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Original poster

Would you move along one seat?

78 replies

AmandasFleckerl · 26/09/2023 16:47

I have bought two tickets to see a comedian at my local theatre. But when I went to pick seats there were only odd single seats dotted around. In the front row in the circle there were two seats available but there are 4 seats already booked between them. My seats are N7 and N12.
If you were asked politely whether you would mind moving one seat along so that I could sit next to my friend, would you oblige or object. Looking to work out whether to ask them or make the best of the situation.

OP posts:
itsalongwaybackfromsorry · 26/09/2023 18:18

It would depend on the height of the people in front of me, tbh.

Greenfinch7 · 26/09/2023 18:20

Of course

Qilin · 26/09/2023 18:24

I would generally if the seat I was moving to was the same view or better. I wouldn't move to a worse seat. As I'm short then I wouldn't be happy about moving to a seat behind someone very tall, for example.

If you have two seats then offer them the better of the seats, opting to take the less good ones yourselves.

In fact I have moved at least twice. One the seat was literally one down from where I was already sat - moved me one seat closer to the middle. The second time dd and I moved - 4 or 5 seats to let a family sit together and had a much more central view.

And you have to accept that some people will just say no, even if the seats have the same view or better. Some people simply will refuse regardless.

Qilin · 26/09/2023 18:26

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 26/09/2023 18:15

Probably not because the single seat that I was moving to would maybe have a single person who'd booked that seat and would be along later. If I'm understanding correctly.

The seat they were moving into would have been purchased by the op or her friend, I assume.

SaltyGod · 26/09/2023 18:27

Of course I’d move, one seat along with the same view, no big deal at all. I like the idea of a Malteser bribe too.

Darkmode2 · 26/09/2023 18:30

So many people not reading the op and updates properly!

I would budge up one seat to allow two friends to sit together. If it had no impact on view I really don't understand why anyone would say no, especially going to see comedy.

It's depressing that some people are really that miserable that they'd say no out of principle or to make a point

OneFrenchEgg · 26/09/2023 18:30

People get round the single seat issue, there's ways to be able to book and leave one regardless of software. I don't know if I would, I'd probably in the moment misunderstand that you had both free seats and worry someone else would turn up, or one of the kids would be in the loo and come back to a different specs etc.

Prescottdanni123 · 26/09/2023 18:31

As long as you are gracious and accepting of people saying no then I can't see a problem with that.

Daffodilwoman · 26/09/2023 18:33

I would as long as it didn’t adversely affect my view.

theemmadilemma · 26/09/2023 18:33

We did this not long ago. No idea why the seating had ended up with those gaps. No one on the end had to move and everyone was accommodating in moving up one.

Cowlover89 · 26/09/2023 18:35

Nope

theemmadilemma · 26/09/2023 18:35

I'm sure in some cases people leave a seat space in the hope the single stays empty and they get more space.

TakeMe2Insanity · 26/09/2023 18:36

We had at the front tickets for a sell out concert (person playing in the uk after ages). Person came along and asked us to swap with their friends so they could sit together. Of course not was the answer the friends were sat round a bend with not the same view!

Meeting · 26/09/2023 18:37

They would have to be pretty crappy people to refuse to move one seat along in this situation. Especially as 3 of the seats would remain the same.

callmej · 26/09/2023 18:37

I would move, but I'm not sure I'd bother to ask as I'd be happy enough sitting on my own and just meeting my friend in the interval - you presumably aren't planning on chatting to them through the show anyway? If they notice you're together they may well offer to move anyway without being asked but does it really matter to you if they say no and you have to sit 5 seats away during the performance?

Alstroemeria123 · 26/09/2023 18:41

Hypothetically yes, as long as it’s to a seat that I consider is equal or better in terms of view, legroom, access to aisle etc.

SkinnyMalinkyLankyLegs · 26/09/2023 18:43

Qilin · 26/09/2023 18:26

The seat they were moving into would have been purchased by the op or her friend, I assume.

Show quote history

Oh so each seat wither side was bought by the OP? If that's the case then I'd move along. Wasn't sure if I was understanding it correctly.

TulipCat · 26/09/2023 18:44

MamaDollyorJesus · 26/09/2023 16:52

I wouldn't - generally I've booked seats early enough so that I could sit with my group in a preferred seat location so I'd be annoyed by someone less organised thinking they could have my seat.

I've had my panto tickets since june

Well done you, have a shiny star. But some people's lives aren't as fixed and they might not know their availability months ahead of time. Someone with a different life to you isn't necessarily disorganised, nor does early booking make you as superior as you think it does.

Original poster
AmandasFleckerl · 26/09/2023 21:09

My friend is one of the nicest most polite people I know and she has been tasked with asking and I’ll provide the Maltesers. I do have to disagree with those that think it’s rude to ask the question at all. We’re just asking in case they don’t mind. Not the end of the world if they decline as we’ll still have a great time even if they do.

OP posts:
tempusernamexyz · 26/09/2023 21:14

Yes I would mind.

MamaDollyorJesus · 26/09/2023 21:30

@TulipCat I don't think it makes me superior - the OP asked a question & I answered it. I wouldn't move & I think it's really cheeky to ask because it puts people in an awkward position when they may well want to say no but social niceties will force them to say yes, more so with it being in a public space.

slithytoveisascientist · 26/09/2023 21:50

I'd move assuming view was the same

hby9628 · 26/09/2023 21:59

We did this. Booked 3 tickets together & 1 was 2 spaces along. We asked & people were happy to swap. We just went having made the decision that if people wouldn't move we would still have a lovely evening anyway.

purplepencilcase · 26/09/2023 22:00

Of course I would.

Treat others as you would want to be treated.

JustPressRed · 27/09/2023 15:06

AmandasFleckerl · 26/09/2023 21:09

My friend is one of the nicest most polite people I know and she has been tasked with asking and I’ll provide the Maltesers. I do have to disagree with those that think it’s rude to ask the question at all. We’re just asking in case they don’t mind. Not the end of the world if they decline as we’ll still have a great time even if they do.

What a refreshingly pragmatic approach, with not a whiff of entitlement to be smelt anywhere. I hope you manage to get your seats together, karma says you will!

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