That was a really mean man. I never have problems sitting next to lap infants. I know the parents have a difficult job and I will not make it harder for them.

I've been seated by children plenty of times, 80% of the time they make no more noise than your average passenger and 20% of the time I suffer in silence. I will note that it typically appears to be parental failure when they are misbehaving.

Well, it wasn't everywhere: there was just one puke on this flight...in seat 1K. ;)

And the worse part of these kids in FC is the self-righteous parents
 

This post is a prime example of passive aggressive. I'm glad the guy told them to move.

There's a difference between discretely asking the purser to be reseated and acting like a complete jerk and making a big scene like this person did.

IME (having extensive personal experience traveling with young children) you would be better off next to a infant (1-12mo) than a toddler (1-3 yrs). The former tend to sleep when they aren't feeding, the latter can be quite challenging as they don't understand why they have to stay seated, not kick etc. ad a challenge to keep entertained due to short attention span. Regardless, behavior is always a wild card - some infants and toddlers are easy travelers, some not. Most do better solo without siblings, I've seen parents often get spread too thin particularly with very young children.

I am unclear as to how the seat move occurred. Did the FA ask your wife to move, or did she spontaneously volunteer? I don't think an FA has ever asked me to move in F seats.

In before the lock :)

I'm curious why the offended passenger couldn't have been the one to move? From what I understand, forgive me, English is my second language, but the passenger-airline contract represented by the ticket says nothing about agreeing not to seat you next to children. Just because I don't like you doesn't give me a right to force you from your seat if you are in no way infringing upon my rights.

If you don't like sitting next to children, that's your prerogative--I myself often give the stink eye to kids and their parents who kick the back of my seat, but it seems to me the proper thing to do is ask the FA to be reseated or ask the mother, politely to ensure said child is quiet and not infringing on your seat space.

Airplanes are like restaurants: people are either on their best or worst behavior.

What an angel!!! :)

Seems like on a long boring flight it would be fun sometimes to have small kids on board. One time I played catch with a boy about your daughter's age. I guess it is all attitude. Yes, if the kid is screaming and crying all the way it can be annoying. But she looks like she would probably be the one who walks through the cabin saying HI to everyone! :)

Just curious - do you know what "passive-aggressive" means?

FA approached my wife after about 15 minutes of 1K sighing and grumbling and getting up and down and told my wife that she needed to reseat my wife and child because another passenger was having a bad day and needed a window seat, and asked her to move to another seat three rows back. My wife of course can see right through this - but then had to gather up all her items she had placed in her seat area (iPad, cups, snacks, books, toys) two bags, and a child. Relocated PAX never opened the window.

1K should have been relocated instead.

Oh...what a cutie, wished I was her seatmate. What does Mr.L do if someone has bad breath or snoring or many other problems we put up with? Mr.L must be perfect! FA clearly should have changed Mr. L seat. You go, cutie, hope to see you on one of my flights!!

Seriously.

Sounds like the man described by the OP decided from the get go that this was going to be a terrible experience and his attitude more or less made that happen.

In fairness, it's possible to have a very negative experience with toddlers and the man in question may have had one. One of my friends is a brilliant man with two toddlers who are as nice and smart as can be. However, they are VERY rambunctious. My friend simply does not feel the need to rein in his kids. Sitting next to kids like that for 3 hours would be a chore, pleasant as they are. I like to see them, but I am always glad when they go home. Maybe the man sat next to kids like that on a flight and simply assumed that all toddlers are going to behave that way? I'm not defending him, just trying to explain his behaviour...

FWIW the "offender" looks like an absolute sweetie-pie... I'd be happy to be seated next to her in my travels! :)

Rant: To Mr. L - Seated in First Class
 

Thanks for being a great set of parents, our children were often unfairly judged as well and I didn't like it either. The few relatively few poor parents out there who fly give the rest of us a bad reputation.

A plane ticket, even an expensive plane ticket, only buys you a seat. Any other expectation is simply incorrect unless you've specifically paid for one of the few flights with a "child-free" zone.

Good for your wife for taking the high road. It's a good example to set for your kids. They will also have to deal with jerks who are ignorant about civil behavior and their own reasonable expectations.

Perhaps I missed something, here. Was 1K assigned 1L and your wife and daughter had taken a seat to which they were not assigned? Or had 1K simply wanted 1L? I'm confused.