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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think when I have pre-booked my train ticket, I should get MY seat.

62 replies

pantspantspants · 31/03/2011 21:51

Traveling back home today on a well know packed train, I pre-booked my ticket with a reserved seat as A) I have been away for 2 days for work and need to rest before returning to the mad house B) needed to finish up work loose ends so I didn't have to do it at home when I wanted to be with family/sleep C) I'm 15 weeks pregnant and have had a few complications recently and didn't want to risk being bumped into on the train. D) I wanted a seat!

Got on the train, found my seat, to see a young couple in the pre-booked bit, one being my seat. The rest of the train was already standing room only, even with 5ish minutes to go. The woman was in my seat being very coupley, him rubbing her belly, kissing etc. I went over explained I had booked that seat and asked them to let me have my seat, he said sorry but he had just found out his wife was pregnant and she needed that seat "in her condition." I explained that I had booked my seat as I was also pregnant so needed the seat too. After alot of back and forth and pregnant top trumps, I asked for him to move, her to move into his seat and for me to sit in my seat. He refused as he needed to be with his pregnant wife, others on the carriage ignored the whole seat situation and I was left to find an another seat. Didn't find one so spent the whole time stood up, squashed and annoyed I didn't get my seat that I have paid for.

AIBU to think if he was a man he would of given up his seat so his pregnant wife and I could sit and he wasn't thinking of being with his pregnant wife but just plain lazy in not wanting to stand, and her pregnancy was just an excuse.

OP posts:

Hullygully · 31/03/2011 22:14

You should have got the guard.

End of.

llbeanj · 31/03/2011 22:15

and if the guard doesn't find you a seat then you will usually get a refund on your ticket, but you have to ask the guard - you do on eastcoast anyway

freshmint · 31/03/2011 22:22

I would have cried. Poor you. what a tosspot (him)
I was getting on a very busy train Tuesday this week and on a table with four seats, an aisle seat had a briefcase on it next to a bloke. I said to him "can I sit here please" and the guy (overweight, in a suit, checked shirt, welsh, pleased with himself, around 48) said "Oh, my friend is just there, he's getting on here to join me, see, just there" (pointing down the carriage).
So I noticed the window seat opposite him was empty and climbed over another guy to sit there. Welshie gets on the phone, talking loudly about golf. Train pulls out - lo and behold there is no friend.
I stare at him. Around 5 mins later he finishes his call and says, grinning "Oh sorry about that, I thought he was there" and I say "Yes, you might have done, or you might just be a liar who would rather his briefcase got a seat than a real person. I think you're a liar." He goes bright red, and says "You think so?" and I say "Yes. Are you at all ashamed of yourself?" and he says "No, not really". So I say "And if I had to stand all the way to London would you be ashamed of yourself? Probably not, looking at you" and he said "I don't know" so I said "No, I expect you wouldn't". Then we had a staring contest, he lost conclusively and I read my book.
Before the next stop he took his briefcase off the seat and put it under his chair. Someone came and sat in it beside him. He couldn't bear it after another 15 minutes and left - I suspect to stand for the rest of the journey.

HOW SATISFYING.

BTW if anyone recognises my description of this character and happens to be married to him - tell him he's a cock. Although I suspect he now knows.

EmotionalMess2011 · 31/03/2011 22:22

Im soooo angry for you! What an arse! No actually... they are both arses! I am pregnant but would never use that as an excuse to con someone out of somehing theyv paid for! ARSES!!!!

jenga079 · 31/03/2011 22:24

What manticlimatic said.

What an arse. I can't believe he didn't move. Or that she didn't bully him into moving. I can't think of a single one of my male friends who wouldn't have leaped up in this situation and babbled on for weeks about how manly they were

AllGoodNamesGone · 31/03/2011 22:29

What a vile man, his partner "needs a seat because she's pregnant" so another pregnant woman, who's seat it was, can stand. Shame on him (and her).

Like Said said (!) I suspect she's not actually pregnant at all and they use it as their standard excuse to get their own way and stuff anyone else. Hate people like that.

