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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think Seat Frog has ruined First Class Rail travel

111 replies

Goldfsh · 07/10/2025 17:04

I've paid extra for First Class train tickets for the last few years for three reasons: my mobility has been very decreased and I'm unable to stand for long (but unable to qualify for a Disabled Railcard); my immune system is also shot so I appreciate that it's more spacious; and I can work on my laptop. Basically I pay because it's quieter and cleaner.

Over the last month or so, every time I've travelled the First Class carriages have been full with families, especially young babies and children and OMG ALWAYS listening to ipads and phones without headphones - and I suspect this is because of apps like Seat Frog that buy out the First Class fares and offer them cheap.

First Class travel is pointless IMO if it's as noisy and full of noisy families. Is there any point to it if this is the case? Has anyone else noticed this lately?

OP posts:
TeaForTheTillermanSteakForTheSun · 07/10/2025 17:10

I take my dd first class.

She has hospital appointments regularly, I can't drive due to my own health, she gets disability payments to make her life more comfortable, and this is what we spend some of it on.

Suspect away, but your snobbery is showing.

Your only valid complaint is not using headphones, but that's a problem everywhere, not just first class, and the train staff will deal with it if you ask them.

BananaramaDefence · 07/10/2025 17:10

Obviously people who aren't in sirst class should have to put up with this behaviour instead then? People in cattle class don't like these things any more than you, and seat frog still costs more money than a normal cattle class ticket.

Twinstudy · 07/10/2025 17:10

Well it's made it better for me because I couldn't afford it before 😄 I think it's a bit of a leap to assume these families couldn't have just afforded the normal ticket price really.

pinkpanther84 · 07/10/2025 17:10

Families are also allowed to be in first class, it’s not adults only. If I were you I would book in the quiet carriage

Redpeach · 07/10/2025 17:09

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 07/10/2025 17:07

Peace & quiet...
isn't that what the Quiet carriage is meant to be for?!

One quiet carriage does not mean every other carriage is 'noisy' carriage

GreenWheat · 07/10/2025 17:09

First class travel is available to anyone who pays the fare, that's how you qualify for it. So YABU to be moaning that you don't like certain demographics being there, they have as much right as you do. But people of any age listening to anything without headphones is antisocial in any class of travel and you're definitely not being unreasonable about that. I really wish people could be removed from the train for it!

Redpeach · 07/10/2025 17:08

Seatfrog would not be that cheap for a family surely? But agree, that would drive me mad, i would say something

BauhausOfEliott · 07/10/2025 17:08

Why you think you’ve got more money than the other people in First Class? Why wouldn’t the other people have just paid for more expensive seats just like you do?

Longtimelurkerfinallyposts · 07/10/2025 17:07

Peace & quiet...
isn't that what the Quiet carriage is meant to be for?!

DiscoBob · 07/10/2025 17:07

So if the first class tickets remain unsold this Seatfrog sells them off for cheap? As opposed to them being left empty presumably.

That sounds like quite a good idea. I do think they should have adults only sections and quiet sections though.

Bladderpool · 07/10/2025 17:06

What makes you think these people can’t afford full price tickets just like you do? What a weird post.

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