In August 2020, a Redditor shared a story on the popular “pettyrevenge” subreddit that quickly caught the attention of thousands of readers. The story, which took place during a flight, was a perfect example of how a little bit of clever retaliation can go a long way in teaching someone a lesson. The Redditor, who was 14 at the time of the incident, was traveling with her father on a flight back from India. What started as a routine journey turned into a memorable tale of petty revenge that left the internet both amused and satisfied.
The trouble began shortly after takeoff. Seated directly behind the Redditor was a family of three, including a boy who appeared to be around 9 or 10 years old. At first, everything seemed normal, but about 10 minutes into the flight, the boy started kicking the back of the Redditor’s seat. It wasn’t just an accidental nudge here and there—this was persistent, deliberate kicking. The Redditor, trying to be patient, quietly informed her father about the situation. Her dad, ever the calm and reasonable adult, turned around and politely asked the boy to stop. The boy complied—for about 10 seconds. Then, the kicking resumed.
The Redditor and her father tried again, this time speaking more firmly, but their requests fell on deaf ears. The boy continued to kick the seat, seemingly unfazed by their attempts to reason with him. Frustrated but not wanting to escalate the situation, the Redditor’s father decided to take matters into his own hands. He leaned over to his daughter and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.” What followed was a masterclass in petty revenge.
The father reclined his seat as far back as it would go. Almost immediately, the family behind them began to feel the effects. The boy’s parents, particularly the mother, were now squeezed into an even tighter space. It wasn’t long before the father of the boy—whom the Redditor dubbed “Jerk Dad” (JD)—spoke up. He flagged down a flight attendant and complained, “This man put his seat down, and my wife is uncomfortable.”
The flight attendant, clearly unimpressed by the complaint, turned to the Redditor’s father and asked, “Would you like to keep your seat down?” Without missing a beat, the father replied, “Yes, please.” The flight attendant, perhaps sensing the underlying tension, responded with a calm but firm, “Well then, he can if he wants to. That’s not his problem. Have a nice flight.” With that, the flight attendant walked away, leaving Jerk Dad visibly flustered and muttering under his breath.
The Redditor couldn’t help but smirk at the turn of events. It was clear that the parents behind them had finally realized the consequences of their son’s actions. After a few harsh whispers and some stern looks, they managed to get the boy to stop kicking the seat. However, the family wasn’t done with their passive-aggressive behavior. For the next hour, they glared at the Redditor, her father, and even the flight attendant whenever she passed by. But the Redditor’s father wasn’t about to back down. He kept his seat reclined for a full hour, ensuring that the lesson had been thoroughly learned. Only when he was confident that the parents had gotten the message did he finally return his seat to its upright position.
The Redditor concluded her story with a sense of triumph, noting that while the family’s glares continued for the rest of the flight, the kicking had stopped for good. It was a small but satisfying victory—one that showcased the power of standing up for oneself in a calm and calculated manner. The story resonated with countless Redditors, who praised the father for his clever approach and the flight attendant for her no-nonsense attitude.
So, what do you think? Was the father’s response justified, or was it too petty? Let us know your thoughts!