so I (22M) recently took a 12-hour international flight. I specifically booked a window seat because I get anxious on planes, and looking outside helps me stay calm. When I got to my seat, a woman (maybe in her 40s) was already sitting there with her kid (about 5) next to her
I politely told her that I had the window seat, but she immediately asked if I could switch so her son could have it. I felt bad, but I explained that I booked it in advance because I really needed it for my anxiety. She looked annoyed but moved over
About an hour into the flight, the kid started whining about wanting the window. The mom gave me a look but didn’t say anything. A flight attendant even came over at one point because the kid was making a fuss. I felt super awkward, but I just put on my headphones and ignored it
When we landed, the mom muttered, “You could’ve just let him have it” and shook her head at me. Now I feel kind of guilty. It was just a seat, and he was just a kid. But I also feel like I had a right to sit in the seat I paid for
AITAH?
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so I (22M) recently took a 12-hour international flight. I specifically booked a window seat because I get anxious on planes, and looking outside helps me stay calm. When I got to my seat, a woman (maybe in her 40s) was already sitting there with her kid (about 5) next to her
I politely told her that I had the window seat, but she immediately asked if I could switch so her son could have it. I felt bad, but I explained that I booked it in advance because I really needed it for my anxiety. She looked annoyed but moved over
About an hour into the flight, the kid started whining about wanting the window. The mom gave me a look but didn’t say anything. A flight attendant even came over at one point because the kid was making a fuss. I felt super awkward, but I just put on my headphones and ignored it
When we landed, the mom muttered, “You could’ve just let him have it” and shook her head at me. Now I feel kind of guilty. It was just a seat, and he was just a kid. But I also feel like I had a right to sit in the seat I paid for
AITAH?
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OP has offered the following explanation for why they think they might be the asshole:
> 1) I refused to give up my pre booked window seat to a child 2) I might be the asshole because I prioritized my comfort over helping a mother with her kid
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Contest mode is 1.5 hours long on this post.
Dude, don’t sweat it. NTA.
You are going to encounter people like this your entire life – entitled idiots who don’t plan ahead and expect others to accommodate their needs.
I wish everyone could collectively agree not to put up with this shite, maybe they’d start realising the world doesn’t revolve around them.
(I am also a parent)
NTA
This sub seems to have questions like this all time. You are never TA for keeping the seat you chose and paid for. If she’d wanted a window seat for her kid, she should have selected and paid for specific seats prior to flying. If she doesn’t, she gets what she gets.
NTA. You paid for that seat, so it’s yours to sit in. That’s all there is to it, and your anxiety means that you definitely needed it more than a kid who just ‘wanted’ it. Don’t feel bad about it, you quite literally got what you paid for.
NTA
They should have booked a window seat if they wanted it so badly.
I was actually in this same situation on one of my recent flights. Young adult male travelling alone, got to my window seat to find the most obese 9 year old I’ve ever seen sitting in there with his mother in the middle seat. Say ‘sorry but that’s my seat’ and they tried the same thing asking if he could have it. In usually pretty placid and will just go along with people but on this occasion I had paid extra to specifically pick a window because I like flying and l like watching what’s going on, so I said no sorry I paid for that seat.
Thankfully unlike your seat mates they just accepted it and switched seats, but the kid did look a bit upset so I felt a little guilty.
NTA.
You should have answerd ‘no. You should have booked a windows seat if your child wants one.’
NTA. You paid to choose your seat. Too many parents expect to shift the cost of seat selection onto strangers.
My personal rule is that I won’t switch seats unless the seat that I am getting is at least as good, as I reckon it, as the one that I am giving up.
You are never obligated to switch seats and never TA for refusing. Ever. Full stop.
NTA; the response to “you could have just let him have it” is “you could have just reserved it.”
Is there a sub about this plane seat thing? People post in aita all the time and it’s annoying. You have what you pay for no One’s entitled to it.
NTA. I would have responded ‘then you could have just paid for him to have a window seat, and not expected one to be given to you because you can’t parent your child.’
Nta you booked it, if she wanted her spoiled offspring to get a window seat she should have booked it one
These were being posted daily in AITAH and people got fed up. Looks like they found a new subreddit to post.
I have read this same story before
Nope. Everyone can choose their seats when booking.
You did yours. That’s your seat.
If they wanted a window they should have booked earlier or picked their seats like a normal person.
I always pick a window seat too. I probably wouldn’t give up my seat unless I got and equal or better seat. Unless it was a very special exception.
But for a long flight like that – I’d want the seat I chose.
POST 10236373829 ABOUT THE SAME GOD DAMN STORY OH MY GOD
MOM should have booked a window seat if she knew the kid wanted one. You thought ahead, she did not.
Next time this happens (and trust me, if you fly a lot it WILL happen again), just politely explain that you paid for the window seat, and if they want it from you they can compensate you for it, as long as you’re happy to give it up of course.
I am mom too, but NO, NTA! If her kid needs window so much, she should pay for it – just like you. I would never expect this exchange just because my kid wants something.
NTA. You paid for it. Some people are just rude and entitled.
