Originally Posted by
AlastairGordon
To be fair, that curmudgeonly executive in Business Class might be on his way to a very important meeting to discuss a transaction that is potentially extremely profitable, possibly generating a bonus for him personally in the 7 figure range. With that in mind, you really need to think about how important it is for your children to visit with their grandparents.
...and even in between, short of the private jet route, if said executive's time is worth that much outside of his (or her, but usually his) own mind, there's always flying first rather than business. If not having a screaming kid was a worry, and a 7-figure bonus was on the line, then
(often the very low, although it does depend on the route) four
(or at worst five on a few ULH routes) figure fare difference between J and F seems like a good idea.
Or using an upgrade instrument.
His (or her) bonus and indeed his business in general, is his problem, not the hypothetical parents in the cabin. The amount of money a given person has on the line is their problem; frankly, I'd have more
sympathy for the folks who are working on the road full time for a high-5/low-6-figures total comp and who is there either through a lucky travel policy or expert use of the mileage system than some very well off "executive" who has plenty of other options.
Regardless, one's reason for flying doesn't make anyone more important to the airline than anyone else paying the same fare, and even there, once they're on-board with a premium cabin ticket it's far from clear that the cabin cred is going know the fare paid vs. just that they're ticketed in the cabin and their status (if any.)
You buys your ticket, you take your chances with your neightbors.