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Home Should children be in business/first class on a plane?

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TravelingGal

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OK, so I was reading this article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30892432/page/2/ which talks about kids on planes.

He ends with saying:

"I wouldn’t dream of seating my children in business- or first class even if I could afford it. That’s a topic for another column, though."

Hm, what do you think about that? I will say that I have taken my 8 month daughter on business class on a 13 hour flight. Oh my, the stink eye we got when we boarded. And oh the smiles and praise we received at the END of the flight when people found out she slept for 12 out of the 13 hours. I gotta admit...the pressure was on in business class. As a frequent flyer myself, I do sort of sigh when I get seated in front of a 5 year old in first class.
 
This is an interesting topic. Growing up my dad was a commercial pilot and in the 80s things were much different in the industry. My sister and I *always* sat in first class as non-revs, but we also had to wear our sunday best and were not allowed to talk on the plane. Only whispers for Very Important Situations. I don''t think we really ever bothered anyone. But now, as a paying customer, I roll my eyes as I pass the kids in the "front" on my way to the back with all the other riff-raff. ;) And I should really know better.
 
Ohhh that's a toughie...

On one hand I think of first class like a fancy restaurant where you should know better not to bring kids to.

On the other hand if I had the $ to always fly first class I certainly would want to with my babies because of all that extra space for their junk!

I guess I would only do it if I knew my kids were very well behaved on flights. Otherwise I would use the $ and buy an extra seat in coach to give ourselves a whole row or something. That of course only if money was not the problem.
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I think if *I* were flying first class I would expect any kids flying first class to be well behaved similar to a fancy restaurant. If the kids were screaming and running up and down the aisles and the parents didn't care I would be PISSED. Then again I would be pissed in coach too...
 
Why not? I don''t see why should first class or business class be any different from the rest of the plane. The mere mortals who can only afford coach can be subjected to children but not those who can afford to pay more? Ridiculous. That said, I do think parents have a responsibility to control their children on planes to the best of their ability, no matter what section they are seated in. I know babies cry and children can be rowdy, but there is no excuse for children running in the aisles or climbing over seats. When I was child we traveled extensively and my parents occupied us throughout the plane trip with books, toys, snacks, etc. and disciplined us when we acted up. I plan to do the same with my children.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:30:21 PM
Author: neatfreak
Ohhh that''s a toughie...

On one hand I think of first class like a fancy restaurant where you should know better not to bring kids to.

On the other hand if I had the $ to always fly first class I certainly would want to with my babies because of all that extra space for their junk!

I guess I would only do it if I knew my kids were very well behaved on flights. Otherwise I would use the $ and buy an extra seat in coach to give ourselves a whole row or something. That of course only if money was not the problem.
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I think if *I* were flying first class I would expect any kids flying first class to be well behaved similar to a fancy restaurant. If the kids were screaming and running up and down the aisles and the parents didn''t care I would be PISSED.
Ditto.
 
I have never flown first. I have, however, flown business a number of times and flown coach obviously a lot of times.

In coach, babies always seemed so uncomfortable to me because mom/dad were uncomfortable. It''s a small seat, a small space and they''re sitting on mom/dad''s lap the entire time. So the babies are usually always fussy. In business, total opposite. The seats are roomier, mom/dad are nice and comfy, so baby is comfy. I hardly ever hear a peep out of them.

As for me, when I see a child it doesn''t bother me at all whether it be in coach or business. I go on coach flights expecting to absolutely hate it the entire time so having a fussy baby/child just sort of makes sense lol. And when I''m on business, I''m usually expected to hit the ground running so I''m either busy doing some last minute work, trying to sleep, or just watching TV until I get there. Those noise cancellation headphones are great
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What an interesting article! I don''t think I would have even thought about it.

Probably a non-issue for me in the end because I don''t think I''d ever fly first class if I were paying for it myself!

Do airlines still seat minors in first/business if they''re unaccompanied (and there''s space)? That happened to me twice when I was young (under 12). Now though, I can''t believe I flew unaccompanied at that age
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but that''s a whole other issue, I suppose.
 
NO!!
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:57:47 PM
Author: strmrdr
NO!!
I''m not sure how you feel on this issue, could you be a bit more clear?

