Man applauded for refusing to swap seats with pregnant woman on plane

A man has been defended online for not giving up his airplane seat for a pregnant woman.

Ah, another day, another 'AITA' Reddit thread. And this time, it's from a man questioning whether or not he's in the wrong for not giving up his seat on the plane for a pregnant woman.

Yup. It sounds pretty bad when you first read it, but the man has explained exactly why he wasn't about to give up his seat anytime soon - even for a woman carrying a child.

The Redditer - who took to the thread under the username u/michaeldonelly - explains he was flying solo on a flight expected to last over five hours to see family over the holidays.

In a post to the platform two weeks ago, he writes: "I specifically booked and paid extra for an aisle seat in the second-to-last row because I have medical issues that sometimes require quick access to the bathroom.

"Right before boarding, a woman asked me to give up my seat so she could sit closer to the bathroom. She was pregnant but did not seem distressed."

Michael explains while he 'felt for her situation' he didn't think it was 'fair' he should be expected to move from the seat he had 'planned for and paid for' in light of his medical condition.

"Especially since she apparently had not booked an aisle seat herself in advance," he adds.

However, the situation only got more complicated from there.

Pexels/ Berkalp Turper

The flight attendants were called over to help with the issue, however, much to Michael's dismay, they 'refused to help mediate' when the woman 'insisted' he should move.

"There were also no other aisle or close seats available on the full flight that I or flight crew could facilitate swapping," he says.

The passenger even tried to give advice to the woman, recommending that she 'speak to a doctor about needing accommodation if sitting far from the bathroom is not medically advisable for her situation during future flights'.

Michael stayed strong and didn't give up his seat, however, he notes his family told him he should have 'inconvenienced' himself and made the move.

He resolves: "I disagree though - I think she and the flight crew were unfairly targeting me instead of handling it through proper channels. AITA (Am I The A**hole)?"

Well, it would appear Michael's family are actually in the minority, as many other Reddit users flocking to the post in support of the flyer.

One user said: "NTA. She should have booked another seat she wanted herself or not gone on the flight.

"Seems she just assumed she wouldn't have to pay for it, since some sucker was going to move.

"The flight attendants are at fault for not mediating. At some point they should have told her to go back to her seat. (and all of this is regardless of your medical issues. You paid for the seat. She didn't.)."

"This, yeah. No idea why that woman was so focused on OP‘s seat when there were others available. Seems like she thought good old public shaming would’ve worked," another added.

And a third commented: "NTA- I say this as someone who has been pregnant and has flown solo with a toddler… every passenger has equal opportunity to pre-book seats based on their needs and preferences.

"It’s no one business why you booked that seat. Was the passenger or airline going to reimburse you for the cost of prebooking the seat?

"Zero obligation for you to move."