Seat swapping is a hotly debated topic in the frequent flyer community and a story on the subject fueled the debate.
In a resurfaced Reddit post, a plane passenger shared his frustration at a mother who had “the audacity” to expect them to switch places so she could sit next to her child.
The anonymous traveler explained that they were on a transpacific flight from Japan and had a widow’s seat, while the “little daughter sat in the middle next to me” and the mother also sat in the middle but in the row behind.
Explaining the chain of events, the Redditor, who has since deleted his account, wrote: “[The mom] asked me – and only me – to switch places with her so that she could take my window seat (next to her daughter) and I would take her middle seat one row down.
In a resurfaced Reddit post, a plane passenger shared his frustration at a mother who had “the audacity” to expect them to switch places so she could sit next to her child
Opinion poll
Would you give up your seat for parents and their child?
- Yes 579 votes
- No 6269 votes
‘Damn it, no. Not my problem, they didn’t book together.”
To make matters worse, the passenger said they were “surrounded by others” from the mother’s travel group and that she “could have asked for a three-way trade instead.”
Another alternative, the Redditor said, is that she asks the tour operator for a seat swap.
Venting their frustration, they concluded, “The audacity of asking only me and expecting an inferior trade on my part.”
The post quickly garnered attention while other Redditors remained divided over the debacle.
One commenter, himself a parent, sided with the mother.
They wrote: “As a parent of an infant, I am surprised that you have preferred to sit next to someone else’s unaccompanied infant rather than simply move.
“Sure someone else could move, but either someone has to move or someone has to sit next to a flying toddler.
The anonymous traveler explained that they were on a transpacific flight from Japan and had a widow’s seat while the “little daughter sat in the middle next to me”.
“I honestly don’t know what’s more annoying for the other passengers.
“For some reason it’s not always possible for families to book seats together and imagine, sometimes they have to fly seats.
“I don’t know what the answer is here, but to be angry that a mother is trying to take care of her own child is stupid.”
Another Redditor mused, “Why were you so dying to sit next to a stranger’s little daughter?”
However, some commentators sided with the confused passenger.
One wrote in her defense: “My rule of thumb is: 1). Will only change one gear for one gear (my preference). 2). Will never swap an aisle or window for a middle 3). Will never change if I had to spend extra money to get my place.’
Another user echoed similar sentiments, commenting, “I just started denying myself completely. Unless it’s an upgrade. I’m sick of people’s entitlement attitude, and it seems to be on planes and even more elevated lately.
“I do not know you. In general, I don’t care about you except with reasonable human compassion. And I’m certainly not responsible for your poor planning. Don’t talk to me again and go away.’
In February, New York resident Surya Garg revealed that she faced a situation similar to Redditor’s when a mother asked her to trade with her teenage son
In February, New York resident Surya Garg revealed that she faced a situation similar to Redditor’s when a mother asked her to trade with her teenage son.
In one video, Surya describes how a mother came up to her and asked if she could give up her window seat – for which she had paid extra – so she could sit with her son, who “had to be at least 16 or 17 years old.” . Year old.’
When she asked where the woman wanted her moved to, she was directed to a “middle seat like a few rows back.”
When she then asked who the woman’s son was, she was shocked to discover that he wasn’t a child, but “like a 6ft 5in man.”
Surya said she “didn’t really know what to say to the mother” at that point and “didn’t want to look like an asshole”.
However, she decided to deny the woman’s request, explaining that she had paid extra for the seat.
After being told “no,” Surya said the mother “makes me the meanest face I’ve ever seen,” and then walked around “mumbling swear words at me throughout the flight.”
Stunned by the experience, Surya asked other TikTokers, “Was I wrong here? I need someone to tell me.”
To date, her video, uploaded with the hashtags #nyc #airplane #airplaneseats, has been viewed more than 1.5 million times, with many viewers assuring Surya that she was not wrong.