Your thoughts on kids in first class

[drew64]

I have often flown with my kids on first class on domestic flights, and in business class on intenrational flights - doemstic are upgrades.

They are better behaved than many adults I have seen on flights!

Secondly, as long as I am paying for their seat either with money or upgrades, they have every right to a first class seat and tough if someone else does not like it.


My pet peeve is parents who sit themselves in first or business class and leave their young children in coach to be babysat by others - sometimes on 10-16 hour flights. I think if your kids are under 16 and in a different cabin, you should be charged the unaccompanied minor fee if you are going to pass out in business class and pretend they are not back there.

 

[crashbb]

My pet peeve is parents who sit themselves in first or business class and leave their young children in coach to be babysat by others - sometimes on 10-16 hour flights. I think if your kids are under 16 and in a different cabin, you should be charged the unaccompanied minor fee if you are going to pass out in business class and pretend they are not back there.

I agree with you, to a point. UMs generally stop on the child's 12th birthday (although a parent can make a special request for it up until the child's 18th birthday).

On the airline I generally fly, a child under the age of 8 must fly in the same cabin as their parent/guardian.

The only time I flew in a separate cabin from my parent's as a child was when *I* flew up front and my dad flew in the back. There was only room for one op-up and my dad let me have it (it was a short flight and I'd flown alone many times before this, so he knew I'd be fine and the FAs and gate agents were fine with it). Given the rule about children flying in a different cabin, I suppose that that wouldn't happen now.

 

[Chelley00]

DD8 and I flew first class in November. When we boarded, some guy actually sighed and leaned over to his wife and said something about how kids shouldn't be allowed in first class. He didn't know I heard it, but I really wanted to drop my carryon on top of his head.

The guy in front of them TALKED LOUDLY through most of the flight to his across the aisle neighbor about golf. My daughter sat quietly and watched a movie on the laptop and never said a word.

After the flight they guy who had made the snotty comment told my daughter she was very well behaved and offered his snack that he hadn't opened.


You may get looks when you first sit down, but you'll probably get that same look in coach from people who see kids and automatically assume they are going to scream, cry and yell through out the flight.

 

[DaisyD]

My kids love first class. They always got huge cookies and drinks before we even took off. I have no problem with kids in first class or anywhere else as long as they aren't screaming in my ear. I wish they had first class from BWI to MCO. We fly business on Airtran and that's as close as I can get to it anymore.

 

[disfan07]

My thoughts are regardless of whether you are flying in first or coach. As long as your child knows how to behave, doesn't matter to me. If your child cannot behave on a flight, please dont bring them on the plane at all, regardless of where on the plane you will be.

If your child knows how to behave on a plane....have a great trip

 

[DreamLiveLoveDisney]

He's definitely very well behaved, and I plan on bringing plenty of activities to keep him busy.
I totally agree with others who have said that adults can sometimes be worse than kids. I hope the adults in my cabin behave as well as my son!

 

[goofy4tink]

I have an issue with poorly behaved children back in coach, with me, in first class, on the train, or on a Disney bus...doesn't matter. If you pay for first class, then have at it. Having the money to fly first class doesn't not automatically mean you are going to be well behaved...seen many not so well behaved adults in first class, forget about any kids misbehaving.
I don't much hold with medicating kids. BUT....there are times when it is going to happen. My dd routinely took meds to keep her ears clear...she used to have problems with her ears when flying...didn't matter if she had had a cold recently or not..so had to take meds to keep it to a minimum. And, when she was younger, we did use a 'goopy' syrup..it was what was available, for her size.
There are many reasons a parent may feel the need to medicate their child, other than to just 'shut them up' on a flight. We really don't need to be castigating those that make this choice. Most parents do so with full knowledge of what they are putting into their child's system.

 

[Danibelle]

Ditto. I sit "up front" from time to time on an upgrade, and while kids aren't super-common up there, it does happen. No looks from me.

Now, if your kid is hogging all the wine, then, perhaps that's different.

Good point!

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

When I last flew first class, I sat next to a dog. If dogs are allowed, kids should be too. I might, however, have had a real problem had my terrified-of-dogs child was sitting in first class with me that day.

 

[Tasmen]

Yep, I think it is all about how the kid behaves. We plan to fly 1st class on our trip this coming May simply because we'll be flying a red eye and I cannot sleep in coach seats.

 

[Ariel on Land]

Go and don't worry about it. Anyone who has a problem with it can stick it! I've witnessed a couple of occasions when adults in FC get drunk and stupid and quite honestly I'd MUCH rather sit near a misbehaving youngster than stupid/loud/obscene adults!!

Have a great trip!