What It's Really Like to Fly Business Class with Young Kids

When planning a family vacation, determining if business class is worth the investment adds another layer of consideration, especially with kids in tow.

Will you be met with judgmental glares from the entire cabin as you board? Or could this be the most enjoyable flight your family has ever experienced?

Typically, business class tickets offer superior seating, more space, enhanced dining options, attentive service, lounge access, complimentary drinks, and more. However, the experience of traveling with children can differ significantly from that of adults.

Business class was introduced in the 1970s, primarily targeting business travelers (often on company expenses) who needed to arrive at their destinations well-rested for work and meetings. Over the years, however, the travel landscape has evolved, and business class now accommodates a diverse range of passengers, not just those in suits closing deals.

Generally, children can enjoy the benefits of a lie-flat business class just as much as anyone else.

I’ve traveled in business class with my kids at various ages on several airlines. Although I haven’t always managed to get some rest, I’ve never regretted the experience.

If you have the miles, upgrade certificates, or funds to make it happen, here’s what it’s truly like to fly business class with young kids.

It's thrilling

Flying is incredible, and even a preschooler can recognize that airplane seats are typically tight and uncomfortable.

However, the thrill of flying in a "seat that transforms into a bed" is exhilarating—even for a toddler.

Whether you share the news beforehand or wait until boarding, everyone feels a rush of excitement about sitting in the premium seats at the front.

Naturally, in those "premium seats," kids might enjoy a little extra pampering from the flight attendants. On our latest United Polaris journey, my 6-year-old was even given a chance to visit the cockpit during boarding, mainly because she stood out with Grandma in the front row.

The excitement begins even before you board the plane.

When traveling in international business class, the luxury starts before boarding with lounge access, shorter check-in lines, and possibly expedited security, depending on your departure point.

If you're unsure which lounge you can access, a quick search online with your airline and departure city can help, or you can simply ask the agent at check-in.

Dining in the lounge can be more convenient for your family than on the flight, especially if the lounge provides a variety of hot meal options.

While dedicated kid-friendly areas in lounges seem to be dwindling, some lounges do offer family zones. Even without a designated space, children can still enjoy choosing their favorite drinks, snacks, or hot meals.

You’re all more likely to catch some sleep.

Our family always has grand plans for overnight business-class flights. We dress comfortably, watch a movie, enjoy a meal, and then aim to sleep. Alternatively, if the flight departs late enough, we might dine in the lounge and head straight to bed once onboard.

However, we all know that even the best plans can encounter bumps in the road. The success of your plan will depend on your child's age, temperament, and a bit of luck.

On a 2019 overnight flight returning from Bora Bora (BOB) with Air Tahiti Nui, our youngest daughter was just 4 years old. The excitement of choosing a movie from the extensive in-flight entertainment, the cool seat, and a few extra treats from the flight attendants (not guaranteed, but often given to kids in premium seats on international flights) kept her awake much longer than expected.

During a recent overnight flight from Houston to London on United Polaris, our now 6-year-old struggled a bit to settle down, partly because she felt a bit anxious being "alone"; our seats, while adjacent, didn’t seem particularly close due to the layout.

Despite a few minor setbacks in getting rest, both you and your kids are much more likely to enjoy some quality sleep when lying flat with a pillow and blanket, compared to sitting upright all night, especially as they grow out of the preschool stage.

Kids are generally welcomed in the front cabin.

With business-class seating, your family will likely board early, and most passengers nearby won't be traveling with children. This means you’ll probably attract some attention.

Considering the occasional online backlash against families in premium seats, you might worry about receiving a few disapproving glances.

While I’m not saying it’s impossible, the chances are quite low that it will happen to you. As long as you strive to meet your children's needs, your family will likely blend in just fine with the rest of the passengers.

In my 12 years of flying with kids, I’ve never truly experienced any negativity from other passengers, no matter where we were seated.

Now for the not-so-great news.

Yes, there’s some not-so-great news even in the premium seats.

