When parents travelling business class leave their kids in economy

[ermen]

Not sure if this article has already been posted.

My thoughts:-

1. Why didn't the parents book the kids into an aisle + middle seat instead of 2 middle seats?
2. Whilst the kids did seem to be have been relatively well behaved, I would have been quite annoyed if i was the person in the aisle seat and the kids have to climb out over me frequently
3. Call BS on the fact that parents put their toddlers in Y while they are up in J. Impossible for this to happen.
4. Whilst not in the position to think about it now, I reckon I would do the same (i.e. travel in J whilst putting my kids in Y) - just so not to spoil them...

When parents travelling business class leave their kids in economy

 

[anat0l]

I'm sure an article like that has been published before, but less often than general rant about kids articles.

My thoughts on your thoughts (not rebuttals, just adding to the thoughts):

1. Probably there might not be two seats together, except those. If the folks have no status, they'd have to pay extra to get specific seats (needless to say, however, if they had purchased their Business seats with cash....)
2. Always a big problem, irrespective if the person in the middle is a child or an adult. This is why I don't like being in the middle or window if I know I'm going to often get up and use the bathroom. I'd rather hold than keep being a disturbance, unless it is an emergency. When I'm in the aisle, whilst I'd be annoyed, there's not likely much you can do - if one has to go, they have to go.
3. I can believe that it can happen. Maybe "toddlers" shouldn't be taken too literally, but as seemingly negligent as it may sound, I can believe it can happen.
4. My view would be unless the kids truly are mature enough to take care of themselves (9 and 10 years old might be enough, but that depends), we would all have to travel in the same cabin. So all J or all Y, no mixing. Alternatively, one parent and child per cabin. The definition of "spoiling them" IMO would be paying for their premium travel after they have earning capability (at the very least, they should be made to pay the Economy fare to offset your paying the premium one).

Overall, unless the kids really were trustworthy to be left alone like that, it's rather irresponsible of the parents to leave them alone as such. And talking over someone like that especially when the cabin is by default quiet is rather rude - yes, there's no rules, no police etc. but I believe that is rude.

Taking the article at face value, at least those kids sound better than the horror stories the rest of the media would have you to believe.

 

[Deleted member]

We have travelled with the Grandchildren and sit wherever they sit. That said we have had them in J with us 3 times on trans Tasman flights but all in Y for interstate.
Wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them in Y until say they are into their teens.

 

[amaroo]

Later this year we'll be splitting up for the first time.

However, we'll be in F and they'll be in J ... CX CDG-HKG ... my kids are aged 14/12. Can't wait

 

[artemis]

Sounds like the whole trip could have been better planned, especially when it came to seating choices. Ultimately though, those kids behaved better than a bunch of bogans swilling beer and putting seats back. That's the whole point of Y travel - you never know who's going to be your close companion for 12 hours!

I don't see a problem with 9/10 year olds flying solo, depending on the child. I'm pretty sure my brother and I did SYD-HKG aged 11/12 as unaccompanied minors. I don't even recall how we managed immigration but I remember the approach to the old airport!

I guess if you were super worried about the kids, you could pay for a nanny to fly economy with them. I don't really see the point of J for tweens...

 

[chelzmalee]

IMO up until the kids are teens (all kids, not just one), parents should fly in same cabin as child, as to not tick off other passengers. After that, I have no issue with kids in Y and parents in J or F - shows them they have to work for what they want.

 

[Isochronous]

IMO up until the kids are teens (all kids, not just one), parents should fly in same cabin as child, as to not tick off other passengers. After that, I have no issue with kids in Y and parents in J or F - shows them they have to work for what they want.

Parents these days are so irresponsible. They should be supervising their children not leaving them alone to potentially run riot.

Of course, I bet they'd be the type to immediately blame the airline and demand millions in compensation if a paedophile did something to them when the parents were chugging the Tattinger down in J.

 

[JohnK]

I don't see an issue if the kids were well behaved.

