old enough to understand this is a treat.

Anonymous wrote:No. What a stunning lack of empathy. I’d put the whole family in economy plus.

Legally it's fine, but leaving your kids in the back of the plane so they don't get spoiled while you stretch your budget to give yourselves a more luxury experience is parentally dubious.

Like it's one thing if one parent cannot comfortably fit in a regular seat. This does not seem like that.

What is the point of a family vacation if you don't want to have to be near your family?

No

I don’t want your brats coming up to business class to ask you questions

Premium’s economy is better for your family and his forbid that flight has a problem

You are gross by the way shitty parent

The message you'd be giving them is not that they are entitled at an early age, but that you deserve the upgrade but they don't. Do you make them live in a less nice house than you do? Drive in a cheaper car than you drive? Are they going to be staying in a cheap hotel distant from your luxury lodgings?

I agree with those who suggest Premium Economy for all, if that's what you can afford for all of you to travel together as a family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd do premium economy for the whole family. Save the business class for adult-only travels.

+1

+2

My parents did this a few times when we were kids and it didn’t really bother us. Dad wanted to treat mom but couldn’t stretch for 4 kids. We were happy for them.

Anonymous wrote:I'd do premium economy for the whole family. Save the business class for adult-only travels.

Same.

Idk why but this idea bothers me quite a bit. I can't quite put my finger on it. But I personally would never treat my children as "less than" and do that to them. I like the idea of saving biz for adult only/couple trips.

You do you, OP, but personally I feel that's very rude. I've spent my life in long-haul Economy, Economy Plus and Business, and if I'm the one paying, I don't really want Business class - I'd rather pay for more activities, or a better hotel, at destination. Paying for Economy Plus seats for all would be the most I would stretch to.