[Dredger]

Over the fouth of July I was traveling with my family between Salt Lake and Dallas. We have two children, one is 3 and the other is 10 months.

The 10 month old started crying about 1/3 into the flight, which was about 75% full. We were seated in the middle of the plane, and the very rear seats of the airplane were empty, except for the flight attendant bags which were placed on the isle row seat.

To minimize the disturbance to other passengers, I moved with my infant to the very rear (middle) seat. It was darker and near the engine, and the drone seemed to calm her down as she stopped crying and started to fall asleep. (The flight attendants at the time were passing out the refreshments towards the front of the plane, and the seat belt sign was off)

After passing out drinks, a flight attendant came back and snippily told me I had to move back to my assigned seat. When I asked why, he said "it is a safety issue". I later noticed he was sitting in the very seats he asked me to move from. Of course when I got up my infant woke up, and proceeded to cry for the rest of the trip from the middle of the plane.

I've written American Airlines 3 times so far about this complaint. I've asked them to explain how moving a passenger from one passenger seat to the other could possibly be a 'safety' issue. If the plane was full, passengers would have been in the very seats the flight attendant made me leave for 'safety'. Frankly, I believe the flight attendant just wanted an empty row to himself, and didn't want an infant nearby. (his demeanor was obviously irritated and short)

The first response letter from AA was they were sorry about this situation, but it is company policy not to disclose punitive action against employees (I did not ask) and gave me 3,000 air miles. So I wrote back thanks for the response, but the question I asked is 'how was that a safety issue'.

Then they wrote back a second time, they apologized again, and referenced FAA regulations requiring one to wear seatbelt on takeoff and landing and when the seatbelt sign is on. Then concluded: "so this was a safety issue"

Again I wrote back, I was wearing my seatbelt, and the seatbelt sign was off for that matter. How does that relate to making someone move seats? I want AA to explain to me how moving from one seat to the other is a safety issue?

Anyway it boils down to two issues as far as I'm concerned. Either it is a legitimate safety issue, to which no apology would necessary anyway. Or, the flight attendant abused his authority and lied to me, just because he wanted those seats to himself.

If the second is true, would you consider a 3,000 mile pittance and a 'qualified' apology from AA to sufficient?