Pregnant mum sparks uproar and is branded a ‘nightmare’ after asking if ‘gold member’ plane passengers might swap pre-booked extra-legroom seats. Would YOU swap? Vote in our poll…

A mother has come under fire and been branded a ‘nightmare’ after asking whether she could expect ‘gold member’ passengers to swap their ‘business class’ seats with her on an ‘upcoming’ flight.

The mother posted her question on the parenting site Mothernet, where she explained that she would be traveling with a two-year-old and will be five months pregnant when she makes the four-hour flight.

Anonymously, the woman noted that she often booked a window and aisle seat in a three-seat row because the airline “blocked” the middle seat for passengers.

She said she was happy to use the seat for her toddler, who flew as a lap baby, but noticed that her favorite bulkhead seats — the front row of the plane — were already fully booked.

So she asked the moms on the website if she could expect those who booked the seats to swap with her if she asked on the day of the flight.

She said: ‘We have booked seats in rows 7A and 7C for our upcoming four-hour flight, the middle seat is blocked and we always use it to put our son (almost two) in after take-off and before landing.

‘We often sit in the front row and it really makes a huge difference when traveling with our son: the extra bulkhead space is invaluable for him, and to keep him contained so as not to bother other passengers .

‘We were not able to book early enough this time. However, according to the seat map, 1C and 1F are empty (usually only blocked for the comfort of the gold member sitting in the other seat) – these usually open just before the flight.

‘I’m also five months pregnant, so basically anything to make it more comfortable.’

The mother then asked her question, which provoked an angry reaction in the answers.

She asked, “Am I being unreasonable to move us to the empty seats in the front row and hope or expect that 1A or 1D will move so we can sit together? They’ll still have their aisle or window and not have to sit next to a baby, so I think it’s a win-win situation…’

Parents responded to the unnamed mother with angry responses in the comments, calling her a “cheeky f***er” and a “nightmare.”

User ‘MississippiAF’ wrote: ‘I wouldn’t move and I don’t care if it suits your toddler to be restrained. It’s an escape, all parents have had to deal with it.’

Other posters pointed out that those who booked the seats may have babies of their own and have medical or mobility issues

While ‘everlastingpanini’ commented: ‘I never like to make plans based on the goodwill of strangers.’

‘BreakfastatMimis’ said: ‘WTF. No, you cannot expect someone to move for your convenience. Book seats that work for you and assume that the seats already booked will be occupied by someone else.’

While ‘HundredMilesanHour’ wrote: ‘You expect someone to basically go to the back of the club booth just because you want the shot.

“And you shouldn’t put your son in the blocked middle seat either. If you want three seats together, book in economy.’

‘HoHoHoliday’ added: ‘The intention is not to make anyone else feel annoyed.

‘Choose seats that are already available so you can sit next to each other. It’s only a four-hour flight, before that you have to be able to take care of your own child.’

Commentary ‘DeeplyMovingExperience’ noted: ‘Reminds me of the nightmare mother and her child (and mother-in-law if I remember correctly) caused chaos on our return flight from Mallorca last year. She demanded to sit in the front row because of her child, blah blah.

‘I don’t know why they weren’t released. Six people had to vacate their seats for which they had paid a premium, and the flight was delayed by 70 minutes due to her antics.”

The middle seat of the row is often closed off on short flights in business class (as above), the mother noted, and she likes having her toddler sit in the space

‘ChangingPlace’ said: ‘When I travel, we book the bulkhead seats for medical reasons. No, I wouldn’t move, regardless of the reasons. We reserve them early, we pay a premium, you didn’t do the same, not my problem, you can’t handle your own child on a flight.’

Other posters pointed out that those who booked the seats may have babies of their own, have medical or mobility issues, or are “obese” and thus unable or unwilling to exchange, and that her request was “outrageous.”

In response to nearly 200 comments, the mother, ‘Deekaytwo’ said: ‘I wouldn’t put my child in the blocked seat between me and a stranger on a flight. That’s the only negative factor I really consider when it comes to the progress we’re making.

“I appreciate that people have their reasons for selecting specific seats and that would be a risk I would have to take.

“Again, I’m not sure why everyone is behaving so badly, I was just going to take a seat, politely ask if anyone wanted to swap and if not just enjoy the flight with a (non-alcoholic) drink.”