You should have said, “Next time, book a window seat for your kid” and winked at her😉
1000% NTA! I’m so over people being self-entitled and then continue their entitlement when they don’t get there way by with victim shaming.
You did absolutely nothing wrong and actually I give you kudos for not snapping back at her. I am a bit older and 100% would’ve offered some how-to books on parenting skills.
NTA. She is raising an entitled brat. But sounds like she is one herself.
Tell her to get her unorganised shit together and bloody book it. I have : kids and we make sure these things are sorted before we fly. Don’t feel bad you should have said no I booked it so I sit in it you $&@$
Fuck her and her kid. You are NOT the AH
NTA
You booked that seat in advance for a reason.
Children aren’t entitled to everything they want.
Let little Whinely whine. Maybe it’ll teach him to accept no once in awhile. What a whiny (bleep) mother.
NTA
NTA. She’s an asshole who lives under the mistaken delusion that anyone else is obliged to give a shit about her poor planning or tedious whining children.
Nta – “you could have just let him have it.” SHE could have booked her kid a window seat. People will always try to guilt trip to get what they want when they could have just set up what they wanted in advance. That kid was going to have to learn disappointment some day anyways; and the mother how to plan in advance.
You remember when you booked that specific seat (and presumably paid for the privilege)?
Yeah, well she had that option too…
NTA
As an aisle princess AND a parent…I always get an aisle because I BOOK IT! Parents have zero excuse for not choosing seats ahead of time. Her lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on your part.
Tell her to fuck off
NTA.
You owe NO ONE an explanation. That is your seat. Period. That woman’s lack of planning is not your problem. You did nothing wrong.
NTA. If they complain tell them they should have booked and paid for it then if it meant so much to them. End of story
You planned ahead.
You paid for it.
She did neither of those things.
She banked on being able to guilt someone into giving up their seat.
Good on you for not doing that. NTA and don’t feel guilty, you did everything right.
You know you’re NTA, this is a aita that’s been asked a million times already
Best response, “you could have paid extra and booked him a window seat.”
NTA. That kid whining and making a fuss is because he’s realised he’ll get whatever he wants if he does it for a long enough time. You’ve been a better parent yo that spoiled brat than his actual mom and you shouldn’t feel guilty for that.
NTA, People need to stop putting their burdens {children} on other people. You didnt make the child, spoiled it and decided to fly with it, she did, absolutely none of your problem. I hate entitled people like her.
NTA
When I book tickets for my family I know full well there may be an additional cost to have us seat together, its not other passengers responsibility to have us sit together and in preferred places
If mum wants the child by the window then it should have been delt with at the time of booking, not moments before take off.
You do you and let her never enter your mind again.
You are 100% NTA.TA was seated next to you, and she’s raising a little A. I weep for the future.
FFS people, the person who won’t switch seats is NEVER the asshole. Please for the love of god stop asking.
>but I just put on my headphones and ignored it
That’s what I would’ve done. Don’t feel guilty. Think of it as a learning lesson for the brat and his entitled mother – you can’t always get what you want in life. NTA
NTA, if the mom knew her son would fuss like that for not having the window seat she could have booked it but she didn’t, not your problem
NTA! She should have planned better. And why couldn’t he just look over you? It’s not hard.
Now I feel like yapping. My first time flying, I was 9 and it was less than a year after 9/11 and I was scared to death. My parents had one seat separate from the other three and decided I’d sit in that one while they both sat with my sister (I will never forgive this lmao). It was a window seat. When the person who was gonna sit next to me got there, she was a little old lady who realized right away how scared I was. She switched seats with me, pulled the shade over the window, and talked with me the entire time. I will always have love in my heart for this woman.
If it were important to your kid you could have reserved a window seat in advance.
NTA
I swear, parents who try to make other people give up their paid for seats just for their whiny brats boils my blood.
I flew internationally with my mum at age eight. Sometimes I had a window seat, sometimes I didn’t. Honestly I was so happy and amazed to be on a plane at all that I didn’t care. Plus my mum kept me well entertained, and I also slept a fair bit.
Don’t sweat it. You paid for the seat, its yours. Idiot parent can learn to book their brat a window seat next time if its sooooo important to them.
They should ban posts about not giving up an airplane seat. They’re always judged NTA.
The actual problem here is that a lot of parents refuse to pay the extra cash for it, but rather trust they can guilt someone who did into giving up their seat for the kid. NTA
NTA. Sorry, but that kid needs to learn that the world doesn’t revolve around them 🤷♀️ And a five year old is old enough to understand that. It sucks, but that’s life. I have three kids and would never act like that.
You had a valid excuse, although you didn’t really need one. You booked it specifically. The mother could have booked a window seat for her kid if it was that important.
My kids always want the window seat on the plane. 95% of the time they have the shade shut and are watching a movie – window seat or not. How incredibly entitled. Definitely NTA.
NTA. I get a window seat for any flight I take because I have anxiety about flying also. I have been asked to switch seats in the past and have declined. I feel that if the other passenger wanted a window seat they should have booked one.
Nope.
NTA. She could have booked the seat but chose to just guilt-trip someone over it.