Via iStockphoto / @cbro126 TikTok
A former flight attendant says that there was one request First and Business class passengers would always make.
First Class flights come with a lot of benefits that those of us sitting in economy will never see.
Not only do you occasionally get seats that let you lie all the way down, or pods more akin to hotel rooms than airplane seats, but you also get special treatment that others on the flight could only dream of.
For example, some flights offer onboard services from a chef. Others will provide you with a massage before you board.
However, just because you’re traveling in luxury doesn’t mean that flight attendants will be able to honor your every request.
Now, a former flight attendant says that there was one request that passengers in First and Business class repeatedly made. Here’s why he says it was ridiculous.
What Did These First Class Passengers Do?
In a video with over 205,000 views, TikTok user Callum (@cbro126) explains that there was something that First and Business class passengers would do that would “always make me laugh.” According to Callum, this would happen “all the time.”
“They would be like, ‘Can you keep an eye on my kid, please? ‘Cause they’re sat down the back,’” he recalls passengers saying.
“And it’s like, ‘No. I’m not a babysitter. This isn’t a babysitting service,’” he continues. “‘If you wanna go and check on your kid, feel free to go and check, but they will not be coming up here because you have not paid for them to be in here—so you can live with the repercussions of that.’”
That’s Not The Only Problem
If the kids joined their parents in First or Business class, there would be another consistent issue. Simply put, these “rich, rich people” would book a seat in Economy for their nanny, then have their children fly in First or Business class.
This would put the parents in the position of having to entertain their children for hours—something Callum says they were fundamentally incapable of doing.
“They would have nervous breakdowns,” Callum recalls. “They would ask if their nanny could come and sit in Business or First and look after the child for them—and I would always take such great pleasure in telling them ‘No, unfortunately, that cannot happen.’…They literally would fall apart.”
One time, a passenger was so unable to handle their own child that they turned to Callum for advice.
“One of the parents once asked me, ‘How do you keep a child entertained?’” Callum states. “She was being deadly serious. She was like, ‘How can I keep my child entertained? Because he doesn’t want to sit and just watch things. Like, what can I do with him?’”
“They just have no clue,” Callum concludes. “It is crazy how out of touch some of the passengers that you flew with were.”
Can You Ask A Flight Attendant To Watch Your Kid?
Callum makes it seem like asking a flight attendant to check on your child is an absurd request. But is there any instance where that’s OK?
Depending on the airline, parents may be allowed to book their children in a different cabin from themselves, provided that the children are between the ages of 5 and 11 or 12. The required age changes depending on the airline.
That said, there are a few catches. To start, airlines stress that the parent is still responsible for their child, even if they’re sitting in another cabin—meaning they can’t just farm parenting duties off to a flight attendant. Additionally, a parent may not always be able to move between cabins to care for their child.
No matter where the child is sitting, however, it is not appropriate to ask a flight attendant to watch your kid. While a flight attendant may be able to assist a child in basic things like making sure their seat belt is fastened and helping them use the in-flight entertainment system, it is not their job to keep your child entertained or to offer a passenger periodic updates on their child’s well-being.
That said, some airlines will offer a comparable service for a fee. For example, American Airlines provides a service that claims to assist unaccompanied minors with travel. This additional service costs $150 each way, plus applicable taxes.
Viewers Have Similar Stories
In the comments section, users recalled their own experiences dealing with wealthy people and their children in First or Business class.
“I was one of the kids left in economy. And the flight attendants wouldn’t ever let me go up and talk to my parents,” recalled a user. “I would go back to my seat and cry. I wish now I would have made a huge scene.”
“I’m Crew and I can verify that this is absolutely true!!” exclaimed another. “I’ve seen all sorts and they say to the children ‘If you don’t behave, this lady will tell you off.’ I reply, ‘Absolutely not.’”
“This is extremely common. Where it gets wild is when you see couples (often, but not always, with a big age gap) with the man flying business/first & his fancy woman/wife/girlfriend in economy,” claimed a third. “I’ve seen it so many times and I can’t get my head round it. What a way to kill romance, you would think.”
BroBible reached out to Callum via TikTok direct message and comment.