“Behave Yourself”: Man Teaches Dad Manners After He Tried To Sit Next To His Kid

Traveling can bring out the best and worst in people, but much depends on the particulars. When a group of strangers are packed into the tight confines of an airplane, sadly, it’s usually the latter.

In a recent Reddit post, one guy shared an especially annoying exchange he can’t seem to forget. It started with a simple request to swap seats, but quickly turned into an uncomfortable situation no passenger would want to be involved in.

The story has since gone viral, sparking debates about travel etiquette, personal boundaries, and the true power of being able to say no.

Man in window seat on airplane, wearing gray sweater and black vest, using his phone.

Image credits: Tahir osman / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Man refuses to switch airplane seats with dad wanting to sit next to son.

Text on a light background discussing recent exhaustion and memory of a conversation.

Text describing a refusal to swap an aisle seat so a dad and son can sit together.

View from an airplane window showing a wing above the clouds, symbolizing travel choices and seat preferences.

Image credits: Ahmed / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Conversation about refusal to switch seats on a plane.

Text conversation about refusing to swap aisle seat, leading to father and son eventually sitting together.

Text excerpt with a comment on refusing to change an aisle seat.

Airplane aisle view at night with seats illuminated by soft purple and orange lights.

Image credits: Ahmed Syed / unsplash (not the actual photo)

Text about a person refusing to give up a window seat, preferring it over the aisle seat.

The author of the story made an update, adding a few extra details

Text about preferring window seat for sleeping and views explodes with 2 million views in 24 hours.

Text expressing dislike for aisle seats due to frequent bumps from people and trolleys.

Image credits: Mediocre-Chain1210

He also joined the conversation in the comments

Reddit post about refusing to switch an aisle seat, discussing seating preferences and confrontation.

Reddit comments discussing a dad and son unable to sit together on a plane; mentions polite behavior.

Most people said he did nothing wrong

Train passenger refuses aisle seat swap for son and dad to sit together, insists on keeping his window seat.

Text post about flights and refusing entitled parents' requests on planes.

Text discussing airlines not seating passengers together without extra charge.

Reddit comment stating a person can refuse to switch from their booked window seat.

Reddit post discussing refusal to swap a window seat for an aisle seat so a dad and son can sit together.

Comment discussing refusal to give up an aisle seat for a father and son.

Text screenshot of a dad's story about seating on a flight, mentioning aisle seat issues.

Text image about a guy refusing to let a dad and son sit together on a flight.

A Reddit comment discussing seat arrangements on planes, focusing on refusing aisle seats for families.

Reddit comment discussing refusal to accommodate seating arrangement for a dad and son.

But a few believed he could’ve been more considerate

Text comment discussing refusal to swap plane seats for a dad and son to sit together.

Comment criticizing refusal to switch airplane seats for a dad and son to sit together, mentioning lack of empathy.

Text comment about refusing to switch an aisle seat with a family on a flight.

Reddit comment discussing preference for an aisle seat over letting father and son sit together.

Comment discussing refusal to give up a window seat for a child to sit with a parent.

Reddit comment criticizing refusal to switch airplane seats, highlighting issues of entitlement and empathy.

Text from a forum discussing refusal to let a dad and son sit together on a flight.

Poll Question

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Hi there! I am a Visual Editor at Bored Panda. My job is to ensure that all the articles are aesthetically pleasing. I get to work with a variety of topics ranging from all the relationship drama to lots and lots of memes and, my personal favorites, funny cute cats. When I am not perfecting the images, you can find me reading with a cup of matcha latte and a cat in my lap, taking photos (of my cat), getting lost in the forest, or simply cuddling with my cat... Did I mention that I love cats?

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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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What do you think ?

POST

Mike F 13 hours ago

"You want to sit next to my son?" I don't care if it's the fvcking Easter Bunny, I PAID for the window seat, I'm sitting in the window seat, get it? Got it? Good.

21points

Michael Largey 16 hours ago

The family didn't ask for the seat - they took it. Next will they teach the kid to shoplift and only return the loot if he's caught?

19points

Pencil 4 hours ago

My thoughts exactly. Before sitting down, the father should have asked the flight attendant to make an announcement asking if anyone would be willing to switch. Instead he was counting on the person whose seat he took being too timid to stand up for himself. It's a bullying tactic. "That's mine, give it back." "Make me." Terrible.

9points

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Libstak 12 hours ago

I would say no too. The "its a kid" argument doesnt work for me. Im 58, i fly every 2 or 3 years max, im gonna fly even less as i age. I dont know how many window seat opportunities i will have left to experience in my life and im not giving any i score away.

17points

Tom Monsanto 2 hours ago

Greedy much, huh?

-2points

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POST

Mike F 13 hours ago

"You want to sit next to my son?" I don't care if it's the fvcking Easter Bunny, I PAID for the window seat, I'm sitting in the window seat, get it? Got it? Good.

21points

Michael Largey 16 hours ago

The family didn't ask for the seat - they took it. Next will they teach the kid to shoplift and only return the loot if he's caught?

19points

Pencil 4 hours ago

9points

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Libstak 12 hours ago

17points

“Behave Yourself”: Man Teaches Dad Manners After He Tried To Sit Next To His Kid

The author of the story made an update, adding a few extra details