She was traveling across the country with her husband and two-year-old toddler. The family was flying to celebrate Thanksgiving.
They Could Afford It
Her husband had just received a nice pay rise, and they decided to splurge on first-class tickets. They could afford it.
She Was Used To Flying
The toddler has always been a good flyer and had flown a lot in her short life.
Under Guidance From Their Pediatrician
She and her husband always follow recommendations made by their pediatrician, who suggests giving the child a dose of baby Tylenol 30 minutes before traveling.
Thanks to their efforts, the toddler has never been disruptive or cried on a plane – this flight included.
She Is Well-Behaved
The toddler is good at staying in her seat, and let’s her parents know when she wants food or playtime, and when she needs to go potty.
On this particular flight, she remained seated, and played quietly throughout the flight. She only got up when she needed to go potty.
The Angry First-Class Flyer
A fellow first-class passenger was not impressed. He glared at the family as they boarded ahead of him.
The Flight Attendant Checks Seats
After he took a seat, a flight attendant came up to the family and asked to view their boarding passes to make sure they were in the correct seats.
The woman presented the family’s boarding passes to the flight attendant, who confirmed they were correctly seated.
Was A Second Check Required?
A second attendant approached the family, and also asked to check their boarding passes. She, too, confirmed that they were in the correct seats.
The flight then took off.
An Interruption
The toddler fell asleep in the middle of coloring, and the husband snoozed. She was just listening to music when she got a tap on her shoulder. It was the irritated passenger.
Breaking the Rules!
Before she could get a word out, he told the woman that children were not allowed in first class and that they needed to move to their “real” seats.
Things Become Clear
The woman suddenly realized that the other passenger had complained to the flight attendants, and that it was because of him that they checked her family’s boarding passes on two occasions.
She Requested Help
She refused to deal with him and asked for the flight attendants to get involved. She told him she was uncomfortable talking to him directly.
He got even more flustered and stood beside the woman in the aisle, waiting for the flight attendant to clear things up.
The Flight Attendant Explains
The flight attendant explained that the family was in the seats they paid for and asked that the angry passenger sit down and not bother them again.
The furious passenger went back to his seat.
Rude!
After the plane landed and the passengers were disembarking, he whispered an offensive expletive to the mom and said he pays too much money for first class to be around children.
But Her Child Was Well-Behaved!
The mom was upset. Her child was the only kid in first class, and she didn’t misbehave or cry, so she felt she did not do anything wrong.
Her Family Shares Their Opinion
When she arrived home and explained the story to her family at Thanksgiving, many told the mom that she should have booked economy tickets, as people pay extra to relax in first class.
This left her feeling confused, and she turned to an online forum to ask who was right. Here are some of the replies.
Fly Private!
“Even if your child did cry, it wouldn’t have mattered because you paid and are entitled to the seats you paid for,” argues one user. They add, “There is no age limit or policy that children can’t be in 1st class. If they don’t want to be around children/other people that bad – they should fly private!”
Treat Your Family!
“That man needed to mind his business,” says another commenter. “I do see your family’s point about people wanting to relax, but I don’t think that should bar you from treating your family now and then.”
She’s a Human Being, Too!
One user takes the time to explain the situation from a different perspective.
“Imagine if this was literally any other group of human beings:
“I pay too much money to be surrounded by women.”
“I pay too much money to be surrounded by fat people.”
“I pay too much money to be surrounded by Muslims.”
“I pay too much money to be surrounded by old people.”
If those words had come out of this man’s mouth, would you have even a flicker of doubt that you were in the wrong? Your child is a human being, a person. She deserves to be treated like a human being, a person. You paid for her seat. She sat in it and behaved like every other passenger in first. Bigots don’t get to dictate who is “allowed” to be in first class.”
Classism!
One user thought the woman’s family was wrong in their comments to her. She said, “There’s something about your family’s assumption that screaming babies should only be inflicted on the people in economy – that is sitting wrong with me somehow.”
Another user agreed and said this is a great example of classism, “Yes, the classism! If you pay more you deserve not to be bothered – nope. You get a nicer seat and better food and get off faster. That’s it. Nothing else is guaranteed or even implied.”
What do you think?
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