A mom took my plane seat to be with her kids — I made her move

Is assigned seating a mere suggestion, or a hard and fast rule?

A woman has sparked yet another debate about airplane courtesy — after refusing to give up her pre-booked seat for a mom and her kids.

Tammy Nelson was traveling for work and boarded the aircraft to find a woman sitting in her seat with her two children next to her.

Nelson, who posted a clip explaining the situation to TikTok, said she pointed out to the woman that she was in her seat. The mom responded by asking her to switch so she could sit near her kids.

“I said, ‘as long as it’s the window seat I’m happy to switch,’ ” read the text of the video, which has been viewed more than 1.5 million times since it was posted two days ago.

However, the mom then pointed to the middle seat in the row behind her — which Nelson said was an immediate no.

“Having had only 90 minutes of sleep the night before and knowing I had to give a presentation to 500 people, I desperately needed some sleep,” she explained in the caption. “So I did not agree to switch seats.”


Blonde woman speaking to camera.
Nelson explained she wanted to sleep on the flight — but couldn’t in a middle seat.
TikTok/myconquering

Screenshot TikTok woman leaning against plane window.
She posted her conundrum to TikTok — where most people assured her she was in the right.
TikTok/myconquering

Nelson added that the woman’s children looked “about 11 and 15 years old,” and their mom was “in arms-reach of both of them” from the middle seat in the row behind them.

Unhappy with Nelson’s decision, the mom reportedly proceeded to complain for at least 15 minutes to the person next to her — making sure Nelson could hear.

“But the woman actually defended me — several times,” the TikToker said. “It was so kind and I appreciated it so much because I was feeling really guilty.”

@myconquering

Having had only 90 minutes of sleep the night before and knowing I had to give a presentation to 500 people, I desperately needed some sleep, so I did not agree to switch seats. 🤷‍♀️ Before anyone comes after me… the kids looked like they were about 11 and 15 years old. And the mom was in arms-reach of both of them from the middle seat in the row behind us. The mom proceeded to complain for at least 15 minutes to the person next to her loud enough for me to hear. But the woman actually defended me – several times. It was so kind and I appreciated it so much because I was feeling really guilty. 🤦‍♀️ #airplaneseat#seatswitching#airplanekarens

♬ original sound – MyCONQUERing

Thousands commented on the post, chiming in with their views on the situation — with most agreeing with how Nelson handled it.

One person commented, “[S]witching a window seat for a middle seat? oh hells NO! Only person I would do that for is my kid!”

“People should book seats together if they want to sit together,” a user pointed out.

“The amount of families who aren’t paying to select their seats together is mind blowing!” agreed another. “You were 100% right to not give up your seat.”