Flying is always an adventure, but my last trip to San Francisco took the excitement up a notch. Picture this: I scored a free first-class upgrade with all my travel points. I sank into my comfy seat, ready for 13 hours of luxury—I was thrilled!

But just when I settled in for a smooth ride, things got tricky. An hour into the flight, a flight attendant approached me with a request. She wanted me to switch seats with a 10-year-old boy stuck in economy while his parents enjoyed first class.

Awkward, right?

The attendant listed options, but I hesitated. “Can I stay?” I asked. Turns out, the only way for the boy to join his parents was by taking my spot since we were the only ones upgraded.

I earned that upgrade with all my flying. Plus, the parents hadn’t even bought their first-class tickets; they got upgraded like me. It would’ve been different if they or the boy had paid for first class, but nope.

Despite my choice to stay, a lady nearby criticized me, saying I was making the boy suffer alone. But honestly, he was up and down the whole time, visiting his parents anyway.

When I shared my story on Reddit, people had my back. One person suggested the critical lady could’ve given up her seat if she cared so much. Another said two passengers in economy would’ve gladly swapped with the parents.

Someone else added, “The parents never should’ve accepted seats away from their kid. If it mattered, they could’ve moved to economy themselves.”

This whole ordeal sparked a discussion on airline policies and passenger rights—it wasn’t just about a seat swap.