Teenage girl claims she was forced to fly with a stranger’s toddler in her lap due to bizarre mishap by airline

An Australian woman has hit out at an airline after she was left feeling uncomfortable for hours on a long-haul flight.

Long travel flights can be a bit of a pain, which is exactly why many people pay that extra money for more leg room and a specific seat.

However, in some situations, even when you have paid for your seat and are ready to travel, airlines might have different ideas.

An Australian woman has said she was forced to travel for hours with a toddler on her lap not long after suffering a panic attack.

Lily Winward, 19, of Ulladulla, has said she was flying back on Etihad Airways from an athletics competition in Athens when the flight stopped or a layover in the United Arab Emirates.

Lily has claimed the airline has remained quiet following her complaints (Lilyywinward/Instagram)

The airline staff told her the plane was overbooked and that she would have to be put up in a hotel.

However, Winward said she did not feel safe leaving the airport at night wearing tights and a singlet in the middle of Abu Dhabi.

She also claimed another passenger was allegedly harassing her to get into a taxi with him and this added to her uncomfortableness.

Winward said: “I was quite upset. I was crying, and I said, ‘I just want to get home; I don’t feel safe going to a hotel, especially with this guy bothering me'.”

As a result of the situation, she had a panic attack and staff assured her they could fit her on the flight, but noted that she would have to share the seat with a toddler.

Speaking to Australian media, Winward said that she endured the rest of the flight, which can take anywhere from 14 to 16 hours, with a child on her lap.

As you can imagine, she was less than impressed with this outcome and has attempted to contact the airline to complain.

Lily had a panic attack before the airline could accomodate her(MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

She told the Herald and said: “I just think it’s not good enough, for someone who has paid $3,000 for flights, it shouldn’t happen.”

Her attempts to complain haven’t been fruitful unfortunately. She and her travel agent have reached out to Etihad, but the airline has allegedly remained quiet.

Winward also took issue with being singled out regarding being bumped from the flight as a woman traveling alone, rather than a couple or family.

UNILAD has contacted Etihad Airways for comment.

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