I was mom-shamed for sitting in plane’s business class — leaving my kid, 10, in coach
They had a problem with this Karen.
A travel influencer was mom-shamed for claiming to upgrade her airplane seat to business class while leaving her son behind in economy.
“I don’t like the mom shaming or parent shaming,” Karen “Kay” Akpan told The Post on Tuesday.
“The fact that people don’t do things like you doesn’t mean that it’s wrong. Everyone parents differently, and we can be respectful of each other.”
Akpan, her husband, Sylvester, and their son, Aiden, are a family of “digital nomads” who travel full time, either internationally or in an RV.
When the couple recently had the opportunity to upgrade their airplane seats, they took it.
“POV: Enjoying business class with my husband on a 13-hour flight while our 10-year-old sits in the back in economy class because he doesn’t have United Premier 1K status like we do and didn’t get a complementary upgrade,” Akpan captioned a video of herself and Sylvester clinking beverages onboard last week.
“Sorry son,” she added along with three cry-laughing emojis.
Akpan proceeded to ask her 305,000 Instagram followers if they would’ve taken the two upgraded seats while traveling as a family of three. She urged respondents to explain whether the age of their child or the length of the flight would impact their decision.
The Twitter account @heyyitsjanea shared Akpan’s post on the platform, where it took off with 1.5 million views.
Several users thought the clip had to be a joke — which Akpan confirmed the next day in a separate post, revealing her son was actually sitting in a separate row in business class.
Nevertheless, the post sparked major debate about parenting on planes.
“I would give the child and my husband the upgrade and I would take the economy seat. Thirteen hours of alone time IS an upgrade,” one fan declared.
“I honestly LOVE that you left him lol,” another exclaimed.
“Y’all i’m sure that kid was fine they travel often so he knows how to conduct himself and kids at that age are flying alone he can chill in the back this was just very funny to me,” one Twitter user proclaimed, referencing Aiden’s past travels.
“I’d do it. He’d get priority seating back there. & he can call me if s–t get crazy,” another laughed at the idea of the adults taking the upgraded seats.
“I agree in letting the kids stay in economy but not alone,” another explained. “There needs to be someone there with them. Mom and dad would be taking turns in business.”
Others couldn’t take a joke.
“Y’all need parenting classes,” one slammed the couple.
“This is what happens when you weren’t wanted by ready parents,” one user shamed Akpan.
“Definitely wouldn’t have left my boy. My nerves and heart wouldn’t have let me,” another parent shunned.
And one user slammed those who criticized Akpan.
“Do parents not let their kids fly alone anymore?” the person asked. “I [used] to fly alone around his age to see family around the country. At least with you in the plane he can be checked on periodically.”
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