Many airline passengers cannot stand being seated near children on planes and aren't afraid to voice their opinions. One elderly couple have been slammed online for targeting a pregnant woman and her young child on a short-haul flight. The mum took to Mumsnet to share her experience and ask for advice on feeling confident travelling again.
The woman explained that she was travelling home from Spain with her partner and 18-month-old son when everything started to go wrong. They boarded the airport shuttle bus and she took a seat with her toddler in his pram. "An older couple got on after us and proceeded to (loudly) call me rude for feeling entitled to sit down," she recalled in her post.
The heavily pregnant woman asked the couple if they would like to sit, to which they didn't hear or ignored her.
Then when they boarded the plane, the elderly couple realised they were sat in front of the family - and they weren't happy about it.
"The couple from the bus get on and (again loudly) grumble that 'they're sat right behind us, typical' as they settle into the row," she wrote.
"They then proceed to have a conversation about whether they should ask to be moved away from the child.
"I am getting a bit irritated by this point as it seems to be that the only offence we have committed is simply existing with a child in a public place."
The mum is aware of her responsibility to keep her son entertained and well-behaved on the flight, so she occupied him with books, colouring and games.
"As far as I was concerned, my son was being a delightful passenger," she said.
But the couple in front still weren't happy with their seat on the plane.
"In fact, every time my son spoke (I'm taking saying the word 'snack', 'Peppa' for his cuddly toy or repeating words in the book), the man would physically wince," she said.
"His wife would then tell him to 'leave it, just leave it'. Well he didn't leave it."
After a trip to the toilet, the woman accidentally knocked the gentleman's seat while carrying her son.
She explained: "The man in front immediately turned around and said to me quite aggressively 'I'm only going to say this once, keep your f***ing child from kicking my seat and shut them up whilst you're at it'."
The woman tried to explain that it hadn't been her son and it was an accident, but he called her an "irresponsible parent" and continued to rant about the child.
Her partner stepped in and defended her, but the older gentleman got "completely irate" and threatened to hit him at the airport.
"He even raised his elbow as if going to hit him until another passenger stepped in to tell him to calm down," she said.
"I was really upset so I asked the flight attendant if we could be moved elsewhere which they thankfully accommodated really quickly."
Despite being further away, the pair continued to loudly complain for the rest of the flight and knocked the woman's confidence - so much so that she's dreading flying again.
Fellow parents on Mumsnet were quick to slam the elderly couple for being rude and inconsiderable, and reassure the mum that she was in the right.
"They sound vile. You and your child did nothing wrong. Some people are just downright awful and unfortunately you found them on your flight," one person said.
"I'm sorry this happened to you. You're entitled to be on a plane as is your child," another agreed.
"What a disgusting man. Can't believe they were complaining about a heavily pregnant lady with toddler sitting down on a bus," a third commented.
Some people encouraged her to move seats sooner, while a few people agreed they despised sitting near children on planes.
"I am one of those people who would pay extra for child free on long-haul," someone said, though added: "He sounds like a bully and I feel for his wife."
What would you do in this situation? Let us know in the comments.
