Yes, You Can Fly Business Class With Your Kids In Economy - Here's How to Make It Work

Image: Family at the airport. (Photo Credit: Vasyl / Adobe Stock)

by Holly Johnson
Last updated: 12:00 PM ET, Sun September 1, 2024

Traveling with kids can be both exciting and stressful at once, especially since there are so many decisions to make.

You need to plan enough activities to keep everyone in your crew entertained, but somehow not overbook yourself or plan things that will make everyone miserable.?You also have to decide what kind of lodging works best for your group and how you'll transport from place to place — and all while sticking to whatever travel budget you've set for your family.

And that's before you even book your flights. At this point in your planning journey, you'll make some tough decisions in terms of where you're going to sit on the plane — and whether to settle or splurge. Due to the high costs of traveling in a premium cabin on international long-haul itineraries (and because some parents don't want to sit separately from their kids), many families choose to have everyone tough it out in economy no matter what.

But, you don't actually have to fly in economy with your kids, and it's not really a big deal to place them in economy while you enjoy a lie-flat business class seat with a glass of Prosecco in hand. I know this because my husband and I have done this with our kids on numerous long-haul flights to destinations in Europe and the Middle East.

We mainly do this due to cost considerations, whether we're paying for travel with cash or airline miles. My husband is also tall (6'3) with very long legs and, quite frankly, we both have bad knees and backs. We also enjoy access to much better airplane food, bigger movie screens and a lot more personal space. Flying in economy for 10 or 12 hours is something we do when we have to, but try to avoid it at all costs.

American Airlines passenger using First Class lie-flat seat

The thing is, I'm not really making excuses. I don't feel bad about flying Business while my kids fly in economy at all, and neither should you. That said, there are some moves you can make to make the entire experience easier and more comfortable for everyone involved — including other travelers who sit next to your kids on the plane.?

Get Kids Travel Experience First

First off, you should wait to fly in a separate cabin from your kids until they have some travel experience under their belts. They should have flown several times with you next to them in the past before sitting back in economy on their own.

Having some experience will help ease their nerves while giving them an idea of what to expect in terms of meal service, bathroom breaks and more. In the end, this means they will feel more comfortable and so can you.

Wait for Maturity to Set In

I also advise waiting until your kids reach a certain level of maturity before they fly in a separate cabin. This recommendation isn't necessarily tied to a specific age. Instead, your kids need to be old enough (and calm enough) to sit and watch movies or read quietly for the duration of the flight.

If you have kids who are fidgety, prone to arguing with each other or both, you should wait to place them in a separate cabin from you until they are a little more grown-up. For reference, we didn't fly Business class with our kids in economy until our two girls were ages 10 and 12.

A child enjoys an economy seat on a flight

Seat Kids Strategically

Also, make sure to be strategic when choosing seats on the plane — as in, make sure you don't seat them in a way that opens the door to unnecessary confrontation. For example, don't sit one kid on the aisle or window and the other in the middle when you know for a fact your kids will argue over who is stuck in the middle for a long-haul flight.

I personally place my kids in two aisle seats across from each other. This means they are close enough to speak if they need to, but they both have an "equal" seat. With an aisle between them, this also means they don't have to share any physical space.

Board With Your Kids

Boarding the plane with your kids can also give you more peace of mind, even if you have to wait until economy class is called instead of boarding early with your premium cabin.

That said, I have never had any trouble taking my kids on the plane with me when I board in the first boarding group. Gate agents have always understood what was happening and why without me having to say a word.

Feel Free to Check On Them

Also remember that, no matter how big of an aircraft you're flying, you're never going to be more than a few hundred feet from your kids. Even the world's largest passenger aircraft (the Airbus A380) is only 239 feet long, so it's not like you're completely abandoning them or leaving them to fend for themselves.

I always check on my kids in economy at least once during a long-haul flight, and it's never a big deal. I just get up and walk back there, and I usually find them watching movies or dead asleep.?

The Bottom Line

If you want to fly in luxury while your kids are in a regular seat, you should give this strategy a try. You'll save money or miles if you split up on the way to your destination, and if you're old like me, you might save yourself from some aches and pains.

If they're experienced travelers who are mature enough to sit on their own, chances are good your flight experience will go off without a hitch.

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