Woman refuses to give up first class seat for child - and people are praising her

A passenger who paid more for premium seats has been hailed a hero online after she stood her ground, refusing to give up her coveted first-class spot for a teenager wanting to join their family.

The woman, who had bagged the plush seat 1A known for its window view and extra legroom, was shocked when a flight attendant suggested she swap seats to help a 13-year-old sit with their relatives in the premium cabin.

Sabra, who goes by @lifewithdrsabra on social media, wasn't about to say goodbye to the luxury she'd paid for and took to TikTok to express her dismay at the crew's proposition.

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In a viral clip that's racked up over 1.8 million likes, she shared: "POV: Flight agent asks me if I want to give up my 1A seat so a child sits with their family."

She also penned in her post: "That's a no from me dawg would you have given up your seat? Also they ended up finding a solution so no, I am not a terrible human being. Also the child was like 13."

The TikTok community threw their support behind Sabra's choice. One user chimed in: "As a mum, I'm on your side. If they wanted to sit together they should have made sure the seats were together.", reports the Mirror.

Another added: "I worked overtime for two weeks to be able to upgrade my seat for comfort and experience. No way I would have given that up."

Despite the backlash towards the family for wanting her to switch seats, the TikTok user clarified in a follow-up video that she had no direct interaction with them. She stated: "To clarify, the gate agent asked me, I asked to see the seat map, I didn't like the alternative. They were kind and found a solution right away. The family never addressed me. I think it was even the airline's rule, not them asking to sit together."

However, some viewers felt she could have been more understanding given the circumstances. One commented: "When I was 18 I did give up my window seat so a child could sit with her mum. I kept thinking of how scared the child was."

Another shared their own experience, saying: "Last flight I took, they wouldn't let us choose seats until boarding. They sat my four-year-old alone. Sometimes it's not poor planning by parents."