As someone who flies often and happens to be plus-size, I’ve learned that standard airplane seats just don’t work for me. To make the trip more comfortable — and to avoid inconveniencing anyone else — I always purchase two seats.

On a recent flight, I boarded, got settled, and buckled in. That’s when a woman showed up with her young child and, without saying a word, plopped the child down in the empty seat next to me — the second seat I had paid for.

I politely let her know that I had purchased both seats for personal space and comfort. She immediately got loud, calling me selfish. A few nearby passengers joined in, saying things like, “It’s just a kid!”

Trying to stay calm, I called over a flight attendant and showed both of my boarding passes. I explained that if my seat wasn’t cleared, I’d have to file a report for interference with a paid reservation.

The crew took it seriously. After checking with the captain, they ended up removing the woman and her child from the flight. Turns out, she had tried something like this before.

Once we finally took off, things quieted down. A couple of people apologized. Most didn’t.