Kirstie Allsopp forced to defend herself after revealing she flies business while children go economy

Kirstie Allsopp has defended herself after she faced a huge backlash following her revelation that she does not fly in economy class with her children.

The mum-of-four was heavily criticised on Monday after it was claimed that she makes her children fly economy, while she soaks up the delights of first class with her partner Ben Andersen.

But Kirstie has hit back, claiming there is nothing wrong with leaving her younger children, Bay, 11, and Oscar, nine, at the back of the plane because they have their older stepbrothers, who are 16 and 18, to keep an eye on them.

Kirstie also denied that she enjoys the luxuries of first class, admitting if she does sit away from her boys it’s only in premium economy, ‘about 4 rows in front’ of her kids.

‘I’m not in bloody First Class, half the time I’m with the kids, and the rest of the time in Premium Economy, about 4 rows in front. Plus they have their brothers who are 16 & 18,’ she said on Twitter.

‘My kids love the independence, the last thing they want is me saying “you can’t watch that 15 movie” or “I think that’s enough screen time, where’s your book?” They adore their plane binges.’

Snapping back at Twitter trolls who accused her of ‘ducking’ her responsibilities as a parent, Kirstie said: ‘I’m not ducking anything, my kids aged 9 & 11 are quite capable of looking after themselves, and so they should be at this age, it would be pathetic if they weren’t.’

Kirstie’s plane drama came after she told The Sun that she would rather spend money on the holiday itself than treating her kids to fancy seats they haven’t worked for.

She said: ‘If I’m going to spend money, it’s on the holiday itself rather than the flights. When we fly as a family, the boys do fly separately from Ben and me if we’re not in economy together.

‘Obviously this wasn’t the case when they were little but now they are big enough to sit separately, they do.

‘Club Class should be a huge treat you’ve worked hard for.

‘If kids get used to it, what do they have to work towards? It seems like an absurd waste of money and very spoiling.’

She was soon hit with criticism, with one person tweeting: ‘I can understand you not wanting your kids to be spoilt and privileged, but surely then the choice is to ALL fly economy not shove them on to strangers to deal with for the whole flight.’

Another said: ‘11 and 9 years old.. I would want them within my eye sight if not possible to sit together. Bad turbulence, disruptive passengers etc isn’t pleasant for children to experience whilst their parents are clueless sitting in first class.’

But many parent defended Kirstie, agreeing with her choice to sit separately from her kids.

One said: ‘Mine always flew in Economy and enjoyed the independence! They used to make up wild fun stories to the people around them about why they were flying alone! Now 20 and 24, they say they will do the same with their kids. I checked on them every 2 hours exc when I was eating lobster.’

Another added: ‘I’m cabin crew and parents or grandparents flying up front isn’t unusual at all. Kids want movies, adults want peace and quiet (and a little extra space) - everybody arrives happy and ready for holiday... Good for you! @KirstieMAllsopp’.

Kirstie isn’t the only celeb to part ways with their children on flights - last year Gordon Ramsey was forced to defend himself after admitting he flies first class while his kids sit in economy.

He said at the time: ‘The fact that I am going to sit a six year old in a first class seat for £15.000 to fly from LA to London...Fifteen thousand pounds.

‘You can buy a f***king car for that. Why does my six year old need a big f***ing seat, a 10 course menu with caviar and champagne in first class.

‘What are they going to be like when they are 18? They are f***d.’