No means no: This passenger refused to give up their airplane seat to this child–Find out why!
- Replies 2
Traveling by air can be an exhilarating experience, offering the promise of new destinations and the excitement of the journey itself. However, for many, the reality of air travel often includes cramped spaces, unexpected delays, and the occasional disruptive fellow passenger.
For those in the senior community, we've seen our fair share of travel etiquette evolve over the years. But one question that seems to perennially arise is this: should you give up your airplane seat for a child throwing a tantrum?
This dilemma was recently brought to the forefront by an airline passenger's experience shared on social media.
"After I settled into my seat, a family boarded: a dad, a mom, and their little girl, who looked about six years old," wrote the passenger. “The dad had an aisle seat, the mom was in the middle, and the kid was supposed to sit next to me in the other aisle seat. Everything seemed fine until the girl realized she wasn’t sitting by the window.”
The passenger, who had booked a window seat in advance, was approached by a father whose child was having a meltdown because she wanted to sit by the window.
The girl was screaming, “I want the window! I want the window!” Despite the parents trying to calm her down, the passenger remarked that “ she quickly escalated into a full-blown tantrum, crying and yelling about how she wanted my seat.”
In the post, they narrate, “I politely explained that I had booked the window seat in advance because I really wanted to enjoy the view. The dad insisted, saying it would be 'nice of me' and that 'it wouldn’t hurt' to switch.”
Despite the parents' pleas, the passenger refused to switch seats, leading to a flight filled with tension and judgmental glances. They said that they understood the dad’s frustration “but didn’t think his daughter’s tantrum was a valid reason for me to give up a seat I specifically reserved.”
The passenger ends their story by asking the online forum “if they were too rigid.”
The situation raises an ethical question about the responsibilities of passengers towards each other. On one hand, there's the argument for compassion and flexibility. Children, after all, can find the experience of flying overwhelming, and a small act of kindness might go a long way in easing their distress.
On the other hand, there's the principle of fairness and the importance of setting boundaries.
Commenters on the post responded with how they would address the situation, with one saying, “It’s not nice of your daughter to behave this way, and it’s not nice to teach her this is acceptable or to reward it.”
Another agreed to the former statement and said, “Look, it's not my business how you parent your kids but if they're old enough to walk and talk, you need to teach them about entitlement and public boundaries.”
If a passenger has specifically reserved a seat for personal reasons, is it fair to expect them to give it up due to another's lack of planning or control?
When you book a specific seat on an airplane, you're often paying extra for that choice. It's a transaction that guarantees you a certain level of comfort or convenience.
For many older adults, choosing a window or aisle seat isn't just a preference; it can be a necessity. Whether it's to support a physical condition that requires easy access to the restroom or simply to enjoy the view that brings a sense of peace during flight, the choice is a personal one.
Moreover, there's the consideration of the lesson being taught to the child in question. If a tantrum results in a reward, what message does that send?
Do you think the passenger’s refusal was right? Have you ever been in a similar situation? What did you do, and how did it turn out? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!
For those in the senior community, we've seen our fair share of travel etiquette evolve over the years. But one question that seems to perennially arise is this: should you give up your airplane seat for a child throwing a tantrum?
This dilemma was recently brought to the forefront by an airline passenger's experience shared on social media.
"After I settled into my seat, a family boarded: a dad, a mom, and their little girl, who looked about six years old," wrote the passenger. “The dad had an aisle seat, the mom was in the middle, and the kid was supposed to sit next to me in the other aisle seat. Everything seemed fine until the girl realized she wasn’t sitting by the window.”
The passenger, who had booked a window seat in advance, was approached by a father whose child was having a meltdown because she wanted to sit by the window.
The girl was screaming, “I want the window! I want the window!” Despite the parents trying to calm her down, the passenger remarked that “ she quickly escalated into a full-blown tantrum, crying and yelling about how she wanted my seat.”
An airline passenger refused to switch seats on a flight to appease a child who was having a tantrum over wanting the window seat. Image source: Pexels / Berkalp Turper.
In the post, they narrate, “I politely explained that I had booked the window seat in advance because I really wanted to enjoy the view. The dad insisted, saying it would be 'nice of me' and that 'it wouldn’t hurt' to switch.”
Despite the parents' pleas, the passenger refused to switch seats, leading to a flight filled with tension and judgmental glances. They said that they understood the dad’s frustration “but didn’t think his daughter’s tantrum was a valid reason for me to give up a seat I specifically reserved.”
The passenger ends their story by asking the online forum “if they were too rigid.”
The situation raises an ethical question about the responsibilities of passengers towards each other. On one hand, there's the argument for compassion and flexibility. Children, after all, can find the experience of flying overwhelming, and a small act of kindness might go a long way in easing their distress.
On the other hand, there's the principle of fairness and the importance of setting boundaries.
Commenters on the post responded with how they would address the situation, with one saying, “It’s not nice of your daughter to behave this way, and it’s not nice to teach her this is acceptable or to reward it.”
Another agreed to the former statement and said, “Look, it's not my business how you parent your kids but if they're old enough to walk and talk, you need to teach them about entitlement and public boundaries.”
If a passenger has specifically reserved a seat for personal reasons, is it fair to expect them to give it up due to another's lack of planning or control?
When you book a specific seat on an airplane, you're often paying extra for that choice. It's a transaction that guarantees you a certain level of comfort or convenience.
For many older adults, choosing a window or aisle seat isn't just a preference; it can be a necessity. Whether it's to support a physical condition that requires easy access to the restroom or simply to enjoy the view that brings a sense of peace during flight, the choice is a personal one.
Moreover, there's the consideration of the lesson being taught to the child in question. If a tantrum results in a reward, what message does that send?
Do you think the passenger’s refusal was right? Have you ever been in a similar situation? What did you do, and how did it turn out? Share your stories and insights in the comments below!
