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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Train seats more wwyd

73 replies

trainfirsttimer · 23/07/2017 09:34

I know I'm not BU as such, but in getting quite stressed and anxious over this
In my area when travelling on a train you don't pay until the child is 5. I plan on travelling with my children (under 5) but where do we all sit? I can't rely on a table not being reserved, there won't be room in those two together seats, I can't think of any other option
I'm genuinely getting stressed and down over this so please be kind

OP posts:
MrsPear · 23/07/2017 09:36

Well me and 2 boys can sit comfortably in 2 seats - even now they are 4 and 7. How many children have you got?

VeryButchyRestingFace · 23/07/2017 09:36

How many children?

Cinnamoncookie · 23/07/2017 09:37

If you go to your local station with a staffed ticket office, they can book stays for you separately to buying a ticket. So if you've already booked your own ticket online for a particular train, they should be able to book you 4 (or however many) seats together on that train.

You can only do this at a station, not online.

Cinnamoncookie · 23/07/2017 09:38

Seats, not stays!

RainbowPastel · 23/07/2017 09:38

I have done numerous train journeys with my two children on my lap. We don't go far though of only to the next city. We have also stood together by the doors at the end of the carriage on a two hour journey as we couldn't get seats together.

toriap2 · 23/07/2017 09:38

Why dont you buy a family and friwnds railcard if you use the train a lot. It means you can book seats so you could then choose a table if you needed to sit together. I think kids still go free on it, or pay a pound per kid. I know it makes my journeys easier. Hope this helps and you have a good journey

RhinestoneCowgirl · 23/07/2017 09:40

If you want to guarantee a seat, you will need to book a ticket for the DC. Now my DC are over 5yrs I have a family rail card which makes things cheaper.

However I never bothered booking tix for DC when under 5 myself, always travelled off peak time and never had problems finding seats for all three of us. People never seem keen to stick around when a toddler gets on! (although my DC have always behaved really well on trains)

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/07/2017 09:41

As others have said, use a family railcard. Even though you would be paying for seats for your children, it'd probably still be cheaper anyway.

MrsPear · 23/07/2017 09:41

You can't book seats on some lines - South west trains to Exeter looking at you - and I have once ended sitting the boys on a suitcase in the corridor.

Original poster
trainfirsttimer · 23/07/2017 09:41

3 children, I thought about the family & friends railcard but then I would still be paying for a 5 year old ticket would I not?
I've never done this before so please don't think I'm being entitled or anything, so many scenarios are going around in my head and if anything I'm scared to even do the journey

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 23/07/2017 09:41

And you can use the railcard for under 5s.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 23/07/2017 09:42

Yes, and even at 8 and 10 we can all squeeze into two seats if needed

CherieBabySpliffUp · 23/07/2017 09:42

Are you in the UK op?
If so you can get yourself a Friends and Family railcard for £30 for the year. You get 30% off the cost of your ticket and each dc gets 60% off the cost.
Or buy a child's ticket for each child and reserve a seat. Just because you don't have to buy a ticket for children under 5 doesn't mean you can't.

NannyR · 23/07/2017 09:43

I would second getting a family and friends railcard and buying a ticket for an under five. I've found that the combined price of adult and child ticket using the railcard works out cheaper than an adult ticket without and the child can get a seat reserved.

Witchend · 23/07/2017 09:43

You can choose to pay for under 5s and then reserve a seat. I used to do that regularly and never had a problem.

Witsender · 23/07/2017 09:44

As above. Either get a railcard, squeeze in or buy kids tickets.

Original poster
trainfirsttimer · 23/07/2017 09:45

How do you buy a ticket for an under 5? On the website it's either adult or over 5, I'm in UK yes
I have twins and a toddler so trying to keep an eye on them is going to be a nightmare isn't it? I don't think I'll bother actually

OP posts:
PlaymobilPirate · 23/07/2017 09:47

I bought a railcard and book a seat for my ds - have done since before he was 5. No way will you fit you and 3 kids into 1 seat (if it's a busy line you'll not get even 2 seats without booking them

NannyR · 23/07/2017 09:48

You just buy a child ticket, the over five option.

SarahJonesS · 23/07/2017 09:48

If I have a long journey with my 2 year old I buy her a kids ticket and reserve seats. She's great on train journey as long as she has a seat so it's worth paying for.

PlaymobilPirate · 23/07/2017 09:48

The friends and family railcard know is money off your seat so it kind of evans out when you add a child or 2. Just ignore the '5' bit on the website

Daisy03 · 23/07/2017 09:49

I use virgin east coast a lot where the seats are usually booked out, I have family railcard and used to book and pay for DC as a child over 5 even when they were younger so I could book decent seats

PlaymobilPirate · 23/07/2017 09:49

I've had people ask me to shift my d's onto my knee too. If I've bought and reserved a seat ticket for him I say no. I have no shame

SarahJonesS · 23/07/2017 09:51

Same here Play, but it's only happened once.

bigmouthstrikesagain · 23/07/2017 09:51

Book the number of seats you need and get a f&f railcard. I had 3 children aged 4 and under for nearly a year and family hundreds of miles away and I couldn't drive.I bought 3 or 4 tickets and booked seats where possible, and used them, baby was generally on my lap and other two on their own seats with books/ drawing stuff and toy. We Made regular 6 hour journeys by train, if i Had not bought tickets/ seats for us it would have been much more stressful!