Kids Travel Different Class - When?

[Flying Fox]

Hello Brains Trust

I have twins boys who are now 12 yrs old. They are well behaved (but do argue with each other as kids do) and have no problems with going out to dinner and behaving, traveling with us and behaving etc. They are polite and well mannered (I know that I'm starting to sound like a one-eye parent who thinks that the sun shines out of their butts - it doesn't - but I think my characterisation of them is fairly accurate).

So my question is, at what age do people think its appropriate for us to travel as a family on the same flight but have the kids in Y and the adults in J ?

Its a light hearted question and not designed to be controversial so please provide your opinions.

TIA

 

[Matt_01]

At 12 years old it would not work for MrsM and I for our daughter to travel in Y and us in J/F. We are interested in what she eats on the plane, ensuring she stays hydrated etc. Our daughter will most likely to travel in the same class as us until she get to the age that she does not want to travel with the parents, similar to what @amaroo mentioned above.

 

[bmam]

There was never the opportunity when I was growing up but if my parents were up the pointy end and left me in cattle class then I'd tell them I wasn't going! LOL. The only time we ever travelled as a family group was in economy in a BOAC 707 many, many years ago (LHR-ZRH-FCO-BEY-BAH-DEL-BKK-HKG-DRW-SYD).

 

[Assassin]

We've just started doing this - adults in J, kids in Y. Two boys - oldest 16 and younger one 14. Under the Qantas rules, neither travels as an UM as the 16 year old can supervise the younger one.

As for safety, if kids can travel without parents at all and not as UMs, then is the safety issue really more about the safety of the parents than the kids?

 

[Mike65]

We've just started doing this - adults in J, kids in Y. Two boys - oldest 16 and younger one 14. Under the Qantas rules, neither travels as an UM as the 16 year old can supervise the younger one.

As for safety, if kids can travel without parents at all and not as UMs, then is the safety issue really more about the safety of the parents than the kids?

But how would you feel if you survived an accident and they didn't? (or vice versa, from the other side)

 

[amaroo]

But how would you feel if you survived an accident and they didn't? (or vice versa, from the other side)

Probably the same as if it happened in a car crash or any other catastrophic event.

 

[Assassin]

But how would you feel if you survived an accident and they didn't? (or vice versa, from the other side)

Not great, but I am not sure that is relevant to the question of where people sit on the plane. The same thing could be extended to other forms of transport (buses, trains, ferries) as well as every day life (crossing the street).

My guess (and it's just a guess) is that the odds of this combination of circumstances (sitting separately on plane, plane crashes, adults survive / kids die, adults could have saved kids if sitting closer) are much lower than the risk taken by letting kids cross the road, take the bus, etc on their own).

 

[Mike65]

Not great, but I am not sure that is relevant to the question of where people sit on the plane. The same thing could be extended to other forms of transport (buses, trains, ferries) as well as every day life (crossing the street).

My guess (and it's just a guess) is that the odds of this combination of circumstances (sitting separately on plane, plane crashes, adults survive / kids die, adults could have saved kids if sitting closer) are much lower than the risk taken by letting kids cross the road, take the bus, etc on their own).

Sure, but the difference is "everyday life" vs "I chose comfort over family"

 

[Assassin]

Sure, but the difference is "everyday life" vs "I chose comfort over family"

Everyone makes those choices every day. Do people leave work to pick up their teen kids from school to ensure that they don't get abducted / run over / led astray etc? Do people let their kids play contact sports?

Everyone can make their own choices and I am not suggesting that people should not decide to sit with their kids. All I am saying is that this is really a matter of personal choice as opposed to there being a real safety issue associated with it.

 

[Flying mermaid]

12 would be fine for well behaved kids. We never did it though - we travelled together as a family always even if it meant dropping down a class e.g. with 5 of us on full fares, F became impossible so we dropped to J. I always enjoyed being with them, so wouldn’t have liked having them separated from us for many hours, you don’t have them as children for very long really. I couldn’t imagine a scenario @amaroo where they would have been tired of F!

 

[Mumoftwins]

@Flying Fox how far is the flight you are thinking of?

If it's not a really long flight, I don't really see the issue about having kids in another class/area of plane if they are responsible enough and they fully understand the plan and are also comfortable with sitting away from you guys! So I reckon for you guys fly on same flight but diff areas on plane when they are 12yo is totally fine if as a family it works for you all. If the flight was longer than say 8 hours, I probably wouldn't sit apart from them.

I also have twin boys but they are only 3yo! Our recent flights Per-Bris return, the flight over was complete nightmare!! lol

What about you and 1 kid fly in the better class one way - and dad and other kid fly in better class on way home as an option - esp if you thinking of doing the diff classes because of not enough points or to save costs! It could actually be fun and twins can often really enjoy one-on-one time with either or both parents...