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I know a few financiers who refuse to let their kids sit in business or first because they don''t want them to grow up feeling entitled.
 
better yet put all the kids in first class with a sound proof door.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:39:00 PM
Author: Kaleigh
Date: 5/26/2009 3:30:21 PM

Author: neatfreak

Ohhh that''s a toughie...

On one hand I think of first class like a fancy restaurant where you should know better not to bring kids to.

On the other hand if I had the $ to always fly first class I certainly would want to with my babies because of all that extra space for their junk!

I guess I would only do it if I knew my kids were very well behaved on flights. Otherwise I would use the $ and buy an extra seat in coach to give ourselves a whole row or something. That of course only if money was not the problem.
1.gif


I think if *I* were flying first class I would expect any kids flying first class to be well behaved similar to a fancy restaurant. If the kids were screaming and running up and down the aisles and the parents didn''t care I would be PISSED.
Ditto.

+1
 
i don''t see why not. if you can buy the ticket for them they have as much right to be there as any other paying passenger.
 
I wouldn''t sit my kids up in first class and I were flying first class, I''d be mad if someone brought their child(ren) and sat them there and they ended up being noisy.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 4:07:37 PM
Author: strmrdr
better yet put all the kids in first class with a sound proof door.


Gotta love strm''s suggestion. I second it!
 
I would only consider it if my child were seriously well behaved. This would mean:

- I already tested it out by taking her on other coach flights
- I knew she didn''t even touch a toe to the seat in front of her
- She knew what an inside voice was
- She didn''t gab incessantly on the flight
- She knew how to smile beguilingly at other passengers

I do liken it to a nice restaurant. Passengers in first class have either paid more to be there, or travel so much that they were upgraded and are happy to have the peace and quiet. As I mentioned, we have taken Amelia on an international business class flight. We discussed it beforehand and she is so on a schedule that I felt fairly confident (from the flight TO oz which was coach) that she would sleep the majority of the flight back to the U.S. Thankfully, I was right.
 
If they are well behaved and can sit still, I say why not?
Otherwise, no.
Noisy children do make a flight excruciating and most people do not like kids on plane.

Reminds me of the time when we took my 2 nieces to HI. They were around 6 and 9.
The didn't have three seats together so that I can sit w/ them, instead we got 2 and 2.
Since they wanted to sit w/ each other, that means some poor soul will be stuck w/ them on the 6 hr flight.
You should have seen the look on the guy's face when he found out he's the unlucky one.
Fortunately for him, my nieces were very well behaved. They sat in their seat talking to each other or color in their books
w/ the occasional bathroom breaks. At the end of the flight, I apologized for the inconvenience and the disruption they caused him.
He told us "Oh no, they were the best kids EVER that he's seen".

You are so lucky A can sit still and sleep throughout that long flight.
J was standing and peeking over the back seat the entire time she was awake on our 6 hr flight.
I just hope she's more subdued when she's a little older....otherwise someone's in for a spanking
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If I could get an upgrade, I would fly with my 7-month-old daughter in first or business class. She behaves beautifully in restaurants. She loves seeing new places and new people, and when we take her to restaurants, the majority of the time the noise lulls her to sleep in her car seat, or she just sits quietly and sucks on her bippy and plays with a small toy. She likes to smile and "flirt" with new people, so she gets plenty of attention from the wait staff, and the chef came out to meet her at one restaturant. She will cry if she is hungry, but I am always prepared to pop a bottle in her mouth quickly when we are out, and she settles right down as soon as she gets it.

A does have a fussy period between 9 and 10 pm each night as she fights going to sleep, so I would try to avoid flights during that time period. She also cries when we try to put her down by herself in her crib, but will happily sleep on my or DH''s lap. As long as we are holding her or playing with her, she only cries when she is hungry or needs to be changed, which we would deal with quickly. The only thing that concerns me about flying with her is whether the air pressure will hurt her ears and make her cry.

If her behaviour changes as she gets older, I will re-think my position. I think the chances of her behaving well would be better in first class than coach because there would be more room for her to sprawl out in our laps.
 
