Angry mother shares photo sitting on floor of busy plane – but others say she’s to blame
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An American mother has criticised Delta Airlines after sharing an image of her and her family that shows her sitting on the floor of an economy cabin during a long-haul international flight. However, others have argued the fault lies with her if she failed to book a seat for her youngest child to instead use the lap policy, and say she can’t expect to be given extra room due to her own ‘lack of planning’. The post, shared on social media, quickly spread online and prompted discussions around airline seating policies, how infants travel and expectations around seats on fully booked flights. (Picture: Threads)
The woman, Mely Skoglund, posted the photo on Threads, Instagram’s text-based sister app, Daily Mail reports. It showed her crouched on the floor in front of two economy seats while her two young children appeared to be sleeping across them. In the caption, she wrote that the 12-hour flight back to the United States was sold out and that there was no extra room available, so one of them had to go seatless. (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)
It remains unclear where the flight originated or whether tickets were bought for both of thechildren that were with her or not. Delta hasn’t confirmed the exact circumstances surrounding the seating arrangements shown in the image, either. Based on standard airline booking practices, several online users suggested that while the older child appeared to have their own seat, the youngest may have been travelling under Delta’s lap infant policy. That policy allows children under the age of two to fly without a separate seat, on the condition they sit on an adult’s lap for the duration of the flight. (Picture: Getty Images) (Picture: Getty Images)
Much of the reaction online focused on that point. ‘If you want a seat for the baby, you buy a seat for the baby,’ one Threads user wrote. Another added: ‘Your lack of planning does not constitute a problem for the airline,’ arguing that responsibility lay with the passenger rather than the carrier. (Picture: GC Images)
Others questioned what outcome Skoglund was expecting. ‘I don’t understand what you want. Pity?’ one commenter wrote. Another said: ‘You knew you were travelling with your kids. How is it the airline’s fault that they didn’t have enough seats when you didn’t purchase extra ones?’ (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)
Some responses pointed to alternative options available to parents. One user who said they were a former flight attendant advised that families can buy a separate ticket for an infant and bring an approved car seat onboard, adding that this ensures space for everyone regardless of how full the flight is. Several commenters also pushed back on the idea that a spare seat should be assumed on a sold-out flight. ‘You were expecting free room?’ one wrote. Another added: ‘That’s why you got a child on lap ticket. Just hold them.’ (Picture: Getty Images)
Delta later issued a statement to Daily Mail, saying it could not independently verify the authenticity of the image. The airline stressed that safety is its top priority and that customers travelling with lap-held infants must follow its policies. The airline added that passengers are expected to remain seated with their seatbelts fastened unless movement around the aircraft is required for a specific reason, reiterating that those rules apply to all customers on board. Even those with young children. (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)
