A 29-year-old man was lauded for not budging when he refused to give up his window seat on a flight, which would have allowed a seven year old to sit with his dad.
The man had looked forward to the view from his window seat during the short 70-minute flight and was met by surprise when he found the boy in his allocated spot.
Relaying the incident on Reddit, the traveller explained the interaction, recalling the father’s request. He said: “I pointed towards my seat and the father asked me if I would mind swapping so they could sit together, and that their seat is in the row behind it. I said that I would only swap if it is a window seat, and he said it is an aisle seat.”
As the scenario intensified, the father posed the pointed question, ‘So do you want to sit next to my son?’. The passenger remained unwavering, claiming indifference about his seatmate as long as he retained the window seat. Despite criticism from those nearby for his perceived lack of compassion, the flyer told the father to “behave himself”.
He recollected the exchange, saying: “I just stood there looking at him serious, I think he was trying to shame me initially but he didn’t respond anything else to that. His wife was watching this the whole time. When somebody in the row behind saw it he offered to swap and sat next to me so they did eventually sit next to each other.
“For all I care they could have sat 20 rows apart or even booked a new flight, I had zero investment in this or their reasons. They can ask, I can say no and that should be the end of it. I didn’t like the ‘swap’ happened before I approved it either. If they care that much they can book their seats in advance like everyone else.”
The man added: “I didn’t have a good reason why I need the window seat except that I like it and don’t like the aisle seat.”
Many agreed with the man, as one person wrote: “People need to stop thinking they’re entitled to the seat someone else specifically picked out.”
Another supportive voice added: “I am tickled pink that you told him to behave himself!” Meanwhile, another contributor pointed out: “I’m not sure why people think lack of planning can be covered by personal relationships.”