Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What a dick move - am I right?

169 replies

TeutoburgForest · 10/06/2026 11:55

Just got on busy train in London. On a table a man is sat with his bag on the seat next to him and his coat on the seat opposite him - basically making it difficult for people to sit on 2/3 of the remaining free seats. Is this common??

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 10/06/2026 13:36

I sat on a guys bag one night. I asked him twice politely to move it and he ignored me so I sat on his poncy satchel.

Youhadrambledonfor18pages · 10/06/2026 13:35

SevenYellowHammers · 10/06/2026 12:52

You are right but I find it excruciating to do this. So stand and seethe instead.

That's very much a you problem.

It doesn't take an extreme amount of bravery to ask and in decades of commuting I've never seen anyone refuse to move their things.

Chlorpool · 10/06/2026 13:35

@TeutoburgForest next time say 'Oh no, someone has gone without their coat.
I'll tell the conductor when he comes.

When the male miscreant says it's his coat give him a hard stare and ask ' have you paid for 3 seats.'

Backedoffhackedoff · 10/06/2026 13:34

TeutoburgForest · 10/06/2026 13:28

So interesting. I just don’t get why the onus should be on people wanting to sit down to ‘use their words’ rather than people seat hogging to be aware and move their stuff?

What does this mean though? There is no “onus” on anyone. You might want people to do something but that’s totally meaningless as it doesn’t make them do anything

Gotback · 10/06/2026 13:33

I think it is unusual to put his coat on the seat opposite him. More common to have bag & coat on the seat next to him. I'd still have asked him to move whatever was necessary for me to sit down. What an arsehole, taking 3 seats.

Mingou · 10/06/2026 13:32

I'll happily sit on a coat if it's taking up.a seat. They can then ask me for it back

Poppingby · 10/06/2026 13:31

TeutoburgForest · 10/06/2026 13:28

So interesting. I just don’t get why the onus should be on people wanting to sit down to ‘use their words’ rather than people seat hogging to be aware and move their stuff?

Because you're the one who wants to sit down? It's just basic communication isn't it. Sure he should've moved his stuff but he didn't. So you tell him you want to sit there.

fiveflames · 10/06/2026 13:31

I used to commute by train. I was near the start of the line so there were plenty of seats. As we approached London, the train got busier and busier and it would always end up with several people having to stand. Despite this, a man who got on at my stop used to always put his bag on the seat next
to him. Even when several people were standing, he just wouldn’t move it. He gave off boss vibes and I suppose people were nervous about asking as virtually no one ever did ask him. So I think this is a behavior that people do. They just hog space and hope nobody is brave enough to say anything so they can keep hogging it even if it’s busy

Slowdownyouredoingfine · 10/06/2026 13:31

It is so disgustingly selfish! Went to London at the weekend and boarding the train home it was packed, lots of us walking down the carriages trying to find a seat. Quite a few people had bags on seats next to them, you shouldn’t have to ask when they can see people are looking for seats just move your fucking bag! I did ask in the end, but then I had to sit next to them the whole journey knowing full well they didn’t want me next to them and internally raging at what a selfish prick they were 🤣 It was all young men/women doing it on my train.

CheddarBiscuit · 10/06/2026 13:29

Cheeseandquackers21 · 10/06/2026 12:03

Im very petty and when people om trains or buses sit by the aisle with window free ill almost always ask to sit on free seat rather than a free aisle seat. One i prefer window seats and 2, i think a lot of them do it on purpose to get two seats together. They mainly accept but i had one lady get angry with me, i stood ny ground and she instead stood up rathwr than sit!

You would be my dream seat sharer! I hate sitting in the window seat so I always sit in the aisle and leave the window seat free so if someone wants it they can have that one and I can keep the aisle 🙌

id never thought before that someone might think i was spitefully hogging two seats :(

HPFA · 10/06/2026 13:29

Girlwithavibe · 10/06/2026 12:31

Entitled! I was on a packed train in Antibes going to a Nice last week and people were doing this and people let them I said excuse me in french and she wouldn't let me sit so I said I'll wait til u move she did move in the end but the dirty looks lol 😁 jesus ! More people need to speak up u pay for a ticket I'm sure there bag or coat has no extra ticket for that seat .
I was polite but the look I got was like if told her to fucking move and stand up lol 😁
Edit .
On the way back there was a seat next to me and no one would take it I had to say sit sit it's free and the girl that took it kept thanking me I was like it's not my seat u paid for a ticket !!! Maybe it's french thing lol

Edited

Went to Antibes last year and had two people push past me in a supermarket queue - the tiller noticed but served them anyway!

On the other hand people also waved me in front of them when they saw I had fewer items than they did so maybe this is normal?

hellobaby24 · 10/06/2026 13:29

Haha I specifically sit in these seats even if others are free. I ask them to move their stuff and promptly sit down.

