Economy vs premium economy when traveling with a college-aged kid

[PeninsulaPerson]

Change her seat to economy but don't give her the $800 to teach her a valuable life lesson.

What valuable life lesson is that? That people set traps? That expressing your different values is punished?

+1

[PeninsulaPerson]

If it was my kid, I'd say I'm buying so I set the rules. If you don't like the rules then pay it yourself.

At which the kid - technically an adult - might choose to just stay home.

Especially if this is some sort of command performance.

If it's a fun trip offered by a loving parent, surely there is room for laughs and flexibility on both sides!

[PeninsulaPerson]

Tell her you think she's right about it being too much money and take a less expensive trip instead?

+1

[PeninsulaPerson]

Congratulated her for trying ! I am sure the money is worth more to her than the roomy seat if she is like most college kids.

+1

[SmileyFace]

3 options?
You forgot Option 4:
Fly economy with her so you can sit together and then give her the $800. Pocket the extra $800 from your ticket.

[ResearchMed]

Or come up with a Travel Plan B and be clear about the arrangements from the start.

PP: Usually I really agree with you, but not this time.

I would have assumed that the FIRST Travel Plan was "clear about the arrangements".
I've never heard of bickering when someone offers a trip, wanting something "more" or "better"... and it's especially distasteful that the recipient wanted to pocket the difference, rather than suggesting other ways to spend that money... or to suggest the donor just save it.

"No, I don't want to eat at that nice Italian restaurant tomorrow. Could we just go to Burger King, and you give me the money saved?"
Or even, "Thanks, but how about we DON'T go out to eat, and you give me the money that you would have spent?"
Really!?

Since when does there need to be a SECOND plan offered because the recipient was "too picky" for the first offer?
Suggesting going to the British Museum instead of the Victoria and Albert Museum ("because I think we'd enjoy the X more than the Y" or such) is one thing.
(And if the latter entry free is less than the former, it would - IMO - be nice if recipient didn't ask for the difference in entry fees!)


RM

[theplayer11]

basically your daughter values $800 more than giving you some companionship on a 10 hour flight.
I would be offended by this offer.

[SmileyFace]

basically your daughter values $800 more than giving you some companionship on a 10 hour flight.
I would be offended by this offer.

It depends - I wouldn't be offended:
Assuming it is an overnight flight the daughter might figure they will be sleeping much of the time.
Assuming the trip to London already includes a lot of things they will be doing together.
Assuming daughter can really use the $800.

We don't have enough info to make this judgement.

[PeninsulaPerson]

This is a weird attempt at bartering ...

I've never heard of bickering when someone offers a trip, wanting something "more" or "better"...

RM - the kid has been "bartering" with their parent their whole life. For "more" and maybe "better." Maybe even bickering sometimes. They're family!

As far as can be surmised, the daughter is happy to go to London with the parent. As I said, unless it's a command performance (" ... and you must sit next to me and do what I want ........ because I'm paying!!!), it can hardly hurt for the OP to take this with a smile and not as a rejection. Reframing! They'll be together in London.

Maybe we can agree to disagree on this one ... .

[theplayer11]

basically your daughter values $800 more than giving you some companionship on a 10 hour flight.
I would be offended by this offer.

It depends - I wouldn't be offended:
Assuming it is an overnight flight the daughter might figure they will be sleeping much of the time.
Assuming the trip to London already includes a lot of things they will be doing together.
Assuming daughter can really use the $800.

We don't have enough info to make this judgement.

I disagree, I said I would be offended. That is how I would feel. I sense a bit of entitlement here.
Asking for $800 should have never crossed her mind.

[PeninsulaPerson]

We don't have enough info to make this judgement.

+1

+1 indeed.

It sounds hellacious to me but then maybe the OP and their daughter have a good relationship.

[Kendall]

This thread has run its course and is locked (family relationships, topic exhausted). See: Locked Topics

Moderators or site admins may lock a topic (set it so no more replies may be added) when a violation of posting policy has occurred. Occasionally, even if there are no overt violations of posting policy, a topic (or thread) will reach a point where the information content of the discussion has been essentially exhausted and further replies are much more likely to cause distress to the community than add anything of value.