United Airlines parents in first class left their children alone in coach, a passenger said

Angry airline passengers complained this week that three abused children were left unattended in coach while parents sat comfortably in first class, according to a viral Reddit post.

“United now offers free babysitting,” a passenger joked on social media, describing a seemingly chaotic United Airlines flight from Houston to Fort Lauderdale.

The children – estimated to be 7, 9 and 10 years old – are sitting in row 8, according to the post. The viewer thought the parents were “promoted to first class,” leaving the children behind as the adults relaxed on their own in the front.

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“Thirty minutes before arrival – the boys start to collide – fists, choking, talking loudly until the end of screaming. The little girl ends up as rudely in her seat belt as possible,” wrote the poster on Reddit.

“Parents are improved, so [they] we had a nice, relaxing flight while a few of us watched over the misbehaving kids,” a United passenger suggested to others on Reddit.

“When should a flight attendant come in and ask parents to re-direct their children?” user added.

Fox News Digital has reached out to United Airlines for comment.

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A few commentators on Reddit weighed in on the airplay.

“There are two types of parents: Those who are really parents, and then there are those who are not bad camp counselors who want to pass the time when their work is done,” said another person.

Passengers complained about unruly children (not pictured) who were allegedly sitting apart from their parents, according to social media. (Stock)

Another said, “If that happens, the other parent should stay with the children, and one child should be raised or no one can raise them. Some people know how to think for themselves.”

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“I was going to come first and – out loud – pick up my dad,” another person wrote.

“Most of the children in the confined space are not comfortable. They want to run up and down the corridors.”

Others felt that the angry passengers should have discussed the matter with the flight attendants.

“Why didn't someone press the call button?” one Reddit user wrote.

“I think the parent should have stayed with them because of their age,” said the behavioral expert. (Stock)

“Just ring your phone, and when the flight attendant arrives, point to it and turn on your headphones,” said another.

Behavior expert Jacqueline Whitmore of Florida told Fox News Digital that children under the age of 12 generally should not be left unattended on an airplane.

“I think the parent should have stayed with them because of their age,” she said.

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Whitmore said, in these cases, the flight attendant should ask the children where the parents are, and the parent should be notified.

“That's what flight attendants are there for – safety and keeping the cabin quiet,” he said.

He also noted that many children struggle to stay in their seats on long flights.

“Some children listen, some don't,” she said. “Most kids in confined spaces are uncomfortable. They want to run up and down the aisles. That's exactly what kids do.”

Some carriers are not obligated to provide families with guaranteed adjacent seats for free. (Stock)

The US Department of Transportation encourages airlines to seat young children next to a parent or accompanying adult at no extra charge, according to the agency's website.

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Federal regulations, however, do not require airlines to guarantee adjacent seats.

The department maintains an online dashboard detailing which companies are committed to accommodating children 13 and under with an accompanying adult at no extra charge.

The United States Department of Transportation encourages airlines to have young children seated next to a parent or accompanying adult. (Stock)

Some carriers are not obligated to provide the nearest confirmed seats for free, including Delta, Spirit, Allegiant and United, according to the DOT dashboard.

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A few airlines, however, say they will seat children 13 and under next to an accompanying adult at no extra charge under certain circumstances.

Those carriers include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue.

Fox News Digital's Kelly McGreal contributed reporting.