to ask someone to move their child out of my plane seat

[kipperssippers]

more of a WWYD then AIBU but...
i booked the seat by the window as i always do and when i got to my seat a child around 8 was in my seat with her mum beside her.
When i got there i told the mother that the window seat is my seat and she said her child wanted the window seat to look out, i then replied then you should of booked one.
I didnt want to cause a scene but the women made out i'm an arsehole for asking her kid to move as she had never been on a flight and wanted to look outside.
I did give in and stayed pissed off for 7 hours in my non window seat.

what would you of done in this situation?

[Chococroc]

I wouldn't have given in, you booked it so it's your seat.

[otterlylovely]

Probably the same as you, but we are both unreasonable!

[GunShotResidue]

YANBU, the mum should have booked a seat by the window. I'd like to think I would have insisted she moved, but I probably would wimp out!

[6cats3gingerkittens]

I think I would have offered to open the window so the child could lean out for a better look.

[LalaLyra]

I probably wouldn't have given in. If she'd asked really nicely then I probably would have, but making her not booking a window seat my problem and being arsey would have got my back up.

[DSClarke]

I would not have moved.

But then again, I'm a miserable bugger

[BelfastSmile]

You're well within your rights to insist on getting your seat. I'd probably have caved in and swapped, to be honest, but I'm an idiot like that. At the very least it's have let the little girl sit in the seat for a while.

[MotherofFlagons]

I wouldn't have given in either. Tough titties to her for not booking a window seat in the first place.

[G1veMeStrength]

I'd let the 8 year old have the window seat, it's the nice thing to do.

[FinallyHere]

I'd would not have engaged with the mother, but referred the matter back to the steward/ess, with my boarding pass clearly to hand. Likewise, the mother having failed to book a window seat, could have asked the steward/ess for help, not just nock someone else's seat. Sigh.

[silverduck]

I wouldn't have given in, I like looking out too and haven't had a window seat for years as I've given it up for my own kids. Sod giving it up for other people's kids too :S

[Lurkedforever1]

If I'd only booked it to prevent being in a centre seat, then I would have let her have it, assuming I got the aisle seat instead. And asked the mum for my prebooking fee. Otherwise if I'd booked that seat because I wanted to be next to the window, I'd have politely insisted she moved.

[WickedWax]

At the point she made out I was an arsehole I would have insisted on having my window seat, then proceeded to get up every 15 minutes to stretch my legs and go to the loo, just to really piss her off.

[Wellthatsit]

Don't the stewards frown upon seat swapping - something to do with being able to identify who's who in the event of an emergency.

YANBU to ask her to move. Some people have a cheek, and never want to disappoint their spoilt kids regardless of how it affects others.

[MadameJosephine]

It depends, what was the alternative seat? if it was an aisle then I might have swapped. However, if i had paid a fee to book the seat I would not have swapped unless she was prepared to reimburse me, no way I'd be out of pocket and get a worse seat!

[TimeToMuskUp]

I have two children but wouldn't give up my window seat for another person's child. If you want one, you book one. I'd have fetched a steward/ess and let them explain why she had to move her child.

[ExasperatedAlmostAlways]

I suppose because you were sitting in the same row for seven hours and may of had to speak to them to allow you out to the toilet etc I'd of probably given in too. Just to keep the peace and avoid any awkwardness for the journey, but I'd of been annoyed too.

We prebooked seats for the way to and back from my hen and my sister was beside me as it was the only way she'd come as she is terrified of flying. We got on and our seats had been taken and the people refused to move and the cabin crew did bugger all. So my sister was sat up the back on her own and had a massive panic attack and I was beside an elderly couple who were alright but wanted to keep talking to me when I wanted to try sleep. Its an annoying situation when you prebook something and someone who hasn't comes and takes it.

[chipsandpeas]

i wouldnt have given in, id rather sit by a upset child for the length of the flight than give in but then i can be a spiteful bitch like that

usually as a single passenger i dont prebook a seat so i am delighted when i get a window seat so wouldnt give it up for anything, plus no one else knows that i didnt book

[MoMoTy]

I wouldn't have given it , don't really care that it's a child. If she wanted her to look out the window she should have booked it then.

[AnotherTimeMaybe]

You paid for that seat didn't you?
I wouldn't have given in! Except if she was really nice and asked me rather than demand it which is what happened here!
On a positive side you made that child happy so f*ck it!

[JT05]

Was it a cheap airline or one with a 1st class? I get claustrophobia and always book the window seat. DH has to put up with the middle one, unless just 2 seats!

I would have given up my seat and then had a massive panic/ claustrophobic attack and asked to be moved to calming 1st class!

[Tardigrade001]

Same as G1veMe - I'd let the child have the seat because it's a kind thing to do.

[steakpunararemediumwelldone]

No, I would not have done it either. If she wanted a window seat she should have booked one!

[expatinscotland]

I would not have given in. I'd have called the air staff over after firmly saying, 'This is my pre-booked seat.' Wouldn't have given a flying fuck about 'keeping the peace' or 'awkwardness'.

[SparkleSoiree]

YANBU

If she wanted one she should have booked one.

The same goes for movie tickets. I stand there until they move.