I Repeat, I Am Not Giving Up My Airplane Seat

People
year ago

It can be tricky to know how to respond to an uncomfortable situation, especially when they come out of nowhere and could affect others. We recently received a letter from one of our readers who felt overwhelmed by guilt. We want to share some advice that we think might help her out.

Thank you for sharing your story. Here are some thoughts that may help you frame it better.

  • It can be difficult to know what to do when faced with a situation like the one you describe, where you have saved for first-class seats and then encounter a woman with a crying baby who wants to switch seats.
  • It’s understandable that you and Jessica wanted to protect your investment and have a comfortable and peaceful trip. Moreover, the fact that you’re still thinking about the situation long after it had occurred, showcases how mature and thoughtful you are.
  • We would like to remind you that small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s day. While you and your friend had every right to keep your seats, it’s worth considering whether there might have been a way to offer some kind of accommodation to the woman with the baby.
  • It might have been helpful to offer to switch seats with her for part of the flight or give her some of your in-flight amenities. These small gestures might not have fixed the problem entirely, but they could have shown that you were willing to be understanding and compassionate. This would have helped to alleviate some of the woman’s stress.

Are you serious?! Why the heck should they feel like they needed to give her anything? First class tickets on flights don't come cheap, they saved for them not the complete stranger with a crying baby. If this is the case every time I fly with my baby and she starts to cry I'll be asking first class passengers for their seat for free! Guess what their reply is likely to be? The mother actually felt that entitled to what someone else had paid for! Their refusal is not an a**hole move

-
-
Reply
  • The most crucial thing in circumstances like this is to make an effort to be sympathetic and understanding. Being kind may go a long way because we’re all in this together.
  • But don’t forget, it’s totally okay to put yourself first and make decisions that prioritize your own needs and well-being, even if they’re not super popular or widely accepted. Taking care of ourselves, including setting boundaries and making choices that support our own happiness and well-being, is super important.
  • We’re proud of you and your friend for staying true to yourselves and beliefs. But in the future, we encourage you to approach such situations with empathy and understanding for the needs, feelings, and perspectives of others.

How would you respond if you were in that position?

Comments

Get notifications

I think, I can never earn over which I paid by my precedent employer, but I was wrong, world is so large to try their fate. but now I am making $52/h even more,and easily earn minimum $1300/week, on the experience everyone must try to do work online, easy way to earn, here's an example.

>>>>>> 𝐰𝐰𝐰.Fox05

1
3
Reply

Vind het heel sneu voor de moeder maar het is niet mijn probleem. Misschien kan het cabinepersoneel iets voor haar doen.

-
-
Reply

It seems to me that the other first class people wouldn't be happy with a crying baby among them. They also paid a lot of money to have a peaceful flight. I think the mother was just looking for an excuse and if, as suggested, the person had given up their seat for a 'short period of time' ... they would have difficulties getting it back. The mother would say 'Oh, I just got him/her to sleep. I don't want to move and wake him/her up.'

3
-
Reply

I think you were right to keep yourselves in first class. The woman shouldn't have even been allowed to approach you like that, and it was very selfish of her. If she knew she was flying with a baby, and wanted first class, she should have paid for it, for the sake of her baby. Not try to get the sympathy of strangers to do what she was not willing to do. I think the advice in this column was wrong. But that is just me. You earned those seats, and no one should guilt trip you out of them.

4
-
Reply

Its up to the Airline to reseat the Mother and baby if they are unhappy with where they were seated. Customers should never be disturbed if they are sitting in a paid seat ie 1st class unless they used points to upgrade or etc - but that should be totally up to an airline to ask a passenger not passengers asking other passengers to move seats.

2
-
Reply

There's no guarantee that moving to first class would stop the baby's crying. Your answer implies that the poster was not empathetic in the first place, which doesn't seem to be true. Shame on you!!
In my opinion, they were right to keep the seats they had carefully saved and planned for, and enjoy the rewards. Yes, they could have offered to pass along some perks, but they weren't obligated to do so.
Plus, why did the mother approach them? What about the other first class passengers?

2
-
Reply

I have flown many times and could never afford first class. You saved for it and there is no reason to give up your seats to anyone else. Whether or not the baby would cry has nothing to do with where it is seated. I think that if you are in first class you are not allowed to send your perks back to others not seated in first class. I'm glad you kept your seats.

1
-
Reply

The baby will cry wherever it is seated.. maybe it just need a diaper change, gassy or uncomfortable with the pressure in the cabin. So changing the seat is not the solution. The mother should ask the cabin crew to help her out as the crying will disturb all passengers.

2
-
Reply

I don't believe they allow crying babies in First Class, but assuming this is true. Sarah you don't have to give your seat to anyone. When my son was 7 months old I traveled to Germany it was a 10 hour flight and I would have never dare to ask someone for a different seat. People will abuse if you let them.

2
-
Reply

There are some people who will use their crying babies to get a better seats. Whereever they are seating, the baby will cry if it wants to...
...

2
-
Reply

Exactly. And as a mother of two, bonus to a few more and g-ma to another, I'm SO tired of ppl acting like CHOOSING to have kids grants you magical entitlement to things before others who CHOSE differently. Nobody is owed ANYTHING bc they had $€× 'this one time' 🫠

-
-
Reply

HHHHHWHAT?!???!! This is AWFUL advice. OP owes this person NOTHING and suggesting they should 'accomodate' this selfish and opportunistic woman is COMPLETELY unfair. No, she SHOULDNT trade for a lil while; WHAT?!!! WHY would she?! This lady doesn't get to pick her seat AFTER booking, she should've paid for that 'amenity' if it were THAT important to her. Poppycock advice, BS and SHAME for making OP feel like they are ANYTHING but 100% in the right.

4
-
Reply

Related Reads