I Refused to Give Up My Plane Seat for a Child and Faced Backlash (2025)

Along flight can beuncomfortable. Especially when ithappens during the night and passengers have tosleep seated. The solution istobuy abusiness class ticket orpay extra for aseat with more legroom.

The protagonist ofour article chose the second option, but when she entered the plane, she discovered that ateenager had taken her seat, and his mother insisted that the woman give upher seat for her son.

Hi! Myname isEmily. Iwork asamarketer inalarge company and, unfortunately, Irarely take time off. Ihaven’t had abreak inthree years, butI managed toset aside two weeks for awell-deserved vacation. Ichose Hawaii toenjoy aquiet stay onthe beach, aswell astoventure out hiking inits national parks.

There was just one problem: Icould only get tickets for aflight from New York toHonolulu, which takes almost 12hours and leaves early inthe morning. Anticipating arriving atthe airport feeling sleepy, Ipaid for aseat with extra legroom. This wayI could sleep comfortably onthe plane for aslong asnecessary and, whenI wokeup, enjoy the view ofthe Pacific Ocean from above.

Once the tickets were purchased, Iplunged into planning the trip and began todream ofmylonged-for vacation. But, tomysurprise, Ifaced asetback the momentI boarded the plane.

Getting upearly inthe morning tobeontime for the flight, itwas predictable thatI had not had enough sleep. Besides, Ihad been tossing and turning inbed all night, unable tosleep, which istypical before atrip. So, already inthe taxi tothe airport, Iwas looking forward toacomfortable nap onboard.

But when Iboarded, tomysurprise, a12-year-old sitting inmyseat, playing onhis phone. His mother was next tohim. Iasked them ifthey had the wrong seats. Ishowed them myticket and seat number, and also checked itmyself, just incaseI had made amistake while half asleep.

But no, Iwas inthe right seat. His mom asked metolet him stay because hewanted the window, saying, “It’s uncomfortable inthe middle ofthe plane, and mylittle boy wants tosit bythe window tolook atthe clouds.”

The last thingI wanted was toargue inthe middle ofthe plane. Passengers were entering and taking their seats, andI was trying, for the third time, tocalmly explain tothe woman that this was myseat andI didn’t want togive itupbecauseI had plans tosleep and also toenjoy the view ofthe ocean and the clouds.

But her tone became more hostile with every comment she made. The other passengers began towatchus. Over the next 20minutes, Iwas subjected toaseries ofreproaches and insults. She then asked, “Doyou have children?” Iresponded that this was not relevant tothe situation, towhich she countered bysaying thatI didn’t have children and therefore didn’t understand what itmeans tobeamother.

She then criticized mysupposed immaturity for wanting toenjoy the view instead ofsimply traveling from pointA topoint B.She also questioned mymanners, insinuating thatI should have given upmyseat for the child and questioned mygenerosity.

The plane was almost full, the flight attendants began tocheck the cabin before take-off, and the discussion continued. Inaddition, practically all the passengers aroundus were watchingus intently. Myarguments had noeffect, the woman refused tovacate the seat, and the boy continued tostare distantly athis phone. Aflight attendant passedby, andI asked him for help, showing him myticket and explaining the situation.

The flight attendant explained tothe woman that the seat bythe window was taken and asked her and her son togototheir assigned seats according totheir tickets. She continued arguing for awhile, but then another flight attendant arrived and also asked the mother and child toleave.

Finally, ingreat dissatisfaction, they got upand headed toward the middle seats. Atthat moment, apassenger arrived who had been assigned the seat next tomine (precisely where the woman had been sitting). Iwondered how the situation would have developed ifhehad arrived earlier.

Icouldn’t sleep onthat flight. The whole wayI was anxious, going over the conflict inmyhead, butI was glad thatI had defended myboundaries. Especially becauseI had problems with that before.

Once inapark, agroup made meleave abench, claiming there were noother benches available. Another time, while waiting inline, aman jumped inand took the last piece ofpizza Iwanted. And the times I’ve had ataxi taken away from meare countless!

Insuch situations, Iused toavoid conflict, feared fights, and simply gavein. But here, exhausted and after such along time without aholiday, Idid not give inand held myground. Finally, Irested inthe hotel and then spent two wonderful weeks inHawaii. Istill tell that story tomyfriends.