Modern airlines often try to get away with so much, don’t they? Overbooking flights, charging for average-sized bags, and creating the most inconvenient seating arrangements. Sometimes, it feels like they think you have no option but to comply because, well, you can’t exactly drive across the ocean!

A concerned woman recently turned to the internet to ask if not giving up her first-class upgrade was the right decision. She had a long flight that she’d booked well in advance, and the airline offered her a free upgrade to first class thanks to her accumulated travel points. But, just moments into the flight, a flight attendant approached her with a surprising request.

Even flying first class isn’t free from its own unique set of challenges.

A Woman Questions if She Was Wrong for Keeping Her First Class Seat

Was I wrong for not swapping my first-class seat with a 10-year-old’s economy seat so he could sit with his family? That’s the question she posed.

Here’s some background: I’m a 23-year-old woman who had been planning a trip to San Francisco for about a year. I booked my tickets a whole year in advance.

A couple of months before my trip, the airline called to inform me that I’d been upgraded to first class due to my points and membership status.

Having never flown first class before, I was beyond excited. I made sure to take advantage of all the amenities in the lounge before my flight and felt incredibly comfortable on the 13-hour journey.

About an hour into the flight, a flight attendant approached and asked if I’d be willing to swap my first-class seat with a 10-year-old boy who was seated in economy. His family had also received upgrades, but unfortunately, he did not.

The flight attendant explained that both parents were members and had received upgrades, not realizing their son couldn’t be upgraded with them. So, they got first-class tickets, but he was stuck back in economy.

She started offering me options as if I had no choice but to move. She mentioned I could get another free upgrade on a future flight or a full refund for this trip. When I asked if I could stay in my seat, she explained that no other first-class seats were available. If the boy were to sit with his family, it would only be through my seat.

Now, if this were a situation where first class was overbooked and the boy had actually purchased a ticket, that might be different. But I earned that upgrade through my frequent flying. Also, the parents didn’t even buy their first-class tickets; they were upgraded like me. The flight attendant was very polite and understanding when I declined, reassuring me that they would figure something out.

I never saw the parents during the flight; they were seated some distance from me. However, an older woman sitting next to me did shame me, saying I made a child sit alone for 13 hours. I understood her point, but I saw the boy walking up and down the aisles to see his parents frequently, so he wasn’t exactly alone.

So, am I the bad guy for not giving up my seat? What would you have done?