Question for first class flyers

[deegack]

Dd has only flown first class because dh needs the extra room. I have gotten dirty looks and some mumbles under the breath as people board but she is usually well behaved in public. I of course, come prepared with a ton of snacks new toys coloring books etc.

 

[ilovemk76]

Thanks. I'm asking because I have always wondered. I have an 8 year old and a 4 year old and we are flying to Hawaii first class. Sometimes I look around and wonder what the other first class passengers are thinking when we are up there with our kids.

This is certainly not what Dave Ramsey would approve when you are following his plan.

 

[DopeyDame]

I don't get annoyed when I see a kid in first class, assuming the kid is well behaved. (Which is, incidently, my standard for adults as well. Misbehaving people, regardless of age, annoy me.)
I may get flamed for this, but I do get annoyed when I (only occasionally) see a lap baby in first class. In that case, the parents did not pay for the ticket, and there really is no reasonable expectation that an infant will be well-behaved. No matter how mellow the baby usually is, there's a more than decent chance that a baby will, at some point in the flight, start crying and being upset. (In fairness, I do wish lap babies were banned in all cabins...)
So, for your well behaved 4 and 8 year old, don't give it a second thought and have a fantsatic trip!

 

[budbeerlady]

Nope, we upgrade with DD as often as possible. The flight crew is always so sweet to her and even with other kids we have never had an issue. (Even when she drinks Chocolate milk like she has never had it.)

 

[ols386]

This is certainly not what Dave Ramsey would approve when you are following his plan.

Huh???

 

[mefordis]

This is certainly not what Dave Ramsey would approve when you are following his plan.

Ever hear of frequent flyer miles and Premier status? Also, if you are following Dave Ramsey which we are not, as long as you are on the final baby step, you can use your extra money for whatever you want.

 

[mefordis]

Huh???

I posted a question to Dave Ramsey followers asking if they go on vacation before completing his baby steps and I guess this poster assumes I am on his financial program. Which I am not.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

As long as they are behaving and quiet it doesn't bother me.

Both of my kids have flown first class a few times.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Doesn't bother me - but then again first class to Hawaii is not so great.
Much better when you go east to Europe - lay flat beds.

 

[mefordis]

I've flown First Class on Continental but not United. Since the merger, CO is now United.

Can anyone comment on the First Class service compared to CO (which was very good!)

Thanks!

 

[DopeyDame]

my mom works for United (heritage United) - she has complained non-stop lately about the fact that everything is now basically Continental. United kept the name, Continental got everything else. So if you've been happy with Continental in the past, you should be good to go. (Truly, there's not much difference in the heritage airlines anyway.)
As for what to expect - the big question is are you in a 3 cabin or 2 cabin aircraft. (ie, is there a business class, or just coach and first. International is always 3 cabin, but since Hawaii is technically domestic, it could just be a 2 cabin aircraft. In any case, you can still expect free drinks, improved (and more!) food, drinks before takeoff, more personal service, good entertainment options, etc. You won't get the big lay-flat beds (I just got back from Asia on those - AMAZING!!!) but other than that, it should be a great experience. I don't expect you'll notice much difference at all (other than what always exists from flight crew to flight crew, of course).
have fun!

 

[mefordis]

Thank you so much for the info! I haven't booked yet because this is going to be a November trip, I think. I would really like those lay flat beds. Any chance of taking a flight that has them? What type of aircraft has them? 757s? They don't even have them if you are flying straight to Honolulu? We are flying out of EWR.

my mom works for United (heritage United) - she has complained non-stop lately about the fact that everything is now basically Continental. United kept the name, Continental got everything else. So if you've been happy with Continental in the past, you should be good to go. (Truly, there's not much difference in the heritage airlines anyway.)
As for what to expect - the big question is are you in a 3 cabin or 2 cabin aircraft. (ie, is there a business class, or just coach and first. International is always 3 cabin, but since Hawaii is technically domestic, it could just be a 2 cabin aircraft. In any case, you can still expect free drinks, improved (and more!) food, drinks before takeoff, more personal service, good entertainment options, etc. You won't get the big lay-flat beds (I just got back from Asia on those - AMAZING!!!) but other than that, it should be a great experience. I don't expect you'll notice much difference at all (other than what always exists from flight crew to flight crew, of course).
have fun!

 

[kinntj]

I don't get annoyed when I see a kid in first class, assuming the kid is well behaved. (Which is, incidently, my standard for adults as well. Misbehaving people, regardless of age, annoy me.)
I may get flamed for this, but I do get annoyed when I (only occasionally) see a lap baby in first class. In that case, the parents did not pay for the ticket, and there really is no reasonable expectation that an infant will be well-behaved. No matter how mellow the baby usually is, there's a more than decent chance that a baby will, at some point in the flight, start crying and being upset. (In fairness, I do wish lap babies were banned in all cabins...)
So, for your well behaved 4 and 8 year old, don't give it a second thought and have a fantsatic trip!

We were first class passengers with a lap baby and all was well. We had so many great people around us. The only problem we had was a 4 year old boy having ear problems who was screaming. I felt for him and his family changed seats often to deal with it. So a lap baby is less behaved than one in it's own seat? Doesn't make sense.

 

[bigredbill]

I used to travel quite a bit for work and would fly first class most of the time. I rarely saw children in first class, but would have no issue with them. Good behavior is the key, as most have mentioned already.

I am more annoyed at the drunk, obnoxious flyers, and worst of all -- the farters. Come on!!! I don't want to smell your butt at 33,000 feet.

 

[Sweettears]

My nephew has flown many times in FC, he's well behaved and well mannered. It's all about how the child is raised and the expectations that are set for the child. Here's a picture of him on their way to Disney with my partner:

Is that a Manhatten in his hand? No wonder he is well behaved.

 

[mefordis]

I think the altitude gives some people gas.

I used to travel quite a bit for work and would fly first class most of the time. I rarely saw children in first class, but would have no issue with them. Good behavior is the key, as most have mentioned already.

I am more annoyed at the drunk, obnoxious flyers, and worst of all -- the farters. Come on!!! I don't want to smell your butt at 33,000 feet.

 

[1Jackpot]

We used to fly first class with our 4 children and no one ever said a word to me or my husband about it. It's really no one's business!!

 

[mefordis]

Such a cutie. Kids do much better in First.

My nephew has flown many times in FC, he's well behaved and well mannered. It's all about how the child is raised and the expectations that are set for the child. Here's a picture of him on their way to Disney with my partner:

 

[jlewisinsyr]

International is always 3 cabin, but since Hawaii is technically domestic, it could just be a 2 cabin aircraft.

Just to clarify, International, even specifically on United and/or Continental is not always 3 class. The Boeing 757's can be configured in two class or three class jets.

Is that a Manhatten in his hand? No wonder he is well behaved.

Nah, it's a Long Island Joking of course, it was a Coke.

 

[prncess674]

I've flown First Class on Continental but not United. Since the merger, CO is now United.

Can anyone comment on the First Class service compared to CO (which was very good!)

Thanks!

Just so you realize premium cabin rewards to Hawaii are EXTREMELY hard to come by especially if you are looking for more than a single premium seat on any flight. EWR nonstop to HNL is serviced by an international configuered (big seats with leg rests) plane and is one of the hardest award options. If you can find space on the EWR-LAX-HNL is generally serviced by an old "Hawaii config" plane which is a bigger seat but a very blah seat.

If you are planning on looking for saver biz/first awards to Hawaii I would first try to secure the actual award. More than likely you won't even find coach award space, much less multiple premium cabin seats on the same flight