I flew as a kids I travelled heaps as unaccompanied minor from 5yo for short intra-state flights, like Sydney to Tamworth/or Brisbane and then from 9yo UM Syd-Perth return flights to visit my dad 3 or 4 times a year for a number of years - this was back in the 80's/90's!
To be honest, I think I would be hesitant these days to send my kids as fully unaccompanied until an age I really knew they could cope on own and prob around teenagers - as inflight staff I have experienced in past few years can barely look after basic service of meals and drinks, let alone 'assume' responsibility of unaccompanied minors which say Qantas domestic within AU is available for 5 years old! I know this isn't your scenario as they wont be "unaccompanied" but just saying)

 

[get me outta here]

In theory, a couple of 12 yo could be together in Y whilst the oldies are higher up. When having older kids, justyifing to them and to yourself is easier. When younger, I might feel that I was ‘abandoning’ them and would worry what was happening back there and then not enjoy my F experience so much having a case of the guilts.

 

[clipped_wings]

I have booked this very itinerary (or itineraries) this morning. VA SYD-LAX return. Mr Clipped and I in J and the 6 kids in YX.

It's slightly less devious than it seems - the eldest child is 26 and the youngest is 16. We moved them up to economy X and on the same side of the plane as we are. Not that they'll be able to see us, but just so I don't have to jog far down the fuselage to chat with them mid-flight.

I won't lose sleep over our decision. That's mostly because I'll be in a bed But also because I just don't anticipate some horrendous incident where we need to get out together. Honestly, if I felt that way inclined, I doubt I'd be able to let them out of my sight ever. It's just a plane trip.

And (God forbid) if the worst thing happened mid air - well, I'm pretty sure you don't fall to the ground in order according to your seat allocation........

 

[CMak]

We have travelled to Europe and the US separately (J & Y) when our children were 11 and 15 and 12 and 16 with the eldest a reasonably sized male who could help his sister more adequately then I in an emergency. They didn’t mind the separation as they were very pleased just to be going on overseas holidays.
When the eldest left home for university we were able to have the youngest in J with us.
It all depends on your circumstances- we wouldn’t be able to travel with the whole family in J as we travelled up front on points and paid for the Y seats

 

[amaroo]

12 would be fine for well behaved kids. We never did it though - we travelled together as a family always even if it meant dropping down a class e.g. with 5 of us on full fares, F became impossible so we dropped to J. I always enjoyed being with them, so wouldn’t have liked having them separated from us for many hours, you don’t have them as children for very long really. I couldn’t imagine a scenario @amaroo where they would have been tired of F!

It must have been us then - lol

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Everyone can make their own choices and I am not suggesting that people should not decide to sit with their kids. All I am saying is that this is really a matter of personal choice as opposed to there being a real safety issue associated with it.

The safety issue is a very simple one. If the parent is in business class and the child somewhere in economy, the first instincts of the parents will be to look for their children, not where to find the closest exit.

Parents going against the flow of other passengers trying to exit the aircraft is a real danger.

This is not the case when the kids are UMs. The UMs will exit the aircraft under the supervision of crew and other passengers.

 

[mrsterryn]

My son would complain at any age (now mid thirties ) if he wasn't in a premium class with us lol
Fortunately brand new baby for him and his wife has curtailed overseas travelling for now

 

[Flying Fox]

@Flying Fox how far is the flight you are thinking of?

If it's not a really long flight, I don't really see the issue about having kids in another class/area of plane if they are responsible enough and they fully understand the plan and are also comfortable with sitting away from you guys! So I reckon for you guys fly on same flight but diff areas on plane when they are 12yo is totally fine if as a family it works for you all. If the flight was longer than say 8 hours, I probably wouldn't sit apart from them.

I also have twin boys but they are only 3yo! Our recent flights Per-Bris return, the flight over was complete nightmare!! lol

Congrats on your twins. Hang in there, everyday it gets a little easier. I can barely remember back to when the boys were 3yrs old. Maybe its a blessing

Not sure really on the flight length. It was more a general question but I was thinking USA, Europe and beyond Asia in general.

Yes the one-on-one time is great and a real treat in many ways. We do try and schedule this kind of time in on a regular basis. Its an interesting idea that I had not considered (flying 1 adult & 1 child in J each way).

I guess my thoughts about flying the kids in Y were based on cost & point savings. They have done plenty of J travel and in many ways I want them to appreciate that not everyone travels J (and I have done plenty of Y travel and survived).

Thanks all for your input.

I hadn't considered an evacuation situation but then again I have never been in one.