to think that pregnant does not have to mean classless and entitled...

[glasgowsteven]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2561592/Pregnant-commuter-forced-sit-carriage-floor-no-one-seat-train-firm-refused-grant-special-pass.html

if you want a first class pass, buy one dear

Entitled

I think it's quite sad that no one gave up their seat for her, but I do agree that expecting to sit in first class is very entitled.

I guess by your name you have never been pregnant.

Really? You'd really rather an ill, pregnant paying customer sat on the floor than in an otherwise empty seat?

Her tone in the article is rather entitled. Sad that no one offered her a seat but then we don't know the circumstances of the other passengers near to her do we.

It says in the article that the train company in question have a "policy" that entitles pregnant women to a first class automatically.

She didnt just ask on the off chance, the policy was there for anyone to use if pregnant, it was when the person in charge on that train then refused her as you suddenly had to be a season pass holder to get the first class pregnancy ticket.

Which it says at the bottom the company dont agree with. I agree though that nobody gave up their seat for her.

"Special Pregnancy Pass"? Never heard of such a thing.

Trains are packed nowadays - so much so that they're basically not really fit for purpose. On the ones I get all the seats are regularly taken up, meaning I stand all the way - a trip of about one and a half hours each way.

But a lot of the time I stand out of choice - I'll get on a train and stand until everyone else gets on, then see if there are any seats free. There are a lot of people who require a seat more than I. Only then, if there is a seat, will I sit down. Most of the time there aren't and there's a LOAD of people still standing (not to mention the food/drinks trolley trying to squeeze through).

Still, I would hope that a person who needs to sit down, for whatever reason (whether they are elderly, disabled or indeed pregnant - not all pregnant people need to sit but it would certainly help some) be given a seat.

It is in everyone's interests to look after pregnant people, and only requires the most basic level of human decency - you would expect your average career thief to still give their seat up for a pregnant woman.

A healthy adult who sits happily in their seat while a pregnant woman sits on the floor is pretty much behaving like an entirely worthless person, and no doubt they know that the whole time.

What a lovely OP

She does come across as a bit entitled.

My train company didn't offer special passes until I think you were 36 weeks gone and I travelled in 5 days a week. (Never bothered to get one either).

Although I have my fair share of commuting horror stories whilst pregnant I'm sure a whole carriage of people wouldn't have left a pregnant woman feeling unwell if they had known. I used to get embarrassed asking for a seat when I needed it but perhaps she should have shouted a bit louder if she was feeling so unwell?

It's not the train companies fault people are rude & inconsiderate.

prepares to be flamed

Where does it say that she is ill?

Doesn't say how long her journey was. Did she have to sit down, could she have stood? Was it that she needed to sit or would she have preferred to sit? Anyone pregnant or not would be more comfortable sitting. I've had bits of my pregnancies where I have really needed to sit and couldn't have managed a train journey standing. I've had bits of my pregnancies where I could have happily stood up no problem at all.

How many people did she ask? Did she ask? Never says she did, just says nobody gave up their seat.

The train company are perhaps lacking in interpersonal skills. The train guard could have said that in the future she would need to pay but that on this occasion given that the train was so full she could sit in first class. Or the guard could have asked someone to move.

Pregnancy is not an illness. However some women in pregnancy do struggle and need a seat which is why buses and trains have seats for the elderly, disabled and pregnant. The guard would have been perfectly entitled to ask someone sitting in those seats who was able bodied to move for her so ultimately the guard has failed in their duties but she sounds very woe is me and entitled.

I understand you might have a desire to wade in with the Mumsnet mot du jour "entitled" to increase some dubious cachet it may gain for you.

But in this case, I think, yes, a pregnant woman most definitely is <span class="italic">entitled</span> by way of her condition, to be seated on a train journey.

Like she would be entitled to free prescriptions, free dental care and paid time off after giving birth. This must appall you.

Phew, Indith, glad I'm not the only one thinking like that.

Safety in numbers

I disagree. If she was unwell I can't see why she should not be allowed a seat in an empty first class carriage.

Years ago I fell ill on a journey from hell and took myself off to the first class carriage as there were no seats in second class. When the ticket inspector came he didn't batter an eyelid.

I hate the fact that there are empty first class carriages on trains and people herded together like animals in standard class. Abolish first class and make room for everyone.

ArcticFunky - that's almost a different argument. As a commuter I absolutely believe 1st class should be stopped. Why should I pay £5000 a year to sit on the floor /stand twice a day. Pregnant or not.

Oops, meant to add, when there are sometimes at least 3 empty 1st class sections. That makes me cross.

I think the train companies policy as described in the article is a fair one, and this woman does come across as overly entitled.

I always give up my seat for anyone who needs it more than me.

It's just manners isn't it?

I was quite ill in my pregnancy, low BP combined with anemia meant I had a tendency to faint anywhere and everywhere.

As a child we were on a train and there weren't any seats and the inspector told us to go sit in first class and relax, thought that was really kind of him.

Train company are ridiculous for not letting her sit in first class on this occasion, or indeed in any similar circumstance.

Fellow travellers are a bit despicable for not offering her a seat. Though if you've paid for a ticket, there ought to be enough seats made available. I'd always stand if there was someone more in need but surely guard should be able to use discretion to seat people, especially obviously pregnant and distressed people.

Also what is so special about first class? Think you might get a small light on your table? Not that you would even need that in the day. and it might be a bit quieter? Not worth the extra money IMO but then again I'm tight.

Must say the mere fact that she has gone to the Daily Hatemail predisposes me to think she is entitled and a bit silly, though.

Can't be good for your career as a communications manager, surely

I think it's a disgusting state of society that nowadays on public transport, people don't willingly offer seats to older people, pregnant ladies & disabled people.

This is just a reflection on society in general.

Regardless of whatever and however that daily mail article is portrayed.

I am a bit at attacking the other passengers. It never says that she directly asked anyone. I jsut says nobody moved. I personally would always stand and let someone who needed a seat sit down but when commuting I am squished in like a sardine, can't see who is getting on the train and usually reading. I don't automatically look up at each stop to see if someone in need is getting on. They would need to ask me.

My train company had this policy, you had to send a copy of your Mat 1B (is that the right form?) or a letter from your doctor and they issued a pass letter allowing you to sit in first class if there were no other seats available. Seemed to be targeted at season-ticket holders but don't remember it being specified in the wording

I would most certainly give pg woman my seat.it's good manners

That article is from the DM. Who knows to what extent they edited her words to make her sound sufficiently 'Outraged of Tunbridge Wells'?

IMO, letting a pregnant woman sit on the floor is just bullshit. Fuck blitz spirit and stiff upper lips - she's 5 months pregnant, feeling woozy. She shouldn't be sitting on a train floor when something could have been done about it, whether that means a fellow passenger giving her their seat or a member of staff allowing her to sit elsewhere.