They’d an issue 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.
Karen “Kay” 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 chance to upgrade their airplane seats, they took it.
“POV: Having fun with business class with my husband on a 13-hour flight while our 10-year-old sits within 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 together with three cry-laughing emojis.
Akpan proceeded to ask her 305,000 Instagram followers in the event that they would’ve taken the 2 upgraded seats while traveling as a family of three. She urged respondents to clarify whether the age of their child or the length of the flight would impact their decision.
The Post has contacted Akpan for comment.
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 needed to be a joke — which Akpan confirmed the following 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 might give the kid and my husband the upgrade and I might take the economy seat. Thirteen hours of alone time IS an upgrade,” one fan declared.
“I truthfully LOVE that you simply left him lol,” one other exclaimed.
“Y’all i’m sure that child was fantastic they travel often so he knows how you can conduct himself and children at that age are flying alone he can chill within 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,” one other laughed at the concept of the adults taking the upgraded seats.
“I agree in letting the children stay in economy but not alone,” one other explained. “There must be someone there with them. Mom and pop can be taking turns in business.”
Others couldn’t take a joke.
“Y’all need parenting classes,” one slammed the couple.
“That is what happens if 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,” one other parent shunned.
And one user slammed those that 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 across the country. No less than with you within the plane he might be checked on periodically.”
