I (28M) was on a long-haul flight (about 9 hours) and had booked an aisle seat months in advance. I’m tall and get pretty uncomfortable in the middle or window, so I always try to plan ahead and pay the extra if needed.

When I boarded, a woman sitting with her young daughter (probably around 6 or 7 years old) asked me if I’d switch seats with her so she could sit next to her kid. Problem? Her seat was in the middle of a completely different row. No extra legroom, no aisle.

I politely declined and said I was sorry, but I booked this seat specifically. She got irritated and said, “Really? You can’t let a mom sit with her child?” I responded again, nicely, that I was uncomfortable switching into a middle seat for such a long flight.

She gave me a look, then sat down in the middle seat next to her daughter and didn’t speak to me again. But throughout the flight, I could hear her loudly telling the flight attendant that “some people have no compassion.”

A few people around me definitely overheard and gave me looks too. I didn’t want to cause a scene, but I also didn’t think I should be guilt-tripped into giving up the seat I paid for.

So, AITA for refusing to switch seats with a mom and sit in a worse spot?