Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

Add post form topAdd Post
Tooltip close

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

Guy Deals With Entitled Parent Using Movies Quotes When She Won’t Stop Pestering Him About Switching Seats
165

Guy Deals With Entitled Parent Using Movies Quotes When She Won’t Stop Pestering Him About Switching Seats

ADVERTISEMENT

Flying comes with its own set of irritations, one has to go through airports, board a stuffy, loud cylinder then sit for a significant amount of time, while air pressure rises and drops in one’s ears. And that’s before you add in the eternal wildcard, other passengers.

One man had a particularly annoying experience with an entitled mother who had forgotten to get seats next to her son, then demanded that OP move and would not take no for an answer. So the flight staff had to be called over to resolve the dispute. As with so many air travel stories, there is something about the interior of an airplane that really just brings out the absolute worst in people.

RELATED:

    Air travel puts a whole bunch of irritable humans in an enclosed capsule of hours on end

    Image credits: C_Studio (not the actual photo)

    A man was accosted by a Karen who demanded he switches seats with her

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Grey_Coast_Media (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image source: reon24

    Air travel can bring out the worst in us

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: RubyGoes (not the actual photo)

    Some sympathy should always be given when traveling, it’s rarely comfortable or fun for any parties involved and that’s just as true when traveling with kids. In OP’s story, the child is old enough to, probably, not cry all through the flight or cause a commotion, but it’s still another burden for parents to think about. Once you add in all the other issues one encounters when flying, it’s hard not to be cranky. Air travel often involves getting to an airport, often enough at an absolutely unholy hour, checking in baggage, going through security, and finding gates, all while surrounded by equally irritable groups of people. And this is if everything goes right, with no delays, cancellations, traffic, or who knows what else. Issues arise all the time and let’s face it, some airports seem to be modeled on a maze.

    And this is before one has even gotten on the plane. Air travelers know that flying means sitting in somewhat uncomfortable seats, with just not enough legroom for hours. The air is dry and stale, too cold or too warm, you can never escape the constant noises of the engines, announcements, people talking, snoring, crying, and movement around the cabin. If this makes you feel uncomfortable just reading it, then know that researchers actually have measured the negative effects these factors have on a person’s psychology. It makes people irritable, on edge, stressed, and tired. And this is if everything goes relatively smoothly, no screaming children, no loud and obnoxious passengers, and, god forbid, no mechanical issues with the airplane.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Cases of unruly passengers have grown in recent years

    Image credits: pandalove85 (not the actual photo)

    Being an adult means sometimes suppressing your inclination to yell and fight other people, but unfortunately, air travel is a good measure of just how immature people can be. Interestingly, cases of “air rage” have actually risen in the last few years, with now more well-known cases, like one where an unruly passenger was dragged off a plane with enough force to necessitate dental reconstruction work. Other examples include a mass passenger brawl that erupted over a disagreement before the group had even boarded. Scientists believe that the confinement of traveling is enough to stimulate unruly passengers into aggressive behavior. One can always pull over when driving or walking around a cruise ship, but airplanes generally keep you in your seat. One interesting study even showed that just the act of walking through first class as a non-first-class passenger already creates feelings of anger.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    The “Karen” in OP’s story, to her credit, did not succumb to the sort of air rage detailed above. She was out of line, entitled and absolutely could have taken a few more classes for “niceness,” but she didn’t strike anyone and security didn’t have to deplane her. It’s a sad state of affairs, where this sort of behavior shows almost “commendable” restraint compared to the downright violent actions of other passengers. Readers also raised a particularly important question, namely, why did she book tickets so poorly and why would she not ask anyone else to switch? These are not questions we will get answered, but the flight crew ultimately did the right thing and put her in her place.

    OP answered some additional reader questions

    Others were incredulous about the mother’s entitlement

    ADVERTISEMENT

    People shared similar stories of rude and entitled passengers

    ADVERTISEMENT
    Share on Facebook
    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

    Read less »
    Justin Sandberg

    Justin Sandberg

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    Read less »

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    What do you think ?
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Robert T
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kid probably helped with the booking and chose his seat well away from his mother! LOL

    Laughing otter
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Again?? It's basically the same story, over and over and over and over and over and...

    WildHoneyPie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We were at an NFL game once and an older gentleman asked my husband if we would switch seats with him and his wife so they could sit with their grandkids. Difference is that his were better seats (a few rows forward) and he gave us $20.00. That's the way to ask!

    Load More Comments
    Robert T
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kid probably helped with the booking and chose his seat well away from his mother! LOL

    Laughing otter
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Again?? It's basically the same story, over and over and over and over and over and...

    WildHoneyPie
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We were at an NFL game once and an older gentleman asked my husband if we would switch seats with him and his wife so they could sit with their grandkids. Difference is that his were better seats (a few rows forward) and he gave us $20.00. That's the way to ask!

    Load More Comments
    Related on Bored Panda
    Related on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda