Pregnant mum sparks uproar and is branded a 'nightmare' after asking if 'gold member' plane passengers might swap pre-booked extra-legroom seats. Would YOU swap? Vote in our poll...

A mum has come under fire and been branded a 'nightmare' after asking whether she could expect 'gold member' passengers to swap their 'business class' seats with her on an 'upcoming' flight.

The mother posted her query on parenting site Mumsnet, where she explained that she would be travelling with a two-year-old and will be five months pregnant when she takes the four-hour flight.

Anonymously, the woman noted that she often booked a window and aisle seat on a three-seat row as the airline 'blocked off' the middle seat for passengers. 

She said that she liked using the seat for her toddler, who flew as a lap baby, but noted that her preferred seats on the bulkhead - the front row of the plane - were already booked up.

Due to this, she asked the mums on the website whether she could expect those who had booked the seats to swap with her if she asked on the day of the flight.

She was travelling with a two-year-old and will be five months pregnant when she takes the four-hour flight, the woman said on Mumsnet

She said: 'We've got row 7A and 7C seats booked on our upcoming four-hour flight, the middle seat is blocked off and we always use it to put our son (nearly two) in after take-off and before landing.

'We often get the first row and it really makes a massive difference when travelling with our son: the extra space at the bulkhead is invaluable for him, and to keep him contained to not bother other passengers.

'We didn't manage to book early enough this time. However, according to the seat map 1C and 1F are empty (usually just blocked for the comfort of the gold member seated in the other seat) - these usually open up just before the flight.

'I'm also five months pregnant, so anything to make things more comfortable really.'

The mum then posed her question, which elicited a furious reaction in the replies.

She asked: 'Am I being unreasonable to move us to the empty seats in the front row and hope or expect 1A or 1D to move so that we can sit together? They'll still have their aisle or window and won't have to sit next to a baby, so I think it's win-win...'

Parents responded to the unnamed mum with angry replies in the comments, dubbing her a 'cheeky f***er' and a 'nightmare'.  

User 'MississippiAF' wrote: 'I wouldn’t move and I don’t care if it suits your toddler to be contained. It’s a flight - all parents have had to deal with it.'

Other posters pointed out that those who had booked the seats may have a baby themselves, have medical or mobility issues

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While 'everlastingpanini' noted: 'I never like to make plans that are based on the reliance of the goodwill of strangers.' 

'BreakfastatMimis' said: 'WTF. No you cannot expect someone to move for your convenience. Book seats that work for you and assume that any that are already booked will remain occupied by someone else.'

Whereas 'HundredMilesanHour' wrote: 'You're expecting someone to basically move to the back of the club cabin just because you want the bulkhead.

'And you shouldn't be putting your son in the blocked middle seat either. If you want three seats together, book in economy.'

'HoHoHoliday' added: 'Don't set out to make someone else feel annoyed. 

'Choose seats that are already available for you to sit next to each other. It's only a four-hour flight, you should be able to manage your own child for that time.'

Commenter 'DeeplyMovingExperience' noted: 'Reminds me of the nightmare mother and her kid (and mother-in-law if I recall) who caused mayhem on our return flight from Majorca last year. Demanding she wanted the front row seats because of her child blah blah blah.

'Why they weren't offloaded I don't know. Six people had to move from seats they had paid a premium for, and the flight was delayed by 70 minutes because of her antics.'

The middle seat of the row is often blocked off during short haul business class flights (as above) the mum noted, and she likes to sit her toddler in the space

'ChangingPlace' said: 'When I travel we book the bulkhead seats for medical reasons. No, I would not move irrelevant of the reasons. We reserve them early, we pay a premium, you didn’t do the same, not my problem you can’t deal with your own child on a flight.'

Other posters pointed out that those who had booked the seats may have a baby themselves, have medical or mobility issues or be 'obese' and so not be able, or willing, to swap and that her request was 'outrageous'.

In response to almost 200 comments, the mum, 'Deekaytwo', said: 'I wouldn't put my child in the blocked seat between myself and a stranger on a flight. That's the only negative factor I'm really considering as regards moving us forward. 

'I appreciate people have their reasons for selecting specific seats and that would be a risk I'd have to take. 

'Again, I'm not sure why everyone assumes the worst possible behaviour, I was just planning to take my seat, ask politely if anyone wanted to swap and if not just enjoy the flight with a (non-alcoholic) beverage.'