On the other hand, some defended the mother, arguing that the woman should have made room for the child to avoid discomfort for both parties. A few questioned the necessity of having two seats for personal comfort, especially given the possibility of flight overbooking.

One person stated: “She’s TA for not buying a seat for her son and assuming someone else would give up a seat they paid for. Odds are she was hoping there’d be extra seats on the flight so she didn’t have to pay and used the lap thing as a loophole. A classic case of you snooze you lose.”

“Absolutely 100 per cent NTA. You paid for your seat. This woman was trying to steal a free seat for her kid. If it’s too hard to have him on her lap, buy a seat for him. It’s shite that they even asked you to share or give up your seat,” another person commented.

“She had no right and the plane staff should have shut her down.” A third person added: “NTA. You did exactly what you were supposed to do to accommodate your size.” “NTA, but the mom and the flight attendant absolutely are. I’d go so far as making a complaint to the airline about their employee supporting another passenger harassing you,” a fourth person shared. “WHY these flight attendants want to encourage this a**hole behaviour I will never understand.”

The majority favored the woman

In conclusion, most Reddit responses supported the woman, highlighting her entitlement to the paid seat and criticizing the mother for attempting to get a free seat for her child. The incident sparked a discussion on proper etiquette and consideration during air travel.

“How much room does a kid take up, seriously? Yeah the mum should’ve bought a seat but that doesn’t mean you have to be selfish and cause two people discomfort,” one person responded. Another added: “If you are so fat that you have to have more than one seat on an airplane then you are selfish. Flights overbook all the time, especially during the holidays – how can you justify having two seats to yourself?”