Terfedout · 10/06/2026 13:28

Cheeseandquackers21 · 10/06/2026 12:03

Im very petty and when people om trains or buses sit by the aisle with window free ill almost always ask to sit on free seat rather than a free aisle seat. One i prefer window seats and 2, i think a lot of them do it on purpose to get two seats together. They mainly accept but i had one lady get angry with me, i stood ny ground and she instead stood up rathwr than sit!

Incorrect in some cases. I do this because I like the aisle. And like being able to get to the loo easily. Couldn't give a toss if someone wants the window seat next to me or not!!!

TeutoburgForest · 10/06/2026 13:28

So interesting. I just don’t get why the onus should be on people wanting to sit down to ‘use their words’ rather than people seat hogging to be aware and move their stuff?

OP posts:
TheDenimPoet · 10/06/2026 13:25

I'd ask him to move them. If he didn't, I'd move them myself. It's rude, but it's not a dick move to use empty seats until they're needed.

Youhadrambledonfor18pages · 10/06/2026 13:25

Common, yes.

I always just say "excuse me could I sit down please" and they move their stuff, problem solved.

I commute every day and usually put my bag on the seat next to me as it's the most convenient place. However I do fully expect to move it if the train gets crowded and someone asks to sit there.

Sunnydaysarehereagain2026 · 10/06/2026 13:25

On the upstairs of a packed bus in Edinburgh last summer a lad about 20 gave up his seat and I was very grateful (recently healed fractured foot).
His mate was trying to give ds his seat but I said there was no need. He was very puzzled and kept checking he didn't need a seat. I'm not THAT old (54) but manners told me the adult should have a seat! Ds10 happily perched on my knee! Came off that bus like I'd completed a ride at Alton Towers....
A reminder why I stuck at driving!.

Iwanttobeafraser · 10/06/2026 13:13

Weeellokthen · 10/06/2026 13:09

Think op was hoping for a bit of man bashing, tbh 😂

Oh, I can very easily do some man bashing in relation to travelling on trains.... Grin but in this particular isntance, whether or not he's a prat, it's a completely normal thing and people just need to able to use some normal polite words!

BeKhakiReader · 10/06/2026 13:11

I was recently on a very crowded train and a woman sat in the aisle of a two person seat, studiously avoiding eye contact. Eventually someone asked her to allow him in and did she eye roll 🙄

On the same train, the conductor made an announcement that the train was very busy and not to take up seats with bags. He added “If anybody particularly wants their bag to have a seat, I’ll happily come along and sell it a ticket!”

Weeellokthen · 10/06/2026 13:09

Justbreathagain · 10/06/2026 12:56

Can't believe this warranted a mumsnet post

Think op was hoping for a bit of man bashing, tbh 😂

Overwhelmedandtired · 10/06/2026 13:05

Yes, he is the AH. He will probably never change, but people like him need to be called out, asked to move. He probably will grumble under his breath about it, but unlikely to challenge as clearly doesn't have grounds to. Just hoping that people will take feeling more uncomfortable standing or squeezing in elsewhere over potentially feeling uncomfortable to challenge him for the space. Sounds like you did get him to move, and you absolutely shouldn't have to, but glad you stood up to the CF. Its entitled BS. Unfortunately there will always be a subset of people who will always act like this. He would also probably be the first to berate someone else for doing the same thing!

DBSFstupid · 10/06/2026 13:02

TeenToTwenties · 10/06/2026 11:57

This is where adults need to 'use their words'.
Excuse me, please move your coat.

Of course he should be polite and move them anyway when he sees the train is filling up, but asking him isn't a big deal.

👏👏
It's extraordinary isn't it that adults have to use words😂

Just TELL HIM
He's a stupid selfish twat

FairKoala · 10/06/2026 13:00

Bellaboo01 · 10/06/2026 12:31

Cant have been that busy if he was able to get 3 seats for himself. Just tell him to move his stuff - simple!

Central London trains at certain big stations are at their starting point. So are completely empty

After 10 -15 minutes of people boarding it can be standing room only.

5128gap · 10/06/2026 13:00

BillieWiper · 10/06/2026 12:09

The thing is this really backfires. Even if there are other sets of four free, a lot of people will take umbrage to him commandeering the section with his bag and coat, and go straight for one of 'his' seats just to make a point.

I think I have put my bag on the chair next to me a few times on a very empty carriage/bus. I guess you do hope it postponed you having to share. But I always move it before anyone who needs a seat would have to ask.

If you're a inoffensive looking woman who fits into her own seat, you're almost always going to be first pick to have to share. Sometimes the bag thing can buy you an extra stop or two when you know there's lots of other available seats people could pick.

99bottlesofkombucha · 10/06/2026 13:00

SevenYellowHammers · 10/06/2026 12:52

You are right but I find it excruciating to do this. So stand and seethe instead.

Nah, I delight in their peeve.