The Location, Location, Location presenter, 49, sparked controversy in 2018 when she revealed she and her partner had travelled business class while her four children flew in economy. At the time, the TV presenter defended her decision to sit in the premium cabin while her children sat in economy, saying that to have her sons in business class would have been an “absurd waste of money” as well as “spoiling” them”. Now, the star has revealed her friends have chided her for being so honest and open over the matter, claiming that “everyone does it”.
A Twitter user bought up the 2018 incident, causing the mother-of-four to reveal that she still gets questions pertaining to the incident even now.
Clarifying the ages of her sons and step-sons, she responded that she was never far from her children on the flight.
She wrote: “4 boys 19, 16, 12 & 10 sat in Economy & I sat 2 rows forward in Premium Econ., yet years later I still get messages about this most weeks.” (sic)
Referencing the social media users who questioned her decision, the TV star continued: “I assume none of these people let their children walk to school, go alone on public transport, make their own beds or wipe their own bottoms?”
READ MORE: Anne Hegerty had ‘sobbing fits in her car’ before lockdown
The tweet in question which sparked the property expert’s reaction took a jibe at the property host for her choice to sit in business while her kids sat in economy.
They wrote: “Were you the mother who left her kids in standard class while enjoying first class on planes, because they have not ‘earnt it yet’ – letting others look after your kids while you were supping champagne and imagining a by-gone Victorian era?” (sic)
The property expert shares Oscar and Bay with partner Ben, as well as being a step-mother to her beau’s two sons Hal and Orion.
Responding to a follower who asked her whether she “regrets” the move, the Channel 4 presenter admitted she doesn’t.
One jokingly replied to the TV star: “Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. I would have put them in the Hold.”
Defending the TV star, another added: “Who cares? As long as they were well behaved left on their own, I can’t see a problem and at their ages there wouldn’t have been!”
While a third wrote: “I can’t believe people are still banging on about this. I travelled a lot with my parents as a kid and I would’ve loved to be that far away from them, particularly as a teen.” (sic)
A year after the incident, Love Island’s Amy Hart, who used to be an air hostess for British Airways, claims the TV presenter tried to nab spare seats in business class for her children, despite only paying for economy.
Hitting back at Amy’s comments, Kirstie told the Huffington Post: “It’s just absurd, she’s not got kids. We have this rule in my family that kids shouldn’t fly in club class because it’s spoiling – I’ve always said that – but if you’re little, you have to fly with your mum and dad.”
She went on to say the encounter on the flight happened roughly five years ago.
She added: “Bay is 12 now so he was probably travelling with his two bigger brothers and was resentful his little brother was still with me and his dad, so was probably going backwards and forwards.”
Kirstie added Amy’s comment “shows so little empathy for the travelling parent”.
