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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU or is everyone else on the coach?

130 replies

DialsMavis · 01/04/2015 18:54

A live one... I've just boarded a coach with DS (12) and DD (4) for a last minute visit to see family. Couldn't get the train as its £££ if you don't book in advance, we've done the coach before and it's always been OK. The journey is 2hrs15 mins without any delays.

Today we got on at Hammersmith rather than Victoria so every pair of seats was taken up by single passengers. Not a single one would move so I could sit next to DD and most just ignored us as we walked up and down aisle (coach in motion) asking if someone would move. Ds is right at other end and is fine.

OP posts:
Original poster
DialsMavis · 01/04/2015 19:37

How do you know if a seat is prebooked? They don't have the little tickets like on the train. Other people won't be getting on later on in the journey

OP posts:
SinglePringle · 01/04/2015 19:41

You can't prebook seats on coaches IME. Which is why I arrive early.

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/04/2015 19:42

They usually have reserved on them.

I've taken a few coach journeys before. I just took what they gave me but others had reserved seats so they were together.

but they usually had multiple pick ups so would start of fairly empty and people would chance their luck spreading out only to have to move again because they were in someone else's seats.

If it is a free for all system on the coach then yeah people should move.

but sometimes other people have arranged to meet up on the coach and have booked seats together

SinglePringle · 01/04/2015 19:42

(But people who put bags on seats need telling!)

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/04/2015 19:44

Unless that's their friends or kids seat then the bags are just to stop others sitting in it Wink

which only happens when people disregard their seat numbers on the tickets

Original poster
DialsMavis · 01/04/2015 19:44

I can't see any reserved signs, it's national express, don't think I've ever seen the option to reserve seats or I would have taken it.

Arriving early not an option as we were a pick up along the route

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 01/04/2015 19:47

Ds just ignores bags and tries to plonk himself down, the bag is swiftly moved. I just ask them to move the bag. Ds has a far more effective way.

Original poster
DialsMavis · 01/04/2015 19:48

We are getting the train home.

OP posts:
TheCrowFromBelow · 01/04/2015 19:49

Surely it's just courtesy to move for a parent with a small child though? You know, a nice thing to do? You're not asking then to stand, just to sit next to someone else. I'd rather move than sit next to a 4 year old or a stressed parent who's separated from a 4 year old.

The coach is officially rude OP and you should get out the chocolate, sick bags and start singing wind the bobbin up, with actions

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/04/2015 19:51

trains are worse Wink

look out for the two people taking up the six seat sections Grin

better than having football hooligans badgering you for your booze though.

you've always got a seat if you have a suitcase to sit on Wink

Original poster
DialsMavis · 01/04/2015 19:51

That's what I though TheCrow. DD just sneezed & didn't quite get her hand over her mouth in time

OP posts:
Ineedacleaningfairy · 01/04/2015 19:55

I couldn't book seats when I traveled with national express (but maybe I couldn't find the booking section).

I will never travel by coach again. I hope your journey goes quickly op!

Lweji · 01/04/2015 19:56

I usually ask people to move the bag and stand there until they do.

Their bags don't pay a ticket and they will have to remove them when/if it fills up.

OhWotIsItThisTime · 01/04/2015 19:57

If I had a window seat and there wasn't another one, then I wouldn't move as I throw up otherwise. But I am in the minority, and someone should have moved for you.

ChoosandChipsandSealingWax · 01/04/2015 19:59

Get her to have a best Let It Go singing competition with you Smile

Latara · 01/04/2015 20:07

I would move because I wouldn't want to sit next to someone else's 4 year old... but then I don't like sitting next to adult strangers either on long journeys... I don't like coaches much anyway because I always get travel sick.

anyway YANBU.

VeronicaCaCa · 01/04/2015 20:08

My dc would be very upset at having to sit by strangers and they are slightly older than your dd.

YANBU.

TattyDevine · 01/04/2015 20:09

It doesn't sound like it really matters. They are not crying for you or anything. Just sit back and enjoy the journey. They'll probably "behave" better with a stranger next to them than if you were all sitting together. Who cares?

CrispyFern · 01/04/2015 20:15

Everyone else on the coach is unreasonable. Miserable fuckers.

lithewire · 01/04/2015 20:34

You can't book seats on a National Express coach, it's first come first served.

I prefer the window seat as I can get travelsick so I probably wouldn't offer to move if it was an adult couple wanting to sit together, but I'd still rather move to the aisle and feel dizzy than sit next to a stranger's 4 year old. Bit surprised nobody at all offered to move!

elderflowergin · 01/04/2015 20:39

Your dd is a credit to you, op. If it was either of mine, I would have been offered a seat swop in minutes. Dd1 is very chatty, esp to strangers who can't get away and dd2 would have been green after about 10 minutes on a coach Grin

TheRestofmylifeiswaiting · 01/04/2015 20:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pyjamasandwine · 01/04/2015 20:46

Fucking hell op if I saw a 4 year old approaching I would run to make room for you. Grin

petalunicorn · 01/04/2015 20:47

I would want to stay in a window seat, I could sleep there, but not in an aisle seat. I wouldn't move for a 4 year old when you can just sit across the aisle from her. I would move for a 2 year old or a baby though. OK, I might move for you but I'd have to be in the right kind of mood.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 01/04/2015 20:53

You couldn't sleep with a 4 year old chatting away next to you, petal.