Yesterday DH and I went on a steam railway trip. Tickets from the DSs for Father's Day. They'd pushed the boat out and bought first class tickets, £20 each more than the regular tickets. The first class coach was full when the train set off, except for two seats. After about 10 minutes a couple came and took those seats and paid for the upgrade. They said it was crowded and uncomfortable in the other part. It was very hot.
There was a stop at a half way station and I went onto the platform to try and cool down a bit. An elderly man and his wife asked me if we were in first class and I said we were. He asked if there were any spare seats and I told him it was full.
We arrived at the destination and wandered about the town for an hour before taking our seats for the return. There were some different people there, including the elderly couple. You can book a return on a later train if you want to spend more time in the town. Then the couple who paid for the upgrade got on and the elderly couple were in their seats. They pointed this out and the man said it was too hot and uncomfortable for them in the other part and they would have to sit there. The couple pointed out that they'd paid extra for those seats and they wanted them. The elderly man didn't offer to pay the extra just said he was sorry but they would have to sit there. Awkward.
The ticket man got on at that point and the paying couple explained what was going on. He told the elderly couple they would have to vacate the seats but if they were prepared to pay the extra £40 he would find them first class seats on a later train. They got off and I'm not sure if they agreed to pay.
DH said that if they'd been in our seats he'd have probably let them have them but I don't think I would. It was very hot and I felt sick anyway and at least there was more room in the carriage we were in.
MN jury - who was unreasonable?