'Last row was completely empty': Entitled family asks aisle seat occupant to move to the back of the plane so their kids can 'play'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Aug 16, 2024 3:00 PM EDT

Where you sit on a plane can make all the difference in the world. Everyone knows that sitting in the back means you'll probably feel the turbulence more, you risk odors from the bathroom, and you'll be the last one off the plane. The window seat is good for some, but others fear feeling trapped by their fellow passengers, and potentially having to wake them up if you want to use the bathroom. The middle seat is obviously the worst since you'll probably feel squished. The aisle seat in the front of the plane is where it's at. 

That's why people can get so protective of their seats. They matter. One unlucky passenger faced a coup d'état of their seat by a flight attendant and a young family. Everyone has an equal chance to plan ahead, so it's really on them. Read on for the story, see what you think, and read what commenters had to say in response. 

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  • 01
    Westwind N71SC
    via Westwind Air Service
  • 02
    Flight attendant tells me to move my seat without asking first. Should I be upset?
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 03
    I had already boarded the plane and had sat on my aisle seat when a mother with a baby come in. Her seat was the window one next to mine. I get up to let them get in when the flight attendant asks me if I have the aisle seat. Once I confirm she tells me to move to the last row. Her reasoning being "they are a family, let's have
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 04
    them sit together" (the husband was right behind her and I guess he had a different seat initially?) Noone asked if I minded, and I was honestly caught off guard a little so I did not have time to process so I just went with it. The family did not even acknowledge that someone had to give their seat for them. Would I have been a if I had demanded I keep my seat? Now in retrospect, as I sit in the last row, I am starting to feel a little upset about it. AIAH?
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 05
    Edit #1: Thank you everyone for your advice!!! Greatly appreciated!!! Answering a few of the questions I have seen so far.
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 06
    . • Last row was completely empty, . so no idea why they did not move the whole family there. • It was not a super long flight (definitely not overseas); more of a 2 hour flight.
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 07
    • I am an AAdvantage member and I fly a lot because of work (plenty of miles and upgrades and such). I did not pay for the seat, but when I checked in I did specifically pick an available seat towards the middle of the plane just because i prefer not to be at the very back (bumpier flight as well as odor due to the restrooms being nearby)
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 08
    I don't have any kids, however, I realize parents want to sit nearby. I would have not minded giving up the seat if asked (has happened before on another flight). I guess the 'entitlement' kinda caught me off guard.
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
  • 09
    Just wanted to clarify some things: -Definitely not a 50 year old toddler or a Karen/Ken lol. (More of a 27 year old millennial minding my own business) Actually, the reason why I am bringing it up here is precisely because I want to understand if this situation calls for some type of response on my end (next time if it happens). For those concerned, you can rest assured the family was not inconvenienced, nor were they miserable.
    via u/Icy_Water_4680
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    • NoCont... 17h ago Edited 17h ago . OP, you are not the only one. I hate it when flight attendants does this. There was once when I was seated at the middle aisle seat with a child and his mother.
    via u/NoContest9016
  • 11
    The flight attendant came over and ask if I can change my seat with the father seated right at the back. I told the flight attendant "no, I'm not moving". The flight attendant went away and I thought all is well.
    via u/NoContest9016
  • 12
    After awhile, the same flight attendant came back and asked me again to change my seat stating that the father felt 'unsafe' with me seating with his family.
    via u/NoContest9016
  • 13
    Now, I got really offended by the flight attendant and the family. I told the flight attendant I will change my seat but I will note down your name and lodge a complaint after. They did eventually apologize to me but I didn't take the airline again.
    via u/NoContest9016
  • 14
    rutalia 17h ago • I'd take this up with the company. Hopefully you have names. Did you have to pay extra for that seat? NTA parents can plan ahead too. And can someone tell me why people can't be separated in the same space for a couple of hours??
    via u/rutalia
  • 15
    celticmusebooks 17h ago They should have had the other person in the last (worst) row next to the father's seat exchange seats with "mom" and let you keep the seat you paid for.
    via u/celticmusebooks
  • 16
    Agitated-Wave-727 17h ago • Honestly since the flight person insisted I'd be scared if I resisted they would get me kicked off of the flight. It's getting more and more ridiculous how entitled people are that fail to plan and pay ahead. NTA.
    via u/Agitated-Wave-727
  • 17
    Proper_Fun_977 • 17h ago NTA Complain to the cabin steward and the airline when you reach your destination. That really and unnecessary. The husband can sit at the back of the plane just fine.
    via u/Proper_Fun_977
  • 18
    Marcus_The_Sharkus 17h ago • NTA at all. They can ask you to move and since you paid for the seat they can't force you to move. It was incredibly unprofessional of her to put you in that position.
    via u/Marcus_The_Sharkus

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air travel modes of transportation family drama aita transportation entitlement flight attendant planes plane travelling passenger Travel entitled family traveling reddit thread Reddit airplanes airplane entitled people flying
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