The other article says they were removed from the flight because the parents couldn't get the kid to take a seat for takeoff.
I doubt the other passengers were sympathetic.
"I jokingly turned around and asked the three gentlemen behind me, 'Aren't you glad you got these seats?" Julie said.
Ha, ha, very funny. Julie is a self-centered jerk. Just because *she* made a joke to the unfortunate people near her, she thinks they're sympathetic. Control your 3-year-old, lady!