Thelife- I enjoy flying in business class while leaving my kid in economy class.
- She gets to take advantage of my perks, including extra checked bags and lounge access, for free.
I receive a ton of side-eye glances of disapproval on international flights because I travel in business class and leave my teenager in economy.
And, yes, strangers have called me a "bad mom" for leaving her in the economy cabin for as long as 13 hours while I sit in business class.
Nothing, however, can persuade me to join my petite 16-year-old in a narrow seat in a cabin with hundreds of other travelers for a long-haul flight. I'm not going to pay hundreds to upgrade her ticket, either.
I feel the judgment, but I don't let it get to me
Before the flight takes off, I always explain to a crew member that my daughter, a seasoned traveler, is on her own in economy and that I'll be in business. I also give the crew my seat number.
I've often noticed eavesdroppers giving me judgmental glares while my sad-looking daughter receives sympathetic looks. I've even seen onlookers shake their heads at me with disgust.
Still, without feeling the slightest bit of blame, I joyfully trot up the aisle to my business-class seat, excited to convert it to a bed and enjoy the pleasant dining experience that comes with the upgrade.
My business-class status also comes with perks and freebies for my daughter
Fortunately, I can share a number of business-class perks with my kid without having to pay for two business-class tickets.
Recently, when heading to a British Airways flight from Sydney to London, we dodged a 100-person queue at the economy check-in desk. The business-class counter had no line, and the staff happily checked us in together even though my kid's pass was for economy class.
My daughter has also benefited from my generous British Airways business-class luggage allowance. In economy, you can only check in one complimentary 51-pound bag, but you get to check in two 70-pound bags in business class.
On one occasion, I checked her bags because I had just one 51-pound bag, and she had two heavy-shell suitcases stuffed with clothes. All three pieces of luggage were marked "first-class priority," and she wasn't charged extra for checking her bags.
I can also usually take my daughter with me to business-class lounges, which are great places to relax in airports and avoid the temptation of duty-free stores.
When on the flight, I make sure to bring her my complimentary business-class amenities bag, usually filled with a fabric eye mask, lip balm, socks, a dental kit, and moisturizer.
Sometimes I share my food, too. On one 13-hour flight, I received an elaborate breakfast with overnight oats, slices of sweet white dragon fruit, and a chive omelet. I sent the vegan items to my daughter, and much to her delight, the cabin crew delivered them to her on a linen-covered tray with a mug of steaming herbal tea.
Otherwise, my daughter and I have no contact from when the flight is about to take off to when we disembark. Occasionally, I walk back to check on her, and sometimes, I just find her sleeping.
My daughter isn't always thrilled with our flying arrangement, but I think it's a pretty fair deal. And she certainly doesn't seem to mind it when we disembark to find our priority-tagged bags first out on the luggage carousel, courtesy of my business-class status.