A LUXURY travel blogger has admitted she leaves her kids in economy while she flies first class to long haul destinations like the Caribbean – and she never feels guilty about it.
Naomi Kisted, from Epping, Essex, leaves kids Fleur, nine, and Rocco, three, with their dad Haydn, 40, or her own mum while she pays to upgrade her flights.
Speaking exclusively to Fabulous Digital, the 40-year-old said: “If a client books us economy flights and there’s an opportunity for me to upgrade to business or first class, I would quite happily do that.
“We have a really good life and I want the kids to understand the value of money and the importance of working hard. They’re too young to really appreciate first class.
“I’m sure some people will think ‘oh my God’ but if you’re in a position where you have these kinds of opportunities, how do you teach your kids the value of money?
“I wasn’t handed anything on a plate as a child or a teenager, I’ve worked for everything I’ve got.
“I don’t feel guilty about it. I’ve always been a working mum and I provide them with opportunities some children don’t have.
“I’m still there behind the scenes giving them all the love. Even if I’m juggling several projects, I’m always at Fleur’s sports matches at school, I am there for them.
“I want them to have gratitude, that’s the root of it.”
Naomi goes on five to six luxury holidays every year with the kids, as well as solo trips abroad with property developer and content creator Haydn.
The family have just returned from Saint Lucia and are jetting off to Florida, USA, next month.
A presenter, fashion and travel writer, Naomi says her first class flights are the perfect opportunity to catch up on work.
She said: “For those eight to 10 hours on the flight I’m normally prepping my script, planning my itinerary, writing blog posts, planning my Instagram looks.
“Fleur would definitely want to be in first class if she had the opportunity to. I just say ‘maybe next trip, but you’ve got to appreciate Mummy needs to work’.
“It’s time for me to get my head down and crack on.
“I don’t take it in turns with Haydn to upgrade. He appreciates that these are opportunities I am bringing to the family.
“He can’t write the scripts for me, although I probably wouldn’t swap anyway.”
Despite living the high life with her family, Naomi thinks economy is the best place for the kids.
She said: “I personally think young kids shouldn’t be allowed in first class, unless they’re really well behaved.
“Our daughter’s nine and she could sit and read a book, she’s experienced luxury hotels and she knows how to behave.
“But my three-year-old is a boy, he’s wild, he’ll run around. I wouldn’t want to put people through that.
“I don’t think it’s fair for people who’ve paid £10,000 for a seat to have a child running up and down, jumping in front of their face.
“If I’m working with a really high end client, I wouldn’t take the kids. I don’t want to be disrespectful to other parents who are there trying to relax.
“I don’t want to suppress my child’s personality. If Rocco wants to run around and scream, I want him to feel free to do that. I don’t want to be saying ‘stop it’.
“So that’s why I wouldn’t put him in first class or in a high end luxury hotel. I don’t think it’s fair on anyone.”
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