Modern airplanes routinely test the limits, as driving across the ocean is no longer an option. They frequently overbook flights, charge for standard-sized bags, and experiment with novel seating arrangements. The anxious woman sought online counsel on her choice to forgo a first-class upgrade on a long-awaited flight. A flight attendant approached her shortly after departure, asking her to switch to a lower-class seat, even though she had booked the journey early and collected enough travel points for the upgrade. Flying in first class may still present some complications. Before my trip, I (23F) methodically planned a vacation to San Francisco for almost a year and booked my tickets a year in advance.

The airline called me about a month or two before the trip, informing me that they wished to upgrade my seat to first class due to my accrued points and membership status. This was my first time flying first class, and I couldn’t have been happier. Before my journey, I ensured I completed all necessary tasks at the lounge, finding an exceptionally pleasant environment for the 13-hour journey. Approximately an hour after departure, a flight attendant came to me and asked if I wanted to trade seats with a 10-year-old child from economy class. The goal was to let the youngster sit with his family in first class. The information I found showed that both parents were upgraded members but were unaware that their son was not eligible. As a result, they were able to enjoy first-class seats while their child was in the economy. The flight attendant gave me options, meaning that I had no choice but to relocate. She indicated the possibility of having another complimentary upgrade on another aircraft or receiving a complete refund for the present one.

I inquired about the possibility of remaining in my seat, as I believed I had received an order to vacate it. She informed me that only the two parents and I had received an upgrade on the aircraft, and there were no more first-class seats available. Thus, the child naturally took my seat to sit with his family. If the child had bought a ticket during a first-class overbooking, the situation would have been different. However, the airline gave me this upgrade because I frequently flew with them. Had the parents bought tickets, I might have considered it. I have no ill will towards the flight attendant; she was kind and respectful throughout the circumstances. She politely accepted my decision, assuring me that everything was OK and that they would fix the problem. I never saw the parents because they were so far from my seat. However, an older woman in the next seat chastised me for allowing a youngster to sit alone for 13 hours. The prospect of a youngster surviving a 13-hour journey unaccompanied is terrifying, but I noticed the boy wandering up and down the aisles every hour to see his parents, so he was not completely alone. So, AITA, is this what an a-hole would do?