‘As if I had no choice but to move”: lady refused to swap airline seats

The information I found showed that both parents were upgraded members but were unaware that their son was not eligible. As a result, they were able to enjoy first-class seats while their child was in the economy. The flight attendant gave me options, meaning that I had no choice but to relocate. She indicated the possibility of having another complimentary upgrade on another aircraft or receiving a complete refund for the present one.

I inquired about the possibility of remaining in my seat, as I believed I had received an order to vacate it. She informed me that only the two parents and I had received an upgrade on the aircraft, and there were no more first-class seats available. Thus, the child naturally took my seat to sit with his family. If the child had bought a ticket during a first-class overbooking, the situation would have been different. However, the airline gave me this upgrade because I frequently flew with them. Had the parents bought tickets, I might have considered it. I have no ill will towards the flight attendant; she was kind and respectful throughout the circumstances. She politely accepted my decision, assuring me that everything was OK and that they would fix the problem. I never saw the parents because they were so far from my seat. However, an older woman in the next seat chastised me for allowing a youngster to sit alone for 13 hours. The prospect of a youngster surviving a 13-hour journey unaccompanied is terrifying, but I noticed the boy wandering up and down the aisles every hour to see his parents, so he was not completely alone. So, AITA, is this what an a-hole would do?