A recent event on a 13-hour trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco has caused a heated argument about how to behave while travelling, personal rights, and entitlements. A 23-year-old woman had been collecting reward points for a year to get an upgrade to first class. She caused a stir when she refused to switch places with a 10-year-old boy who was sitting in economy class.
The boy’s parents wanted their son to join them because they had been upgraded for free to first class. The woman would have to give up her well-earned spot, though, and move to economy. The airline offered her a free upgrade in the future or a full return for the increase she was already getting, but she turned them down.
The woman made her choice because she had worked hard to get her first-class seat, while the family got those seats for free. She also told the family that they had other choices, like having one parent switch places with the boy.
A heated argument has been going on online about what happened, with some people backing the woman’s point of view and others calling her selfish. There are people who say she should have been kind and helped the boy, while others say she was welcome to enjoy the prize she had won.
This event brings up bigger issues of proper travel behaviour and individual accountability. Should people who have won certain perks through reward programs feel like they have to give them up for other people? Or should families be more responsible for making sure their seats are set up correctly before getting on?
In the end, the event shows how important it is to plan ahead, talk to each other, and respect personal space. Although it’s good to be kind, it’s also important to respect other people’s rights and the work they’ve done to get what they deserve.
