Anonymous wrote:OP here with more explanation for why we are even asking this question in the first place. For domestic trips there is no question everyone would fly together. For this specific international trip, there is literally a $10k difference to have DD and nanny in economy vs in business. That's just hard to swallow for a 2 year old (who is just now too old to be a lap child), and we were wondering if this could in any way be an acceptable way to help defray the cost of flights.
Any way you could spring for a whole row in economy?
I think for 10K, you can do this. And here is why. You tell the nanny her job is to work this flight. She gets overtime pay, extra time off before and after the trip, unlimited use of electronics on the flight, anything you can think of to make a long flight with a child manageable while you and DH enjoy your time in business class with occasional visits to see DD. Even if you spend 1K on extra pay, extra perks for the plane, another sitter to cover the day after, whatever you decide to do, you've still saved 9K on the flight. I'm assuming you're bringing the nanny to work the flight, not just to get her from point A to point B.
Think creatively. Present this to the nanny as a hard day on the job, but still a day of work, with some sort of compensation to acknowledge that it will be tiring and uncomfortable both money and a way to recover when you get there. Pretty much anything you come up with will be less than 10K!
Or, everyone fly coach and buy some extra seats if you're that worried about insulting someone.