Modern airlines frequently try to get away with too much; after all, who is going to drive across the ocean? They overbook, charge for average-sized luggage, and try the most unusual seating arrangements.
A anxious woman searched the internet if not giving up her first-class upgrade was the right decision. Because of the travel points she had accumulated, the airline granted her a free upgrade to first class on a long flight she had booked months in advance. But just seconds into the journey, a flight attendant approached her and asked if she would mind downgrading her seat.
Even first class flight can present its own set of issues.
A woman questioned her decision to not replace her first-class seat with a 10-year-old boy’s economy seat to accommodate a family.
Background information I (23F) had been planning a vacation to San Francisco for almost a year at this point and had purchased my tickets a year in advance.
Around about a month or two before the trip, the airline called me saying they’d like to upgrade me to first class due to my points and being a member.
I had never flown first class before so to say I was so excited was an understatement.
I made sure to do everything possible in the lounge before my flight and I was welcomed with such a comfortable setting for the 13-hour flight.
Around an hour into the flight, a flight attendant approaches me and asks if I’d be prepared to trade seats with a 10-year-old child in economy so he may sit with his family in first class.
According to what I was told, the two parents were both members who had obtained upgrades, unaware that their youngster could not be upgraded alongside them. So they secured first-class tickets, but he was trapped in economy.
The flight attendant began giving me some options as if I had no choice but to move and she was saying things like I’d get another free upgrade in another flight or I could get a full refund for the flight. I asked her if there was any chance I could stay in my seat because I genuinely thought I was being kicked out and she said that the two parents and I were the only upgraded passengers on the flight and there were no other first-class seats available so if there was to be any chance for the boy to sit with his family it would only make sense for him to sit in my seat.
If this had been an other situation, such as overbooking first class and the youngster had purchased a ticket, the tale would be different, but I received this upgrade because of how frequently I fly with the airline. Also, I might have considered it if the parents had purchased their tickets, but they had not. No hatred for the flight attendant; she was extremely nice and respectful throughout the incident. She accepted my decision and was really pleasant, saying that everything was OK and that they will sort it out.
Never saw the parents they were sitting far away from me. I did get shamed by an old woman in the seat next to me who told me that I made a child sit on their own for 13 hours. I get a 13-hour flight alone for a child is the scary part but I saw him walk up and down the isles like every hour to meet his parents so it wasn’t like he was alone.
So AITA, because supposedly this is what an a-hole would do?
