A very loaded question about flying without children. What would you do?
 

I was at a party last weekend and mentioned that my husband and I were taking a trip on our 10th anniversary and leaving our baby (who will be 15 months by then) with the nanny and grandma.

She said "Are you flying separately - you know, just in case?"

You can imagine my horror. I mean, driving is certainly more dangerous. But I feel she "put it out there." We were using miles to go first class - and those flites are certainly limited. But that's not enough of a reason to fly together.

I'm sure when time comes I'll be so sad to leave my son for 7 days. I dont really need this on my head.

What would you do?

Would you refuse to go in a car together?

Don't let idiots run your life.

I thought someone would say that. :)

You should have looed her squarely in the eye and asked, "Just in case...what?"

And then let her dig an even bigger hole for herself.

A lot of older people still have old-fashioned ideas about flying, dating from when it was quite a risky undertaking. Probably the same people who think that compulsory seatbelts in cars are a violation of their freedoms and 'one for the road' is acceptable.

Off you go and enjoy yourselves, guilt-free. Your child will make enough demands on you for the rest of your lives.

thereadbaron wrote: "I thought someone would say that."

I'm particularly well qualified to say it: my life has been run by an idiot since I became emancipated from my parents.

Padraig, it took me a moment to realize you meant yourself :)

<<A lot of older people still have old-fashioned ideas...>>

And a lot of them don't! Why stfc would you assume this tacky comment was made by an older person? There are plenty of young idiots, totally lacking tact, who would be just as apt to to open mouth and insert foot.

threadbaron: I'm pretty much a fatalist and this sort of worry isn't something I have ever had. Please don't ruin your trip by allowing this comment to interfere. Have a Happy Anniversary and a wonderful time!

I don't think it was an older person, a lot of people have stupid ideas.

Because it is more likely you would die in an auto trip, I would do whatever you'd do in that case. Although it might be true that if you did die in an airplane crash, it would be more likely you definitely both would die.

I'd make sure you had decent life insurance and an up-to-date will, that's all, but you should have that anyway.

Perhaps you should eat different meals at all times, like the pilot and the co-pilot.

First class on frequent flier miles? Good luck changing that and...what are the odds? Go forward with your trip.

the person in question was a mom of 2 in her 40s. So no, not really old.

and there is one set of tickets that works for us that I can use my AA FF miles to get to Milan round trip - business class.

Ok - guess I'll go forward - Im more sad about leaving baby - and it's not for 10 months!

Seconding what Padraig said. You're MUCH more likely to be injured or killed driving. So by this friend's logic, neither you nor your hubby should drive anywhere together "you know, just in case?"

Apologies to 'granny' then, I assumed it was her who said it. I must have misunderstood what you wrote.

I stand by my opinion though, I've been subjected to it throughout the 35 years of my flying carer.

Do not worry about it - but do make sure your directives are up to date so the baby will be taken care of by the people you would want raising him/her. You know, "just in case".

According to the Fear of Flying website "Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000."

If this is the case (though the 1 in 5000 is pretty scary!) I suggest that you fly together but make sure you take separate taxis to and from the airport.

Only answer is:

"Since we weren't planning on coming back anyway, we didn't see the point of getting separate flights."

The gentleman I worked for traveled weekly on business. Once or twice a year he would include his wife on these trips and use his FF miles for her flight. BUT, they wouldn't fly together because they had one son and didn't want to....well, you know.

What a complete pain in the rear it was to arrange separate flights for them. Often it took two or three (once five) flights to get them where they were going, but they wanted to be close enough to go to the airport to depart together and arrive at final destination together to cab to their hotel--together.

If you really want to enjoy this trip, enjoy it together--all of it! And have a great time!

As a mom of a 20 month old can I just say how jealous I am!!!!

You're going to Italy toddler-free, flying first class too! Enjoy every minute. :)

1 in 5,000? That would mean there are about 60,000 traffic fatalities in the United States every year. Can that be right?