Kay
If you give A a bottle during take-off and landing, that should help w/ the ear popping issue.
We did that w/ J going to, but she was asleep when we landed coming back and she woke up crying and clutching her ear
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Okay, I''m going to admit two things off the bat:

1) I''m not reading any of the responses before I post, so I apologize if what I''m saying has already been covered.
2) From the ages of 11 - 18 I flew business and first class almost exclusively (family trips were business, school trips were coach). My brother and sister flew coach for the first time when they were 13 and 11 (I believe).

I don''t think there''s anything wrong with it, but I do think that there needs to be effort put in on the part of the parents to be sure the children are well behaved. The flight attendants will spoil the kids with attention to keep them quiet, but they are not babysitters. Entitled, selfish, loud kids are no fun in any section of the plane.

But I believe that if a person is willing to pay for their child to fly in business or first, then fine. Children happen in the majority of situations a person encounters in their lifetime. Yes, some people on the plane are doing work. You''re provided ear plugs if you need a quieter environment. Just buying a pricier ticket does not entitle you to a child-free flight. IMO, you pay for the bigger seat, the better food, the use of the lounge. Somebody still had to pay for the child''s ticket, and they paid for the same thing adults paid for. Personally, I think it''d be worse to have the parents in business/first and the kids in coach. Then you''ve got kids running down the aisles trying to talk to their parents, sitting around strangers...not the best situation, either.

That was kind of rambling, sorry.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:36:37 PM
Author: NovemberBride
Why not? I don''t see why should first class or business class be any different from the rest of the plane. The mere mortals who can only afford coach can be subjected to children but not those who can afford to pay more? Ridiculous. That said, I do think parents have a responsibility to control their children on planes to the best of their ability, no matter what section they are seated in. I know babies cry and children can be rowdy, but there is no excuse for children running in the aisles or climbing over seats. When I was child we traveled extensively and my parents occupied us throughout the plane trip with books, toys, snacks, etc. and disciplined us when we acted up. I plan to do the same with my children.

I agree. Parents should make their children behave any time they are in tight quarters with strangers . . . planes, restaurants, theaters, etc. So assuming the kids are well behaved, the parents who can afford to fly first class with their kids should do so. I remember that when I got all As in 4th grade, my dad rewarded me with a first class flight when I traveled with him. It made first class seem so special, and I was older, so I''m sure I didn''t annoy anybody.


Not totally related, but this topic reminds me of when I flew back (in coach) from Paris last summer. This poor woman sitting near us was experiencing a possible miscarriage; they asked if there was a doctor on board, but alas there wasn''t. But it did warm my heart to see that a man from first class who was flying with his wife and children switched seats with her so she could be more comfortable. It seemed so chivalrous to spend several times as much money for a nicer seat and then take a yucky coach seat for a 7 hour flight. Nice lesson for his kids . . . in retrospect, though, I hope they were well behaved so they didn''t annoy the woman.
 
I have to say I''d probably be annoyed, but I''d get over it if the kids were well-behaved. My main concern, as someone who will be flying A LOT for business, mostly in business class, is that I''ll be expected to get work done on planes more often than not, and being harassed by loud or ill-behaved children would make me REALLY crabby, and could seriously impact my ability to get my work done.

I really must look into those noise-canceling headphones...
 
Date: 5/26/2009 6:51:57 PM
Author: lili
Kay
If you give A a bottle during take-off and landing, that should help w/ the ear popping issue.
We did that w/ J going to, but she was asleep when we landed coming back and she woke up crying and clutching her ear
8.gif
Thanks, I''ll try to adjust her feeding schedule so she will take a bottle then.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:36:13 PM
Author: AmberGretchen
I have to say I''d probably be annoyed, but I''d get over it if the kids were well-behaved. My main concern, as someone who will be flying A LOT for business, mostly in business class, is that I''ll be expected to get work done on planes more often than not, and being harassed by loud or ill-behaved children would make me REALLY crabby, and could seriously impact my ability to get my work done.


I really must look into those noise-canceling headphones...

