A Reddit user’s account of being pressured by a Delta flight attendant to surrender their paid window seat for a family traveling with a baby has sparked heated discussion about passenger rights and airplane etiquette.

The passenger detailed the incident in a post shared on April 2 in the r/delta subreddit under the username u/WBG_ProudParents, whose account has since been deleted. The post has amassed more than 7,400 upvotes and drawn over 1,000 comments since it was first shared.

The user, who said they were on their way to a ski trip, described the ordeal as a violation of their planning and personal space.

“I was going a ski trip. Had everything planned out. Checked in early, got my seat by the window. And I really like seeing snow out from the window plane,” the user wrote. “And in the last minute, I was pulled aside by the attendant and they asked me if I can change my seat with a family traveling with an infant and they asked [for] my window seat.”

According to the poster, the flight attendant told them the family had paid for the window seat, to which they responded: “I paid for mine too.” The user said there was another family traveling with a baby, making it clear whom the flight attendant was referring to.

“And the attitude from the FA [flight attendant]! They made me feel so bad that I actually went back and said ‘fine,'” the user continued. “I just felt so disgusted! Why cannot people just [have] planned [things] out earlier! I planned my trip two months in advance! I hate it when people do stuff like this and expect everyone to accommodate them! Nonetheless they are parents too. Like, have some sense of responsibility!”

When contacted for comment on the incident, a spokesperson for Delta Air Lines told Newsweek: “The customer is welcome to contact Delta so we can hear more.”

Lisa Mirza Grotts, an etiquette expert and author of A Traveler’s Passport to Etiquette in a Post-Pandemic World, told Newsweek that travelers who book their seats in advance have no obligation to give them up. “Planning ahead is not rude—it’s responsible. If you booked your seat in advance, you have every right to keep it,” Grotts said. “A lack of preparation on someone else’s part—family or not—does not constitute an obligation on yours.”

“Even if you feel ‘heartless’ for saying no, you’re not,” she continued. “You’re simply upholding the structure that keeps travel civilized. It’s shameful for any flight attendant—or fellow passenger—to make you feel otherwise.”

The Reddit post comes as a June 2023 survey conducted by Kayak found that passengers in the United States and Canada believe it’s acceptable to ask for a seat change “if you ask politely,” because 54 percent of travelers “have a soft spot for common courtesy.”

Those surveyed said you’re allowed to ask to sit next to a family member, partner or friend because 58 percent of travelers “have a grain of empathy.”

‘Entitlement Is Never Polite’

In a follow-up comment, the Reddit user elaborated on their decision to ultimately relinquish the seat, saying: “I initially refused, but then I walked past a family with a baby only a few months old. And I just thought, what if that family had a similar situation, maybe the parents are obnoxious but the child is innocent. I hate that stupid parents for guilt tripping me but the baby…urgh…FINE.”

The poster added: “I am more angry at myself than any other party. Like, I can say no initially but then when people push back and started being mean I just panicked and all I want is to stay on their good side.”

Grotts emphasized that courtesy and planning go hand in hand. “Tensions often rise at 35,000 feet, but courtesy begins on the ground. If you took the time to book your seat, you shouldn’t be guilted into surrendering it to someone who didn’t. This especially applies to families traveling with children. Kids don’t excuse a lack of planning; if anything, they require more of it,” she said.

“Responsibility is the real luxury in travel,” Grotts added. “Good manners go both ways. Entitlement is never polite.”

‘The Airline’s Fault’

Many commenters on Reddit sided with the original poster. “Just because they ask doesn’t mean you have to oblige. There’s 2 window seats for every row!… next!!!!” wrote u/Keepitontrack-2025.

Others suggested asking for compensation or upgrades if pressured to move. “I’d tell the FA I’ll move if the seat is comparable and I get my $ back for the seat I PAID for—if they double booked that’s on them not you,” commented u/Plane-Reason9254.

U/arcticskies echoed the sentiment: “Your response should have been ‘I’m happy to move if you have a first class seat available in exchange for this seat’.”

“Next time that happens ask for a voucher or some sort of compensation. Then it’s on Delta to make it right,” said u/iambeerman2.

The user u/RattyRhino pointed to broader industry patterns: “Yeah, it’s the airline’s fault probably not the parent’s fault. Even if you choose your seat ahead of time, they still move you…”

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.

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