He refused to swap plane seats (stock) (Image: Getty Images)
When it comes to air travel, passengers are expected to follow a set of unwritten rules to guarantee a smooth journey for everyone on board.
However, not everyone appears to have received this memo – with some opting to abandon their courtesy before take-off. That’s precisely what one passenger discovered when flying off with his girlfriend for some well-deserved rest and relaxation.
Even though the 26-year-old and his partner had booked their spots on the plane ahead of time, they found people sitting in their seats.
Sharing the awkward moment on Reddit, the young man said: “Me and my girlfriend were boarding a plane and going to our seats – centre and window – that we paid extra for. After getting to our three seat aisle, there was a mother and an eight-year-old girl, with one of them sitting in our seats.
“We asked about the seating assignment and the mother stated that the airline crew told her that she and her daughter must sit next to each other and the centre seat belongs to her daughter.”
Unconvinced by her explanation, the man called a flight attendant to confirm her account.
He continued: “We called a crew member over to help sort things. The mother emphasised that her daughter is only eight-years-old and it’s a long flight so they needed to sit next to each other.
“She changes the story a bit here while shushing her daughter when the daughter is trying to explain the situation herself.
“The crew member told the mother that she should have asked AO (not sure what this means) about this prior to boarding.
“[She added] that since the flight is at full capacity and the seats are assigned, they should stay at their assigned seat, and need to ask me and my girlfriend if we’re okay with switching.
“The mother argued that she asked us but we said no. In reality the mother never asked us, only proclaimed the seat is theirs before the crew member came by.”
Even though the couple would have accepted moving seats if asked politely, they didn’t appreciate the mum’s approach.
The Redditor added: “I don’t appreciate being lied to, potentially manipulated, and guilt tripped so they can get their way.”
So he decided to say no, which didn’t go down well with the eight-year-old’s dad. The holidaymaker recalled: “While the daughter started to move back to her seat, the father in the next aisle tried to guilt trip me stating, ‘She’s an eight-year-old girl, c’mon man’.
“I told him that if the mother was more professional about the situation instead of lying to us, there wouldn’t be an issue.
“He then yelled ‘F*** you’, that I am the reason the world is f***ed up and to wait until I have a daughter to understand. At the end we found out that the mother’s and daughter’s seats were one row apart.”
People were equally as perplexed by the plane drama – and agreed that the family should have booked seats ahead of time.
Responding to his post, one user said: “I really dislike this ‘I have a child, therefore I’m entitled’ mindset some parents have. If you have a child you plan better, or make a request not demand or try to manipulate.”
Another user commented: “If they wanted seats beside each other they should have booked them. You should look at getting refunded the extra you paid – and the airline is at fault for allowing an eight-year-old to be booked into a seat not beside a parent.”
And a third user added: “I hate it when people don’t plan and then expect others will just accommodate them. The mother could have bought seats next to each other or talked with the gate agent.
“It’s also really rude not even to ask for people to switch and just assume they will. Both mom and dad were just wanting to control the situation.”
