Couple reveals why travelling business class while child flies economy makes them 'better parents'

A couple who regularly fly business class on long-haul journeys while their young daughter sits in economy has shared why the unusual arrangement has made travelling easier - and how it has even turned them into 'better parents.' 

Minna and Andy Havstad, both 34, from Woking, Surrey, frequently travel for Minna's work as a content creator. 

Their three-year-old daughter Malva has already visited 18 countries, including Brazil, China and Morocco - trips that have entailed long overnight flights.

According to Minna, these journeys became increasingly exhausting when all three were seated in economy, with little sleep and constant juggling of snacks, toys and bathroom trips.

To combat flight fatigue, the couple developed a hack that involves booking one business-class seat using air-miles upgrades while the other parent sits in economy beside Malva.

Halfway through the flight, they swap, meaning each parent gets several hours of rest - on a lie-flat seat - before returning to their duties. 

Minna explained: 'Malva is quite a good sleeper but she likes to sleep on you - so you can't really move and it can be uncomfortable without much leg room when you're in economy with her. 

'Having a bit of me time and and lie down in business means we can parent so much better.' 

Minna and Andy Havstad, both 34, from Surrey, frequently travel with their three-year-old daughter for Minna's work as a content creator, hopping on long-haul flights to the likes of Brazil and China

To help combat flight fatigue, Minna says the couple buys one ticket in business class and one in economy - and switches places throughout the journey

Journeys in economy became exhausting for the family with little sleep and constant juggling of snacks, toys and bathroom trips

Minna says the system has transformed long-haul travel for the family. 

On previous flights, particularly to China and Hong Kong, the content creator claimed 'none of them slept at all,' leaving the first day of the trip a 'challenge'.  

In contrast, using their new strategy on a 17-hour journey to Brazil, both parents managed enough to clock up 'at least four to five hours of sleep', which helped them stay functional well until the evening. 

Minna, who manages the 'Toddler Travel Diaries' blog and Instagram account, says they keep swaps to a minimum and always check with flight staff, who she says have so far been 'very nice and accommodating'.

The couple have repeated the strategy four or five times and plan to continue as long as it helps them arrive fresh to their destination. 

Minna credits the couple's air miles for helping make the strategy work, and added they would be 'more hesitant' to pay the full price of business class seats out of their own pockets - though they wouldn't rule it out entirely. 

Since sharing their tactic online, Minna admitted she receives mixed reviews from commenters, with some questioning whether families should stay together on flights, while others say they're tempted to try the idea themselves. 

Minna said: 'The hardest part is being summoned back to economy after a stint in business class! It makes us more alert, awake and patient - so we're both able to parent better.'

On previous flights, the content creator claimed 'none of them slept at all,' leaving the first day of the trip a 'challenge'

Now, each parent is able to have at least four to five hours of sleep, which helps them stay alert and functional well until the evening

According to Minna, swaps are kept to a minimum and the couple always check with flight staff before switching

The couple have repeated the strategy four or five times and hope to continue doing so as they travel the world with their daughter

Meanwhile, a family who have taken almost 50 flights with their young child have warned of five mistakes to avoid when flying with children.

In a reel posted on Instagram, the account Tales of a Travel Family, which has more than 14,000 followers, shared tips.

Their first tip is to avoid bringing a regular pushchair or buggy to the gate.

In the caption, they wrote: 'Sometimes you won’t get the stroller right when you land and have to pick it up at baggage claim and if you have a sleeping child, that means carrying them through the airport.'

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