Everybody I know that has them swears by them.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:18:52 PM
Author: phoenixgirl

Date: 5/26/2009 3:36:37 PM
Author: NovemberBride
Why not? I don''t see why should first class or business class be any different from the rest of the plane. The mere mortals who can only afford coach can be subjected to children but not those who can afford to pay more? Ridiculous. That said, I do think parents have a responsibility to control their children on planes to the best of their ability, no matter what section they are seated in. I know babies cry and children can be rowdy, but there is no excuse for children running in the aisles or climbing over seats. When I was child we traveled extensively and my parents occupied us throughout the plane trip with books, toys, snacks, etc. and disciplined us when we acted up. I plan to do the same with my children.

I agree. Parents should make their children behave any time they are in tight quarters with strangers . . . planes, restaurants, theaters, etc. So assuming the kids are well behaved, the parents who can afford to fly first class with their kids should do so. I remember that when I got all As in 4th grade, my dad rewarded me with a first class flight when I traveled with him. It made first class seem so special, and I was older, so I''m sure I didn''t annoy anybody.


Not totally related, but this topic reminds me of when I flew back (in coach) from Paris last summer. This poor woman sitting near us was experiencing a possible miscarriage; they asked if there was a doctor on board, but alas there wasn''t. But it did warm my heart to see that a man from first class who was flying with his wife and children switched seats with her so she could be more comfortable. It seemed so chivalrous to spend several times as much money for a nicer seat and then take a yucky coach seat for a 7 hour flight. Nice lesson for his kids . . . in retrospect, though, I hope they were well behaved so they didn''t annoy the woman.
What a nice guy! I hope the lady and her baby were okay once they got medical attention. Do you know if the man was American or French? We were in France when I was 6.5 months pregnant, and people were so nice to me. Every time I got on the subway someone offered me a seat. They also put me to the head of the security line at the airport in Paris, but not in the U.S.
 
I don''t get it...so parents who fly first/business class should separate and put their kids in coach? I am too cheap to fly anything but coach but if I had more money my kids would stay with me. If people had a problem with it...tough!
 
Date: 5/26/2009 3:57:47 PM
Author: strmrdr
NO!!
ITA!!!! When/If I travel business or first class, the last thing on earth I need are either screaming babies or kids'' feet kicking the back of the seat. I have travelled in too many economy seats expecting that, but still saying to the ''lovely'' child, "please stop kicking my seat" while its parents thought it was A-OK!

And that''s the stuff that makes a child-focused society so WRONG! Get real, parents! You came first; your partner came second and the children are third! I say this as the mother of two and the grandma of two; listen to me as I''ve lived long enough to know what works. I would die rather than see harm come to any of them, but set limits when the grandgirls are with us.

Just my .02
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Date: 5/26/2009 7:56:04 PM
Author: isaku5

Date: 5/26/2009 3:57:47 PM
Author: strmrdr
NO!!
ITA!!!! When/If I travel business or first class, the last thing on earth I need are either screaming babies or kids'' feet kicking the back of the seat. I have travelled in too many economy seats expecting that, but still saying to the ''lovely'' child, ''please stop kicking my seat'' while its parents thought it was A-OK!

And that''s the stuff that makes a child-focused society so WRONG! Get real, parents! You came first; your partner came second and the children are third! I say this as the mother of two and the grandma of two; listen to me as I''ve lived long enough to know what works. I would die rather than see harm come to any of them, but set limits when the grandgirls are with us.

Just my .02
9.gif
If only Isabel could be cloned to replace some of the breeders of today.
 
I would not hesitate to bring my kids to business or first class with me. I know they can sit quietly and two of the three are teenagers. If they couldn''t sit still by 15 there would be bigger problems on my plate than flying, I''d guess! That said, I know how horrible a flight can be when bratty kids are screaming and throwing fits the entire time. I''m not talking about a fussy little one who has sore ears, etc. We''ve all seen the uncontrolled ones. I chose not to fly with my kids until I was sure they wouldn''t be a bother to anyone else on board. I wish more people would make that choice.
 
Date: 5/26/2009 7:46:27 PM
Author: Tacori E-ring
I don''t get it...so parents who fly first/business class should separate and put their kids in coach? I am too cheap to fly anything but coach but if I had more money my kids would stay with me. If people had a problem with it...tough!

Exactly. The only thing worse than having a kid kick the back of your seat and scream is not having a parent around to make them stop.
 
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