Air travel can be a wild ride, and sometimes airlines try to pull the wool over our eyes. A recent experience left me wondering if I was the bad guy for refusing to give up my first-class seat.
I had booked my ticket to San Francisco a year in advance and was thrilled when the airline offered me a free upgrade to first class due to my accumulated travel points. As I settled into my comfortable seat, I felt like I was on top of the world.
However, about an hour into the flight, a flight attendant approached me with a request. A 10-year-old boy in economy class needed to sit with his family in first class, and I was the only one who could make that happen. The parents, also members of the airline’s loyalty program, had received upgrades, but their son had not.
The flight attendant presented me with some options, making it seem like I had no choice but to vacate my seat. She offered me another free upgrade on a future flight or a full refund for the current flight. I asked if I could stay in my seat, and she explained that there were no other first-class seats available, making my seat the only solution.
I refused to give up my seat, and the flight attendant accepted my decision graciously. However, I did receive some shade from an older woman sitting next to me, who claimed I had condemned a child to sit alone for 13 hours. In reality, I saw the boy walking up and down the aisles regularly to visit his parents.
So, was I the bad guy for refusing to give up my seat? I didn’t think so, considering I had earned the upgrade through my loyalty program and the parents hadn’t purchased their tickets. But maybe I’m just an a-hole?