I am not sure what I would do in that situation but I know for sure and certain if I ever have children they will not be spoiled by me purchasing a business class seat for them.

 

[Mark3000]

I don't see a problem with this either. The person in the aisle seat will always have the problem of someone climbing over them and I would rather kids climbing over me than a big smelly fat guy

It sounds like these kids were much better behaved than some adults can be

 

[whatmeworry]

Writer is female, so a Male would never be put in this position.

 

[Denali]

Parents these days are so irresponsible. They should be supervising their children not leaving them alone to potentially run riot......

The average child doesn't run riot but there are a number of issues to be considered.

Are the kids emotionally mature and independent enough to occupy themselves, speak up when they need something (via the FA), not be shy to ask me to move so they can walk/toilet etc and to yell loudly if they feel they are being inappropriately dealt with (eg, IF there is an actual creeper on the flight, which has happened to adults who were too afraid to react let alone a child).

Most kids, give them headphones and entertainment are happy enough but the ones that need assistance with their trays, too shy to ask for a drink ect - shouldn't be left alone.

Personally, I wouldn't be happy sitting next to a 9yr as I would feel some pressure to oversee them in some minimal way but for a teen, I cant imagine any issues unless they are incapable of sitting down and behaving (which is what I expect of myself)

 

[Princess Fiona]

Parents these days are so irresponsible. They should be supervising their children not leaving them alone to potentially run riot.

Of course, I bet they'd be the type to immediately blame the airline and demand millions in compensation if a paedophile did something to them when the parents were chugging the Tattinger down in J.

Well I guess I must be irresponsible then

 

[Moindardt]

As someone who is about to do this, I must point out that they can't do this on Australia long haul without having them as unaccompanied minors (for under 12yrs). https://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/children-travelling-alone/global/en They must be unaccompanied "if travelling in a different class or cabin". Virgin will only do it on domestic and short-haul international and will not accept the booking if at least 1 parent isn't flying with them. Same with a number of others airlines I spoke to.

We had the Y seats just behind F booked so we were only 3 rows apart, but were told they would go in a special section where they would be monitored and assisted through the whole flight ($90 per child for this). We have to meet up with QF Personnel before the flight to sign all the paperwork and hand them over, then collect them and sign for them, at a meeting point after the flight. I am interested if anyone has done this before (previously my wife has flown with them).

 

[blackcat20]

Are the kids emotionally mature and independent enough to occupy themselves, speak up when they need something (via the FA), not be shy to ask me to move so they can walk/toilet etc and to yell loudly if they feel they are being inappropriately dealt with (eg, IF there is an actual creeper on the flight, which has happened to adults who were too afraid to react let alone a child).

Most kids, give them headphones and entertainment are happy enough but the ones that need assistance with their trays, too shy to ask for a drink ect - shouldn't be left alone.

Personally, I wouldn't be happy sitting next to a 9yr as I would feel some pressure to oversee them in some minimal way but for a teen, I cant imagine any issues unless they are incapable of sitting down and behaving (which is what I expect of myself)

This would be my concern too; long haul Y is tedious enough without feeling like you're babysitting the kid next to you...

 

[Princess Fiona]

As someone who is about to do this, I must point out that they can't do this on Australia long haul without having them as unaccompanied minors (for under 12yrs). https://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/children-travelling-alone/global/en They must be unaccompanied "if travelling in a different class or cabin". Virgin will only do it on domestic and short-haul international and will not accept the booking if at least 1 parent isn't flying with them. Same with a number of others airlines I spoke to.

We had the Y seats just behind F booked so we were only 3 rows apart, but were told they would go in a special section where they would be monitored and assisted through the whole flight ($90 per child for this). We have to meet up with QF Personnel before the flight to sign all the paperwork and hand them over, then collect them and sign for them, at a meeting point after the flight. I am interested if anyone has done this before (previously my wife has flown with them).

