Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 18:25     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Does the trip involve an overnight flight, like, for example most flights from the US to Europe?

Everyone flies business class for the overnight leg, and everyone flies economy for all other legs.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 17:37     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
I don’t get so many of the comments here! I really don’t think this is a moral issue at all, and I also think it is fine for parents to spend more money on themselves than their kids for some things. When we stay in hotels, we often get a basic room for the kids and a slightly better one for us. I haven’t split us up on a plane yet but I absolutely would, and I know my kids wouldn’t care either. I wouldn’t have cared if my parents had done this.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 17:26     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Are you teaching your kids to be selfish parents?

I dont get the logic?
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 17:16     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
The parents in “Home Alone” movie did it. Nobody have said anything.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 17:13     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
I can't believe adults would fly long haul in economy plus to avoid leaving teens there.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 16:48     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.


I should add that until they were old enough to sit on their own, they flew business. Money is not a factor.


Respectfully - I am really not trying to be mean - I think that’s a reflection of you in your 20s (or maybe the values your parents raised you with), rather than a general principle that kids who grow up flying business sometimes, or even all the time, will refuse to travel in economy on their own dime as adults.

My dad had special status on an airline when I was growing up, so we would pretty frequently fly long-haul business as a family. I still did a ton of traveling in college and in my 20s, all on the cheapest basic economy tickets/budget airlines. I loved to travel and didn’t care what seat I was in. Even now, I make very good money and very much enjoy flying business on my firm’s dime or if a client is paying, but for personal travel I still fly economy (sometimes basic economy!). I’d personally rather spend the money on something else.


You're right. Maybe it is a poor reflection of me in my twenties; however, I still think it's morally fine to have teens sit in economy while the parents sit up front. My kids don't get the master bedroom in the house either. Airplane class is not the same thing as personal class or status. It's just a seat of a different depth and size and maybe a slightly better (still gross airplane) meal.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 15:49     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
No. Leave the kids home if you cannot be bothered with them.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 15:49     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.


That is really sad.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 15:46     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
In a few years, both your kids will be old enough and out of the house. You’ll wish you had more time with them. Buy tickets so you’ll all sit near each other. Spend some time with your family.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 15:41     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
I wouldn’t do it. It sets a tone that they don’t deserve to be in first class with you. Save it for when you and your DH travel.

That being said, I have paid for lie flat seats for a 14 and 11 year old, and it wasn’t worth it. So, now when we travel as a family, we do premium economy.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 15:36     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.


I should add that until they were old enough to sit on their own, they flew business. Money is not a factor.


Respectfully - I am really not trying to be mean - I think that’s a reflection of you in your 20s (or maybe the values your parents raised you with), rather than a general principle that kids who grow up flying business sometimes, or even all the time, will refuse to travel in economy on their own dime as adults.

My dad had special status on an airline when I was growing up, so we would pretty frequently fly long-haul business as a family. I still did a ton of traveling in college and in my 20s, all on the cheapest basic economy tickets/budget airlines. I loved to travel and didn’t care what seat I was in. Even now, I make very good money and very much enjoy flying business on my firm’s dime or if a client is paying, but for personal travel I still fly economy (sometimes basic economy!). I’d personally rather spend the money on something else.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 14:59     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.


I should add that until they were old enough to sit on their own, they flew business. Money is not a factor.


I think it matters to OP since they describe the upgrade as a stretch. But good for you.

Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 14:53     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.


I should add that until they were old enough to sit on their own, they flew business. Money is not a factor.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 14:52     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Yes, it’s fine. My parents should’ve done this. Instead, I flew business as a young adult. Then when I got my first job, I refused to travel, since I couldn’t travel “comfortably.” I missed out on a lot of great travel experiences.

Now I tell my kids that they should learn to be frugal and uncomfortable, so that they can enjoy their youth. When their bank accounts grow, their time diminishes, and their hips start to creak, they can fly business.
Anonymous
Post 01/15/2025 14:51     Subject: Is it OK for parents to travel in Business Class while teen kids travel in Economy?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Totally fine. They're old enough to behave themselves.

Thx. OP here. I am not worried about them behaving themselves. They are old enough to sit alone. Was just wondering if the arrangement is OK by principle/ moral point of view.


Yes if you think they would get the message that grownup people work hard for their perks. Also if you have no other way/chance to redeem the benefits. No if you think they would be sad or resentful or wouldn't get seated together.

Kids are physically better suited to constricted spaces and usually spend most time on planes face down in their devices.

We have a good relationship with our kids and if we decided to pull rank on them like this, I doubt they'd care. If you get a small goody like pillow chocolates you can drop it off during a mid-flight meet-up.

I actually don't value upgraded seating that much so if I could divert value into other uses of points (paid hotel stays, etc.) I'd fly the lower seat class with the kids.