A wife’s cheeky way of saving money on plane tickets has started a discourse on Facebook. In a viral Reel, Kimmy Houghton writes in an on-screen caption, “POV: your wife booked the flights.” Viewers see Houghton on her phone in her first-class seat while drinking from a pink tumbler.
Her husband comes into frame with their infant daughter and looks confused. Houghton is sitting in first class, and there is no seat next to her. As her husband makes his way further down the plane, Houghton smiles, winks, and waves before the video ends.
In the caption, she writes, “‘Babe, I saved us a bunch of money on our flights!’”
‘Imagine the outrage in reverse’
Given the way the video is filmed, it’s likely it’s a skit. Houghton’s husband likely knew about the seating situation. Perhaps the couple decided the woman deserved the comfort and luxury of first class. Or a little break from mommy duty. That didn’t stop viewers from being upset about the video, though.
Dayton Pannell wrote, “If it was flipped, yall would be hating on the dad so much calling him broke because he didnt book 3 first class seats.”
“Plot twist: he sits next to a Swedish nanny on the flight and they both fall in love. The daughter adores her also and the wife is left alone for the rest of her life! Too much??” Stuart Campbell said.
One woman pointed out, “All the mad men in these comments … its a JOKE and moms deserves breaks yall act like the kids have to be with mom every second of the day.”
However, it wasn’t just men who were upset
One woman shared that behavior like Houghton’s from her husband led to her getting a divorce. Victoria Gargaro wrote, “And this is something my ‘ex’ husband used to really do when we went away and left me on my own at the back of the plane with 2 young children . He lied and said the airline couldn’t get seats with us all sat together! Hence he’s now my ‘ex’ husband!”
On the other hand, some viewers had no problem with the couple sitting separately.
Sarah Woolley wrote, “On our flight back from florida a couple actually di[d] this. They swapped half way through so both had a sleep. And didn’t hear a peep from baby, no stressed parents, no stressed baby. Great idea if you can afford to do that.”
Another viewer said, “Most moms push that baby out their body’s after hosting it for 8 to 9 months the least you can do is care for them for a 2 hour flight. [Expletive]. Yall stay mad.”
Is it wrong to fly in a higher class than my spouse?
In an article, One Mile at a Time notes it’s not inherently wrong to sit in first class while your spouse doesn’t. (Importantly, we don’t know if Houghton’s husband was in economy. He could’ve been in business class.)
The article says there are several reasons why you may end up in a different class than your traveling companion. However, the author finds that, with limited exceptions, if you’re consistently leaving your partner in a lower class, it’s a problem. Still, he adds that it is ultimately your decision.
When is it OK to have an upgraded seat and leave your companion behind?
According to the author, these are valid reasons to consistently be in a higher class than your traveling partner:
- You are much larger and cannot fit in an economy seat.
- Your job pays for your seat in a higher class so that you’re rested and ready to work upon arrival, and your partner is just tagging along on vacation.
Beyond this, there are other reasons you might be in a higher class than your partner, even if you weren’t when you booked the ticket. For instance, perhaps you have elite status with the airline and get upgraded, but your partner does not. If you’re in a situation where you’re in a different class and you want to be fair to your partner, here’s what the author recommends:
- If you know you’re going to be in a higher class than your companion, make your best effort to get them into your class.
- If you can’t get them a seat in your class, consider sitting in economy, as it’s more bearable with a buddy. If you booked an economy seat and got upgraded, consider making someone else’s day by relinquishing your upgraded seat and sitting next to your partner in economy.
- Take turns in the higher class. You could swap halfway through the flight or have one person take the higher class on the departing flight and the other take it on the return flight.
- If you want to score ultimate spouse points, just give your partner the upgrade.
The Mary Sue reached out to Houghton via Facebook message.
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