Battle: Old vs. Pregnant

It should have been a warning to me Tuesday night when I checked the news and saw that the airport workers were going on strike the next day, the day I was to fly out.

I arrived to the airport in plenty of time. Me and my pregnant self with two big bags to check, a carry on, a personal bag, an 18mo old and a car seat. Luckily the Delta workers took pity on me and sent me to the Elite line to check in (even though the line took an hour). When I checked in I immediately asked if there were any available seats so that I could bring Scarlett's car seat on. The woman quickly answered no, then actually looked at me, took pity, and called her manager (this is the way I like to think it happened). Turns out there is ONE seat on the entire plan available. She moved some seats around and told me it was mine. I didn't get me hopes up too much because she said I still needed to check with her at the gate to make sure if was still available. It comes time to board (one hour late, there was a strike you know) and I ask the woman who had helped me earlier if the seat was still free and she assured me it was all mine.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

I don't know if any of you have ever sat 10 hours with a toddler on your lap but I don't recommend it. Our last flight home was full and Scarlett ran the aisles the ENTIRE time.

Scarlett and I were first to board. I got her carseat all set up, her strapped in with her blanket and binkie. I swear she was even looking sleepy...

Just as the plane was fully boarded an old Hungarian woman comes up to me and shows me her seat number (the one Scarlett's in)

NO.....

I go find a flight attendent and ask if there are any seats available she immediately answers no and tells me I have to check the car seat. At this point the plane was boarded. I look back and four rows back in the exit aisle there is an open seat. "What about that one?" I ask. To which she responded, "She's too old and doesn't speak english, she can't sit there." Well.."Can anyone else sit there?" The flight attendant turns around and asked the plane if anyone would be willing to sit in the exit aisle seat. A man immediately jumped up, to which I turned to the Hungarian woman and asked if she would be willing to sit in the mans seat (thinking we have this in the bag...crisis adverted)

"No, that's my seat" (pointing to her original seat in the middle, middle of the plane) Seriously, Seriously??

I look at the flight attendant who with a look of pity says "I can't force her to move"

So I unbuckle Scarlett, grab her carseat and find a flight attendant to give the seat to. As I hand over the seat I start crying, yes crying. Remember how I'm pregnant, I have no control. After I somewhat gain my composer I head back to my seat where I see the old Hungarian woman kicking, yes kicking Scarlett blanket out of the way. I yell, stop that! She looks at me, disguisted and throws a pillow that was on her seat to my seat (her pillow, by the way). I turn to the four flight attendant who have gathered to watch the spectacle and announce, "I will not sit next to this woman for 10 hours. I don't care where I sit but I WILL NOT sit next to her"

Luckily a kind woman (who was sitting with her husband and best friend) jumped up and switched me seats. I'll save you the rest of the details. Let's just say I spent the first 7 hours plotting against this woman. Thinking of all the things I could say to her in Hungarian (why oh why didn't I learn more Hungarian :) Then I decided she was mental, seriously crazy. She believed she was the queen bee of the flight and got into more problems with other passengers. The whole plane rallied behind me

We made it, that's all the matters because now I'm being pampered, feed and my child is getting lots of love. But seriously, never again...