MrsFrin · 31/03/2011 22:34

Freshmint that little story has made my evening! Well done you!

freshmint · 31/03/2011 22:36

It feels good to get it out
glad you enjoyed it too!

mamatomany · 31/03/2011 22:39

Your going to need to grow a pair asap, you'll need to stand up for your children in years to come and letting anyone get one over you like this could be to their detriment, no need to be as rude as they are but you do not back down.

MillsAndDoom · 31/03/2011 22:39

I am unbelievably blood boilingly angry for you - what a pair of arses

MillsAndDoom · 31/03/2011 22:41

Freshmint - I want to follow you round and cheer while you shame people for their shitty behaviour

Skinit · 31/03/2011 22:44

I'd have sat ON the bastard.

MillyR · 31/03/2011 22:44

A lot of train tickets are invalid if you don't occupy your booked seat, so you shouldn't be expected to find another seat.

freshmint · 31/03/2011 22:45

feel free, mills!
It's easier to do when you catch them being complete shits

OP was in a tricky position though - she couldn't bodily sling them out so if there was no conductor around, what could she do?

VV difficult

belledechocchipcookie · 31/03/2011 22:52

I'd have loved to sit on the table. I probably wouldn't have though.

ChishAndFips · 31/03/2011 22:58

Ooh this really infuriates me. Don't travel on the train much myself for long enough to book a seat, but eldest DD does from/to uni, and there is always some twat sitting in her reserved seat who grumbles about moving. I bet it's a standard ploy as well, like Said says. Especially when you are pregnant... I would have exploded.

ShavingGodfreysPrivates · 31/03/2011 22:59

Why would they only pre-book one seat if they were both travelling together? Or was his seat not a booked one?

I'd have gobbed off like a fishwife I'm afraid

FriedSpamButty · 31/03/2011 23:04

You really should have got the conductor. I have witnessed them chuck people out of reserved seats on many occasions.

Then again, I have also experienced times where trains have been cancelled and delayed and reservations have been declared null and void. I once witnessed four very elderly ladies verbally abused by two young women with a child each who wanted them to vacate the seats so the women and kids could have a seat each.

The train was absolutely rammed with just about everyone accepting that reservations just didn't apply anymore and we were lucky to be going on our way. The conductor earned a round of applause for telling the foul mouthed slappers that if they didn't shut up and move down the carriage that he would put them off at the next station and would have the British Transport Police waiting for them. Their choice and they shut up and moved on.

howlonguntiltheweekend · 31/03/2011 23:17

That is awful!

Someone was sitting in my seat last week I'd reserved it as I have a phone with a rubbish battery life so always reserve a seat with a plug socket. Despite there being other seats available, I asked the person to move. I did then explain re: the plug socket as I felt bad that there were other seats available and didn't want to look crazy!

Sadly not sure if he'd refused if I could be bothered to go and find a guard either with all my stuff!

sunnydelight · 01/04/2011 05:18

Poor you. Hell truly is other people.

JessicaDrew · 01/04/2011 08:05

it doesn't happen on planes, why should it happen on trains!!!!!!!
oh because the rail companies can sell as many tickets as they like for a train, without regard for when it is full

Sweetpea215 · 01/04/2011 08:10

What an absolute tosser!

No manners...what is this "I need to be with my newly pregnant wife".
Bad mannered git!

I'd have made a huge fuss...stood my ground and waited for the ticket inspector to come along when I would have reported him.

ajandjjmum · 01/04/2011 08:12

freshmint
That's brilliant that you came out with that fantastic put down there and then. I'd have thought of a brilliant way of handling it a day later!!

OP - He was an arse and you should have told him so.

Honeybee79 · 01/04/2011 08:13

They both acted like twats. I would have been furious. In fact, I would have found a conductor/member of staff and complained.

Bucharest · 01/04/2011 08:14

What arsewipes!
You wouldn't have been being unreasonable even if you weren't pregnant and she was 8 months gone. It was your prebooked seat and he should have stood in the aisle.
Pity the poor fuckers though. If they are this pathetic and nasty when she is only just pregnant, they are going to have one hell of a shock later on when they discover the world doesn't revolve round their offspring.

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