Ohio woman's viral TikTok draws criticism and support as she refuses to give up window seat to another mother

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Can we switch seats? Americans sound off on airplane seat-swapping

Americans share how they feel about swapping airplane seats

A small business owner and mom of three drew criticism — but mostly support — when she opted not to give up her window seat to another traveling mom while on an early morning flight last month.

In a TikTok video, which has grabbed 3.4 million views and over 89,000 likes, Tammy Nelson of Cincinnati, Ohio, asked, "What would you do?" 

She proceeded to explain why she did not feel obligated to switch seats with a woman who wanted to sit beside her children, who appeared to be teenagers.

On June 19, Nelson boarded a Delta Airlines flight from Cincinnati to San Jose, California, where she was to give a presentation on behalf of her jewelry company, CONQUERing.

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She said she had been up preparing for most of the night and was counting on getting some rest during the flight — in the window seat she had pre-selected, as usual.

"It was a very early flight," Nelson told Fox News Digital. "It was a 6 a.m. flight and when I arrived at my seat, there was a woman sitting in the seat and I thought, ‘Oh, you know, it's early. I didn't get much sleep. I must've looked at my boarding pass incorrectly.’" 

Tammy Nelson of Ohio sparked debate on TikTok after she described how she refused to switch from her airline window seat to a middle seat when a mother asked to sit by her own children. (myCONQUERring.com)

Nelson said she pulled up her Delta app and discovered that she was not mistaken — and that the woman was sitting in her seat.

"So I just thought she must have made a mistake," Nelson said.

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"So I said, ‘I'm sorry, it looks like you're sitting in my seat.’"

Nelson went on, "And she said, ‘Oh, you want to sit here?’ And I thought that was such an odd question. So, I said, ‘Yeah, that's the seat I selected.’"

The woman went on to say that she thought they could switch because her children were seated in the other two seats in that row, according to Nelson.

"She pointed to the two seats next to her and there was a boy that looked to be about 15ish, and then a girl that looked like maybe she was about 11," Nelson said. 

"I thought that was a weird way to ask me to switch seats. But, you know, I'm a mom, too," she added. 

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"I have three kids, and so I know it's nice to sit by your family."

Nelson told the woman she would be happy to switch with her — as long as she was in a window seat.

The viral TikTok video attracted both criticism and support as many users rallied around mom Tammy Nelson of Ohio. (myCONQUERring.com)

"She said, ‘Oh, yeah, my seat's right here,'" Nelson said. 

"And she pointed to the row right behind my seat. She said, ‘I'm right here.’ So I looked and there was already someone sitting in the window and the aisle, and there sat the empty middle seat."

Nelson explained again that she would be happy to swap for a window seat because she needed some sleep — and also she would suffer from motion sickness if she couldn't see out the window. 

"She kind of huffed and puffed and got up and made a little scene heading back to her seat."

So, Nelson politely told the woman she would need to stick with her original seat, she said. 

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"That's when she got pretty annoyed," Nelson said. 

"It wasn't a fight or anything, but she certainly kind of huffed and puffed and got up and made a little scene heading back to her seat. But eventually she sat in her correct seat right behind the kids and me."

Jewelry maker and entrepreneur Tammy Nelson captured the moment on her public TikTok right after the "please-switch-seats" request was made.  (myCONQUERing)

Nelson said the woman then began to complain to the person next to her — someone who was a stranger to both women but who was sitting in the window seat. 

"I was feeling guilty," Nelson said. "Just because as a mom, I want to sit by my kids. But when I want to sit by my kids, I plan ahead and select seats together, or I'll pay for them if I have to."

"She just kept wanting to complain."

Added Nelson, "Worst case, I'll talk to the gate agent before I board to see if they can do something. And ultimately, I've sat apart from my kids many times, especially at that age."

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Nelson said she overheard the stranger in the seat next to the woman being "very supportive" of her.

"She just kept wanting to complain and hoped that someone would kind of agree with her," Nelson said.

Nelson heard the woman behind her complain about Nelson's denial in the hope of gaining support — but she did not find support from her neighbor.  (myCONQUERring.com)

"But the person behind was kind of like, ‘Well, I understand why she wouldn't want to switch. People pay for their seats and select their seats in advance, and nobody wants a middle seat, you know?’"

Some of Nelson’s TikTok viewers appeared to agree.

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"People should book seats together if they want to sit together," one commenter said.

"Nope. If it’s not an upgrade, it’s a sacrifice," said another. 

Nelson is the creator of CONQUERring, a jewelry company begun to help others "conquer their day." (myCONQUERring.com)

"As a single person who is often asked to compromise because of my ‘singledom,’ I applaud you," another person commented.

Etiquette consultant Sarah Aynesworth of Waco, Texas, told Fox News Digital that Nelson was well within her rights to retain her original window seat.

"Having good manners does not mean you are a doormat," said Aynesworth, who has certifications from The Protocol School of Washington, the Emily Post Institute and The Etiquette and Leadership Etiquette. 

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"It is respect for yourself and your boundaries, as well as those of others," added Aynesworth. 

She said that Nelson’s ability to stay calm, consider the situation and communicate her needs was key.

Etiquette consultant Sarah Aynesworth of Waco, Texas, spoke with Fox News Digital after Tammy Nelson of Ohio retained her window seat even though she was asked by another passenger to switch seats. (Marlo Collins)

"It’s never what you say, but rather how you say it," Aynesworth noted. 

"Politely saying, very unemotionally, ‘I don’t want to switch seats for a middle seat. I chose this seat because I need to get sleep before we land and the window seat allows me to sleep more than the others’ — end of story. You’ve stated your needs and set your boundaries. Part of protecting and respecting yourself is to refuse to get caught up in a stranger’s drama."

Aynesworth went on, "The woman should have reserved a row for the three of them."

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Once her TikTok video picked up some news coverage, Nelson said she felt some scrutiny, but nothing that made her rethink her decision.

"But it does make me feel like maybe I should just stick to posting about jewelry," she said, laughing.

"As a mom of three and a business owner, I am always putting everybody else first," Nelson said. 

Nelson's TikTok video has over 3.4 million views, more than 89,000 likes and some 7,000 comments — with most people applauding Nelson for keeping the seat she originally selected.  (@myconquering/myCONQUERring.com)

Nelson, whose company sells rings that help people "conquer their day," said she always tries to lead with kindness and consider someone’s request. 

"And that’s what I did," Nelson said. 

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"I did offer to change seats. I would've gone all the way to the back of the plane for her as long as I was able to sleep and I had a window seat and wouldn't be motion sick."

Added Nelson, "You have to make the best choice in the situation. And it doesn't always have to be doing what someone else wants you to do."