Flying is undoubtedly one of the most convenient ways to travel, but it doesn’t always go smoothly.
Sometimes, unexpected problems arise—one of the most frustrating being an unruly child on board. Whether it’s a restless older kid or a wailing baby, everyone just wants a little peace and quiet.
That’s exactly what happened in this story, originally shared on Reddit, where a boy wouldn’t stop kicking the seat in front of him. His family, however, was about to learn a valuable lesson.
A few years ago, when I (14F) was flying back home from India with my dad, we found ourselves on a cramped, budget airline with minimal legroom. It was a nighttime flight, and everyone was exhausted.
Seated behind us was a family of three—a couple and their son, who was sitting directly behind me, while his mother sat behind my dad.
About ten minutes into the flight, I felt it. A persistent thumping against my seat. The kid, who looked to be around 9 or 10, had started kicking my chair. At first, I turned to my dad and let him know. He politely asked the boy to stop, which he did… for all of ten seconds.
We asked again, this time more firmly. No luck.
And so, my dad decided to teach them a lesson. He fully reclined his seat—maximizing whatever little comfort he could get. It wasn’t long before the kid’s parents took issue with this.
The boy’s father flagged down a flight attendant (FA) and launched into a complaint.
Jerky Dad (JD): This man put his seat down, and my wife is uncomfortable.
The flight attendant turned to my dad.
FA: Would you like to keep your seat down?
My Dad: Yes, please.
The flight attendant nodded.
FA: Well then, he can if he wants to. That’s not his problem. Have a nice flight.
With that, the flight attendant walked away, leaving the father muttering angrily under his breath.
Now, for those wondering how it all ended: The parents quickly realized what had happened. After a few whispered words between them, the kid finally stopped kicking my seat. That didn’t mean they stopped glaring at me, my dad, or even the flight attendant whenever he passed by.
My dad, satisfied that they had learned their lesson, kept his seat reclined for another hour before finally sitting up again.
Lesson learned: If you don’t respect other passengers, don’t expect them to go out of their way to accommodate you.