Yes I have. Kids in J, me in F. Paperwork and process was very straightforward. In practice you will find that they will allow the kids to depart the aircraft with you IME.
Might be more difficult if they are stuck at the back of Y though!

 

[mrdctau]

I did a family trip to Europe in 2006 on points with MrsDCT and myself in F and the kids (then 7 & 8) in Y and it all went very smoothly. We flew QF MEL-SYD, BA SYD-BKK-LHR with a two-night stopover in BKK and the came back on QF LHR-SIN-MEL. Things may have changed since 2006, but the procedure back then was the kids flew as Unaccompanied Minors and there was a large quadruplicate form that had to be filled in for each of them effectively signing them away to the airline for duration of each sector and nominating myself as the person who would meet them at the other end. When I booked the trip I was told that we would hand-over the kids at check-in, but in practice both BA and QF were quite happy for us to look after the kids all the way to the gate and collect them at gate at the end of each flight. A few other things I can recall from the trip:

1. On the first sector (QF MEL-SYD) my wife and I were first off the plane and then it took an eternity for the kids to appear as they were taken up to the coughpit after landing in SYD which was a major thrill for the kids and perhaps something that was more common back then for UMs.
2. On the second sector (BA SYD-BKK) after reaching cruising altitude I went to check on the kids (who were seated Window & Middle with a middle-aged man in the Aisle) and I told the guy in Aisle that if he wants to, he can switch seats with my wife for the last hour of the flight which he was very happy to accept. Of course I had an ulterior motive of not wanting to wait for every single passenger to get off the plane before the UMs get taken off. My wife and I each checked on the kids one more time each during the rest of the flight and the kids were happily engrossed with the in-flight entertainment on each occasion.
3. On the third sector (BA BKK-LHR) we wound up with exactly the same crew (who also enjoyed a two night stopover in BKK) which was quite nice as they were familiar with us. On this sector the kids had three seats to themselves and all went smoothly.
4. On the fourth sector (QF LHR-SIN) we were the only passengers in F so the cabin crew let the kids move up front for about the last hour or so after the economy breakfast meal service was finished. This was probably more for their benefit as it meant they didn't need to escort them off the plane.
5. On the final sector (QF SIN-MEL) the kids explicitly told us not to come back and check on them as they found it a bit embarrassing so we complied and didn't see them until they were escorted off the plane in MEL.
6. We were able to take the kids into the lounges all the way through, including the Concorde Lounge at Heathrow.
7. We all had a wonderful holiday with the First Class flights (my first and only time travelling in F) being one of the highlights.

 

[Moindardt]

they were taken up to the coughpit after landing in SYD which was a major thrill for the kids and perhaps something that was more common back then for UMs.

Not wanting to hijack thread, but I was on a SYD-BNE flight in J last month and the guy beside me and 2 behind were all pilots, returning from training in SYD. In conversation with the one beside me, I mentioned that the pilots I knew, both Air Force and Airline, had all decided they wanted to be pilots after a trip to the coughpit. He laughed and said that it was the same for him. He turned and asked the 2 guys behind him and they both said it was the same for them as well. Just wonder how many future pilots we won't have because this doesn't happen anymore.

 

[Deleted member]

I'm not a pilot. I do have coffee each morning (when I collect my mail) with a retired WW2 Lancaster Bomber pilot who then went on to a career with BOAC / BA and finally a stint with RFDS in WA. He is now 92 BTW.
I used the term coughpit when talking about the latest lock out drama and he very firmly told me that it wasn't a coconut. It was a "Flight Deck".

 

[wooley]

I used the term coughpit when talking about the latest lock out drama and he very firmly told me that it wasn't a coconut. It was a "Flight Deck".

I'm very fond of the term coughpit... Some of the blokes I used to fly with definitely put the cough in coughpit.

One in particular was adamant we were 100 odd km west of where I knew we were.. He continued to question the fact even after a couple of low level maneuvers around my house.
It worries me he now flies for a major airline, maybe a glass coughpit will help his cause.

Anyway.. Back on topic...