A massive viral debate on TikTok has reignited the long-running tension between solo travelers and parents after a mother complained publicly that a man refused to switch seats so she could sit next to her young daughter. This is an interesting issue, but it makes you question why the mom would reserve those seats.
The controversy exploded across social media after a creator known as Priya (@priyaxistingcondition) responded to a now-deleted video posted by Alexis Nido-Russo. Nido-Russo’s original post aired her major grievance, essentially complaining that the man wouldn’t budge. According to DailyDot, she asked viewers, “Like you’re not gonna give up your seat so that a kid can sit next to her mom?”
That entitled attitude is exactly what got Priya’s attention. Priya’s merciless reply, posted on December 9, 2025, quickly racked up over 900,000 views, showing just how much this issue resonates with travelers. She didn’t hold back, addressing Nido-Russo directly by saying, “Hey, Alexis, as a full-grown adult, you seem really confused by the fact that the world does not, in fact, revolve around you.” While I feel for the mom, I would never pick seats away from my kids, especially not to try and guilt someone else to make up for my lack of planning.
Mom doesn’t get her way this time
Priya was quick to point out the crucial error Nido-Russo made. She booked tickets for herself and her seven-year-old daughter, knowing full well they weren’t seated consecutively. That was a choice the mother made, and she seems to have just assumed someone would automatically move for her.
When you book a flight, especially if you’re traveling with children, you have the option to pay the booking fee to ensure your seats are together. If you skip that step, you can’t just expect other travelers who paid for their preferred seats to rearrange their plans. People are entitled to the seat they paid for.
Priya explained exactly why the man was totally justified in denying the request to change seats. She stated, “I believe that you booked those seats separate because you believe that once you got on that flight, you were entitled to somebody moving so that you could sit next to your seven year old daughter.”
She drove the point home with a strong piece of advice that everyone should remember when traveling: “They bought their own seat. They can do whatever the f— they want. Which includes people saying no to you because your lack of preparedness does not constitute anyone else’s emergency. Hope this helps.”
The internet absolutely agreed with Priya’s take, with many commenters calling out the mother’s entitlement. People are tired of parents expecting everyone else to handle the logistics they should have managed themselves. As one user succinctly put it, “NO is a complete sentence.”
The viral response clarified that if travelers, especially parents, prefer to be seated with their children, they should simply pay the booking fee to secure those spots in advance. If they don’t, they have to accept that other passengers who paid for their specific seats have every right to refuse a switch.
Priya even noted that the daughter was only one row away from her mother. Basically, no one needed to move just because the mother made the choice to book separate seats.
