As a frequent flyer and a plus-size passenger, I know airplane seats don’t fit me well. So to avoid bothering anyone, I always buy two seats — one for me, one for comfort.
On a recent flight, I boarded, sat down, and buckled in when a woman approached with her young child. Without asking, she placed her child in my second seat.
I calmly told her I had purchased both seats for personal reasons. She scoffed and loudly accused me of being selfish. Other passengers chimed in: “It’s just a child!”
Trying not to lose my cool, I called a flight attendant and showed both boarding passes. I explained that if the seat wasn’t cleared, I’d request a report for interference with a paid reservation.
The crew acted fast. After speaking with the captain, the woman and her child were removed — apparently, she had pulled this trick before.
As we took off, the cabin was quiet again. A few passengers apologized. Most didn’t.
P.S. I didn’t buy two seats to be mean. I did it out of respect — for myself and for others.