A woman took to the internet to gauge whether she was overreacting. Her husband often travels alone with his best friend, but this time invited her along. He bought her a ticket in coach, while he buying tickets in first for himself and his friend. The man explained that she flies coach because the woman – a stay at home mom – has “no job” even though she reports they’re easily able to afford first class.
They left the kids with the wife’s mother, and got ready to travel, which is when she learned she’d be in economy and he wouldn’t. He “refused to discuss” it and then lambasted her, complaining that he “PAID FOR [HE]R TICKET..ISN’T THAT ENOUGH???” and belittling her for acting like “royalty.”
She cried, decided not to go on the trip, and picked the kids back up from her mother’s home. He took the trip. She asks whether she’s in the wrong “for not settling for economy?”
I’d add two points,
- The internet sided with her, naturally. I’m almost skeptical of the story because it’s almost too egregious to be real.
- She buys the usual explanation he offers for vacationing without her that he and his friend ‘like to attend sporting events.’ “Sporting events,” of course, means bordellos.
No one should wish coach on their partner. That goes for the one buying the lower class of service for a spouse, but also for the spouse who should never resent seeing their paramour up front. If you realize you resent your partner escaping economy, that’s a sign you don’t actually love that person. By the same token, if you can secure a premium cabin for the one you love and choose not to, do you actually love them?
Several years ago I wrote about husbands who fly business class while their wives fly coach. The Washington Post‘s relationship columnist has covered the issue, telling a woman whose boyfriend flies up front while he pays for her to fly coach that she should dump him: “His wife sat alone in coach: His epitaph writes itself.”
That said, spouses do not always need to sit together. Here’s a basic rule when only one seat up front is possible. When upgrades are offered, you take them. And if only one upgrade is available, it goes to the person that was upgraded.
(HT: Your Mileage May Vary)
