Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 09:11     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Do what you want but I can’t believe you would put your parents in coach and have your children sit in first class. I’m not sure that sounds great message to your kids.


Uh, no, parents booked their own tickets and put themselves in coach.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:57     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Do what you want but I can’t believe you would put your parents in coach and have your children sit in first class. I’m not sure that sounds great message to your kids.


But acting like a bratty toddler thrusting not to go unless they get their way does?

Back of the plane for you.


Threatening
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:56     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
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?


Do what you want but I can’t believe you would put your parents in coach and have your children sit in first class. I’m not sure that sounds great message to your kids.


But acting like a bratty toddler thrusting not to go unless they get their way does?

Back of the plane for you.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:54     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
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?


Do what you want but I can’t believe you would put your parents in coach and have your children sit in first class. I’m not sure that sounds great message to your kids.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:47     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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'm astonished that grandparents who were fine in coach are now pulling emotional extortion to get their way.

They've had a lot longer to act entitled, considering they're paying for NOTHING but their plane tickets. 🙄


No, actually, OP noted that her parents are paying their own fare for the cruise. OP and husband are only providing a few nights in a hotel for before and after the cruise. I wouldn’t be surprised if the parents also pay for a lot of restaurant meals when the families go out to eat.


But how is that pertinent? Also creating fictional assumptions is weird.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:40     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Just take the high road.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:38     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Are your parents always jerks, OP? If this is unusual behavior and they are otherwise thoughtful, I would say they must really need those seats and yes, kids can go to coach for the sake of respecting the older generation's aching joints. However, if this is typical of their behavior I would be so annoyed. It's not worth starting a family rift over airplane seating, but I would be annoyed.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 08:09     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Without reading 20 pages, I’m torn about this. It’s extremely presumptuous and entitled of them to demand your kids first class tickets.



I think that’s what makes it -ma 30 page thread. If it was just “my parents bought tix and one kid has offered to trade but the other kid doesn’t really want to, should I push her to” it would be a shorter, less interesting thread.

It’s the attempt at emotional blackmail that balances the scales out a little.


In addition to this, as a PP said:

But the part that has me scratching my head is threatening to not go unless they fly in business. They booked the coach tickets. That was the plan. They were fine with it until they realized the rest of the family was up front.

They bought the coach tickets! This isn't OP purchasing 6 tickets, 4 up front and two in coach, and allocating the two coach tickets to her parents.

One of two things happened here:

1. OP's parents knew that OP and her family were flying first class, and bought the coach tickets with the (unstated) expectation that they would displace the kids in first class. They are miffed that wasn't offered, and are trying to force the issue.

or

2. OP's parents bought the tickets assuming everyone was in coach, and they were perfectly fine with that. But then they found out that OP and her family were in first, and suddenly coach is insufficient for them, and the kids should sit there.

Either way, I would be reluctant to give in to the emotional blackmail.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 07:10     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
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.


Wrong. They do care.


We switch on United all of the time.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 07:08     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
It is actually against United policy to switch seats like this between coach and business. It is likely that the crew will allow it, but it is not guaranteed. They could say no and they would be following policy, so nothing you can do about it. If you really want to do this, you should try to have the tickets changed (which may not be possible or may be expensive).
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 06:58     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
OP, ask yourself why are you posting this issue on DCUM? You know how to solve it.

Your parent's behavior and response are probably ingrained and you've seen similar reactions and behavior before. If you invited them on the trip, what did you expect? If you want to enjoy their company on the trip, assuming that is why you invited them along, then you know what to do.

Showing respect for your parents will make an impression on your teens. How do you want your teens to treat you and your husband when you are older and traveling with their families?

Also, if Pops was willing to shell out $50 so quickly, teach your kids how to negotiate. They can snag $100, easily.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 06:46     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
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.


Wrong. They do care.


Hmmm think it depends on the crew or airline? I got upgraded to business class when traveling with a colleague on an international flight and she didn’t. She was 6 months pregnant so I gave her my upgraded seat and there were no issues.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 01:53     Subject: Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Your parents are selfish entitled jerks. Normally I'd offer to trade the seats, but the way they're going about it makes me never want to vacation with them again.

Honestly I'd call their bluff and say so be it.


Same. I’d generally think the kids should let the grandparents have the seats, but if they’re being rude and entitled, it might make me dig in my heels. Did they have a chance to buy first class seats and just not want to spend the $$ or was first class booked up? Are they like this about other things? If they are, that would be the deciding factor for me. If this is an isolated incident, then I might tell the kids to suck it up.


Pp here — fwiw, I’m a grandparent with creaky joints, and I would never ask my kids and grandkids to do this. If I want to fly business class, I pay for it.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 01:42     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
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.


Wrong. They do care.
Anonymous
Post 06/09/2023 01:41     Subject: Re:Grandparents insist on taking my kids’ first class seats
Anonymous wrote:Logistically, can you even do that? Switch tickets? These are international tickets with the names on them.


Good point. That may resolve OPs issue. Post 9-11, airlines want the ticketed person in their assigned seat.