Aibu to be pissed off with passive aggressive seat hogger?

[Tigerpaws57]

Booked my long distance train seat way in advance to ensure i got the seat i wanted.. forward facing window seat with a table as I like it. Really looking forward to an enjoyable journey. Get on train to discover other three seats are occupied by a mum with two kids aged about 8 and 10, table covered in colouring books/snacks/drinks/i-pads etc. My booked seat is occupied by smiling granny who says "I know this is your seat dear but obviously i would like to travel with my family so I am sure you won't mind swapping with my booked seat would you dear?" No choice really was there? Impose myself on disgruntled family or take her seat? So I had a miserable, long, uncomfortable journey in back facing (nausea-inducing) aisle seat with no view

I'd have said no under the circumstances.

Special occasion Paris trip, we had book first class Eurostar seats with meal and champagne. Got to our seats to find them taken by two young children. Politely asked them to move. Parents tried to negotiate for their children to keep the seats. I was not going to stand on a first class ticket and refused. Made to feel mean.
Parents of three young children with a granny as well. Their children were travelling free but had to sit on the adults lap. These parents made the journey intolerable for everyone around them. They complained loudly when their children who travelled free did not get a meal, they complained that we sat in our paid for and reserved seats instead of letting their kids sit in them.
Staff found them meals for their children and found them seats but they continued to complain about everything.
It put me off travelling first class. There often seems to be an argument over being allowed to sit in your reserved seat.
Some parents are unbelievably entitled.

Oh, and make sure you put a book and a coffee-cup on your part of the table.

I hate this, it's so entitled. Why couldn't they sit around Granny's booked seat?

I once booked (and paid for) a seat on a busy commuter train, only to find someone sitting in it. I insisted on sitting there, while he ranted and raved at me for over 10 minutes. I enjoyed the remaining hour and a half though, while he had to stand.

I'd have swapped to another forward facing one but no way would I have swapped for a backwards facing one.

Why didn't you just say "oooooh sorry love I really do need to it in my booked seat so I need you to move. sure you understand. Thanks"

YABU

The reason people get away with this shit is people have no backbone.

Of course you had a choice - you simply say "I've booked this seat for a reason so would like to sit in it, thanks".

Let them seethe for the journey - wouldn't bother me a jot

Ugh, people. I had this recently on a plane. Got on and there was a man in my aisle seat. He tried to get out to let me into the middle seat, to sit BETWEEN him and his wife!!! Shut that the fuck down, let me tell you.

Why didnt you just say no. Your ticket is incalid unlessyou sit in it. Once was on a train where everyone was forced to move to their correct seat by the ticket man

(He then tried to climb over me when we had landed but the doors weren't open yet and the aisle was full of people standing with nowhere to go. I hate people.)

Eerggh. I hate travelling backwards too.

Entitled people become & stay that way because people allow it.

I'd have been all "Unlucky sucker, shift it grandma" (Not really) but I wouldnt have given up my pre-booked seat. I'd have politely be firmly said no and waited until they moved.

Im not as polite with wide legged men, people who put their bags on seats and cyclist who insist on standing with their bikes in the gang way.

Really annoying! Buy I never book a table seat now as you don't know who else will be facing. I once sat opposite a young couple who snogged the faces of each other for the entire journey. I didn't know where to look (at my book obviously but I had to lift my head up occasionally and there they were!)

No choice really was there?

There was, you paid for your seat and had every right to be there. The conductor on the train would have asked her to move too - if you want to sit with your family book sears together well enough in advance, or sit in the unreserved carriage.

She was cheeky, rude and entitled but you allowed her to act like that. If the journey bothered you to the point you’re complaining online and felt nauseous, it wasn’t worth giving in vs a sulky random grandma. Next time just say no sorry, I booked this seat, you have a seat, ta-ra. Or get the conductor who may find you a suitable seat or a free first class upgrade if she insists.

Exactly HerotherHalf - the fact she had a booked seat elsewhere indicates she wasn't traveling with the family when they originally booked and invited herself along, then invited herself to take your seat.. Did the mother look embarrassed and glare at her pushy cheeky fucker parent Tiger ?

If granny could have found me another forward facing table seat, then fair enough...

I recently got on a train & there was a jacket & bag on a window seat, so I sat on the aisle seat.

Woman came back & said "that's my seat".

I didn't mind swapping, but don't you usually leave stuff on the seat that you're using?

Oh and another time a couple sat opposite each other at the table and he massaged her bare feet the whole time. I was a bit jealous of that one-considered sticking my own feet up for a go 😂

If Granny did really phrase it in that tone (like it was a done deal) damn right I'd have made her move and sat in my booked seat. If however I got to my seat and she explained the situation and asked politely if I'd mind swapping in a way that made it clear she'd understand if not, I'd have been kind and done it. But no, if she was cheeky enough to presume that my seat was now hers I'd have kicked her out in a heartbeat and studiously ignored the family with my earphones in.

Oh and another time a couple sat opposite each other at the table and he massaged her bare feet the whole time. I was a bit jealous of that one-considered sticking my own feet up for a go 😂

Oh and another time a couple sat opposite each other at the table and he massaged her bare feet the whole time. I was a bit jealous of that one-considered sticking my own feet up for a go 😂

Oh and another time a couple sat opposite each other at the table and he massaged her bare feet the whole time. I was a bit jealous of that one-considered sticking my own feet up for a go 😂

That posted 4 times! Sorry!

I would probably have just taken the other seat so I didn't have to sit near the kids. I'm not one of those kid-haters but given the preference, I'd rather have the peace and quiet on a long journey, presuming I didn't actually want the table seat.

BUT. I don't get travel sick. If I did, I would not have backed down on this. I would have argued the toss with her and got the train manager at the slightest hint of her refusing to move, on the grounds that every time I've had this argument before*, the train manager has eventually got bored and moved me into 1st Class. And I like it in First, if the attendants are on your side in a seat dispute they give you free stuff anyway, at least on Virgin.

*Note: usually with aggressive suit blokes that want the table seat because their work is more important than my work, apparently.

Obviously yanbu but I don't understand why any lone or couple travellers would book a table seat. Your legs intermingle with the person opposite and you have to actively avoid eye contact.

And your quarter of table isn't enough.

I always laugh (inwardly) at awkward foursomes sitting uncomfortably at their table seats while loads of airline seats sit empty.

I don't understand why any lone or couple travellers would book a table seat

Space to work and a plug point

Granny or no Granny I’d have taken my seat.

Jacques 2 x posts. Agree.

I find I am very pleasant and steely in such situations .