NTA – The whole “I’ll show you” was a big clue that it wasn’t going to be an optimal seat. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were going to settle the kids into your seat while they showed you the other to basically force you to not refuse once you got up.

Flying from Frankfurt to Newark I scored a seat in the front of my section, extra leg room, nothing but a wall in front of me and it was only two seats, aisle and window (I had the aisle). Attendant started to ask if I’d switch seats by playing on emotions, There’s a family that’s separated, I’m sure you know what it’s like traveling with children (actually I don’t), it would be nice for them to sit together. Thing is the kids weren’t separate it was just that one parent had one or two with them and the other parent was a few rows back with the other one or two. I think the attendant figured I’d be moved by their plight and just agree but then I asked the magic question “Where would I be sitting”. She almost kept her poker face and tried to smile like isn’t this wonderful but it slipped a little as she pointed to a seat halfway back in that cabin section, four seats across and I would be in the middle. I refused, she went full on bitch face, I told her thanks but no thanks for a transatlantic flight I’m keeping my leg room and ease of getting up when needed. I get it, you can try and be nice but there has to be a limit between doing a favor and having your experience be more difficult or uncomfortable.

At first I thought that you’re a bit of TA for not even going to see what the other seat was, but then it got me thinking that if she wasn’t even willing to tell you right then it was most def a worse seat to which you would’ve said no just to come back to your seat and see that the (presumably) kids were already comfy on your place and your bags were already on another overhead.

My dad was in a similar situation once on a flight from London to Shanghai and they wanted him to give his aisle up for one of the middle seats of the 4 seats configuration. He said that he wouldn’t trade for a seat worse then his. After they (airline) really complained and tried to force his hand he said “well, I can see that there are many seats open in business, if it’s really that important I’d be more than happy to give up my seat for one of those, otherwise I’ll be staying here”. Turns out that having a minor seating alone was such a bad thing that they actually gave him the business class seat. Next time they try to force your hand make them a counter and let them be the unreasonable ones

NTA there are at least 2 other people they could ask, one being the old guy you were sitting with and the other being the person(s) sitting next to the seat they wanted you to move to. It was probably a middle seat they were trying to move you to, otherwise the flight attendant would have told you what kind of seat it was instead of trying to get you over there first. They obviously thought you wouldn’t move if they gave you the details beforehand.

Edit: thinking about it more, the fact that no one ended up sitting next to you means there were more than likely other options that ended up panning out, so the kids likely ended up sitting next to each other anyway.

NTA
It was going to be NAH until the older man said something to you. He could have just as easily gave up his seat, but no, it was somehow your responsibility as the ‘young woman’ in the equation to be inconvenienced instead of him.

If there’s anyone to blame, it’s the adult who arranged the children’s flight who didn’t want to pay or plan ahead for seats together. They were probably hoping for other people to fix that little detail for them.

I see why someone would think badly of you for this. But it’s not like a bus seat. You paid (probably a lot of) money for that seat. And on my honest opinion, you’re not an asshole for not moving. The parents of the kids however…. that’s another story. Who puts their two children on a plane alone, and separates them? Fucking asshole parents imo. NTA

>the older man said that he hopes couple hours of sleep was worth ruining kids’ flight, but I told him he was free to give up his seat, and he said nothing further.

I think this part says it all. NTA, OP. You are not an asshole for wanting to sleep, and the people who tried to make you feel like shit are definitely the assholes.

Edit: A word

NTA. You paid for that seat, it’s your seat. Why didn’t that guy give up his seat if he felt so strongly about it? I get that it’s two kids, but if it was such a big deal for them to sit together then their parents should’ve bought tickets where they were seated together. You did what you needed to do for your health.

NTA. There are plenty of other people on the plane they could ask to swap, and if the kids are that young they would at least be seated with a parent. You paid for your seat and have every right to keep that seat without being judged. If the old man cared so much, he could give his up.

I experience this once.
It was for a transatlantic flight of 12hrs.
But my new seat was first class.
I do not regret giving my seat to a mom with young kid.
Best decision EVER.

So all I can say… just go check out the situation first you might get surprised.

NTA

Wow. The attendant basically gave you a command like you had no choice. And didn’t ask the old man?

Good job sticking to your seat, especially when given no compensation

Did anyone end up in the middle seat?

YTA. Two kids travelled a long lonely flight so you wouldn’t have to have another person sitting near you, a pretty mild discomfort. You sound like a self-centered A who thinks empathy is for other people.

>I told him he was free to give up his seat,

NTA – awesome comeback. It’s great how people are ok with other people being inconvenienced, but not themselves!

Old guy’s an ass for chirping in, why didn’t the flight attendant ask him? Total bs. I probably would’ve switched, but you’re NTA because you didn’t want to.

NTA.

You owe no one an apology, you don’t have to move your seats you paid for and the other party (the old man) could’ve given up their seat.

NAH

Flights suck for everyone, but I can see why it’s kids > adults for some people.

Old man can donate his own seat to charity for all I care.

Hahaha good comeback for the dude sitting next to you.. nta imo.
Did they ask the guy? Interesting if the stewardess just picked you to ask..