Imagining yourself sipping Champagne, sleeping soundly in your lie-flat seat, and binge-watching tear-jerking shows at 36,000 feet? Forget it if you have little ones with you.

Sure, you might get lucky and enjoy all those perks, but my experience flying business class with very young children hasn’t played out that way.

While the perks of business class are undeniably superior to economy, the effort required to keep your child entertained (and quiet) remains high when they’re small. While your kid is engrossed in "Frozen" and enjoying their meal, you may snatch a few moments for yourself. (Just remember to request the kids' meals a few days ahead of your flight, as some airlines still haven’t reinstated them.)

When it’s time to sleep, get ready for a shift in dynamics. Your relaxation period may be coming to an end.

The harsh reality is that your dreams of peacefully reclining might not hold up with babies, toddlers, or even young kids on board. My eldest daughter sleeps comfortably in her seat and has for years, but little ones often have a different experience.

For the youngest travelers, being in their own space without you nearby (unless you’re seated like this) can be intimidating, especially as they start to feel drowsy.

Don’t just slip on your noise-canceling headphones and expect to sleep soundly until morning. Instead, keep one ear tuned to your little one, ready to help at the first sign of distress.

Unlike in economy, you might not immediately notice if they’re awake unless you’re paying close attention. My younger daughter got restless several times during that 2019 overnight flight from Bora Bora, and it’s happened on all our overnight journeys. It does improve as they grow older; our latest overnight flight to London was mostly uneventful once she got comfortable. Still, as a parent, be ready to sacrifice your own sleep for the sake of everyone else’s tranquility.

So, what do you do in the middle of the night with a child who can’t sleep?

Cartoon-watching in the middle of the ocean isn’t the worst solution. Eventually, they drift off, allowing you to recline your seat into sleep mode… at least for a little while.

Just be prepared to do whatever it takes to keep your little one quiet, which likely means you won’t be lying flat the entire time after all.

It's an improvement over economy.

Traveling in business class with young children may not be as relaxing as you envisioned, and the idea of everyone peacefully sleeping in their footie pajamas in the sky might not pan out. In fact, business class presents its own set of challenges, as you may not be as physically close to your kids as you would be in economy, and the stakes, expectations, and costs are considerably higher.

On the bright side, your family usually has access to more restrooms, greater assistance from flight attendants, and certainly more space and amenities than in the back of the plane.

When the flight concludes, you enjoy the added benefit of being among the first to disembark. On an international journey, this means you’ll get ahead of potentially hundreds of passengers in the customs and immigration line. Now that’s a perk.

How to secure business class for your family

Achieving business class for a family is a realistic goal using points and miles.

There are indeed flight awards available for booking four (or more) seats in business class. While you might need some flexibility and a bit of luck to secure your desired flights, it’s possible to do so for a reasonable number of miles, especially if you stay informed about transfer bonuses, award-chart sweet spots, and award availability.

Our recent journey to London and back included four seats in United's Polaris business class, all booked at the saver award level. In fact, three of those seats were reserved using ANA miles transferred from Amex Membership Rewards for 88,000 points each, which is significantly fewer miles than United would have required if we booked directly with them using United miles.

Occasionally, you can book Iberia business class to Europe for just over 25,000 Avios each way, and the Delta One Suite can sometimes be available across the ocean for about 50,000 Virgin Atlantic miles. I’m not saying it’s easy to secure business class awards for a family with a reasonable number of miles, but it is possible.

Bottom line

If you’re bringing little ones into business class, be prepared to set aside your dreams of a truly relaxing 12 hours in the sky at the boarding gate.

Traveling in business class with young children requires quite a bit of effort and offers little in the way of rest while they’re still small, but it’s undoubtedly a more favorable situation at the front of the plane. You’ll enjoy more space and likely receive better service than in Row 41, but you’ll still need to be an active parent for much of the journey as your kids adjust to sleeping in unfamiliar environments.

However, keep in mind that as your children grow older, the experience becomes increasingly relaxing (for you) with every mile traveled.