A mother has been criticized and branded a “nightmare” after asking if she could expect “gold member” passengers to swap their “business class” seats with her on an “upcoming” flight.
The mother posted her query on the parenting site. momsnet, where she explained that she would be traveling with a two-year-old child and will be five months pregnant when she takes the four-hour flight.
Anonymously, the woman noted that she often reserved a window and aisle seat in a row of three seats, as the airline “blocked” the middle seat for passengers.
She said she liked using the seat for her little one, who flew like a baby on her lap, but noted that her preferred seats in the bulkhead, the first row of the plane, were already reserved.
Because of this, she asked moms on the website if she could expect those who had reserved seats to swap with her if she requested it on the day of the flight.
She was traveling with a two-year-old child and will be five months pregnant when she takes the four-hour flight, the woman told Mumsnet.
She said: ‘We have seats in rows 7A and 7C reserved for our upcoming four-hour flight, the middle seat is blocked and we always use it to put our son (almost two) in after take-off and before landing.
‘We often take the front row and it really makes a big difference when traveling with our son – the extra bulkhead space is invaluable for him and for keeping him contained and not disturbing other passengers.
‘This time we couldn’t book early enough. However, according to the seating map, 1C and 1F are empty (usually just blocked off for the convenience of the Gold member sitting in the other seat); these usually open just before the flight.
“I’m also five months pregnant, so anything to make things more comfortable.”
The mother then posed her question, prompting a furious reaction in the responses.
She asked: ‘Am I being unreasonable by moving to the empty seats in the front row and waiting for 1A or 1D to move so we can sit together?’ They’ll still have their hallway or window and won’t have to sit next to a baby, so I think it’s a win-win…’
Parents responded to the anonymous mother with angry responses in the comments, calling her a “cheeky whore” and a “nightmare.”
User ‘MississippiAF’ wrote: ‘I wouldn’t move and I don’t care if your little one is better off being restrained. It is a leak; “Every parent has had to deal with it.”
Other posters noted that those who had reserved the seats might have a baby, have medical or mobility problems.
While ‘everlaspanini’ noted: ‘I never like to make plans that are based on the good will of strangers.’
‘BreakfastatMimis’ said: ‘WTF. No, you can’t expect someone to move for your convenience. Reserve seats that suit you and assume that those already reserved will remain occupied by someone else.
While ‘HundredMilesanHour’ wrote: ‘You’re waiting for someone to basically move to the back of the clubhouse just because you want the bulkhead.
And you shouldn’t put your child in the locked center seat either. If you want three seats together, book in economy class.
‘HoHoHoliday’ added: ‘Don’t set out to make anyone upset.
‘Choose seats that are already available to sit next to each other. It’s only a four-hour flight, you should be able to look after your own child during that time.’
Commenter ‘DeeplyMovingExperience’ noted: ‘Reminds me of the nightmare of the mother and her son (and mother-in-law, if I remember correctly) who caused chaos on our return flight from Mallorca last year. Demanding that he wanted front row seats for her son, blah, blah, blah.
I don’t know why they didn’t download them. Six people had to move seats they had paid a premium for and the flight was delayed 70 minutes due to their antics.’
The middle seat of the row is often blocked during short-haul business class flights (as shown above), the mother noted, and she likes to seat her young son in that space.
‘ChangingPlace’ said: ‘When I travel we reserve bulkhead seats for medical reasons. No, I wouldn’t move regardless of the reasons. We booked them in advance, we paid a premium, you didn’t do the same, it’s not my problem, you can’t take care of your own child on a flight.
Other posters noted that those who had reserved the seats might have a baby, have medical or mobility problems or be “obese” and therefore unable or unwilling to change and that their request was “scandalous.”
Responding to nearly 200 comments, the mother, ‘Deekaytwo’, said: ‘I wouldn’t put my son in the seat blocked between me and a stranger on a flight. That’s the only negative factor I’m really considering moving us forward.
‘I appreciate that people have their reasons for selecting specific seats and that would be a risk I would have to take.
“Again, I’m not sure why everyone assumes the worst possible behavior. I simply planned to take a seat, politely ask if anyone wanted to change, and if not, just enjoy the flight with a (non-alcoholic) drink.”