I sat apart from my parents on a number of flights from as long as I can remember, largely out of necessity (Staff Travel, last seat on aircraft).

I don't think it is particularly selfish if the kids are capable of understanding the behaviour expected of them, and can entirely understand where CW seats are so expensive or unavailable if redeeming Avios...if parents are on the same deck and not too far from them to deal with any issues...

This is not black and white though and there are different standards depending upon what parents are doing, maturity of kids, travel experience and age.

PG - your last post is very..."American"...your view of op-ups with empty seats is simply not how BA or any European airline operate. In the US, yes, it will be filled, but BA will not op-up to empty seats simply as it is empty. They are not unknown to threaten to issue invoices or prosecute where self op-ups occur. There is a difference between squeezing every last thing from what you are entitled in the spirit of FT (Euro-cheats aside), and something you haven't paid for. I'm afraid you may have to admit defeat on this one. Stop digging...


Remember that the gin-swilling idiot sitting in F with kids in Y would probably do little to control them if they were all sitting together in F...!