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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Train conundrum. WIBU?

43 replies

Darknessinthevalley · 22/04/2018 15:09

I'm on a train that has had issues, so anyone is welcome in first class. I actually had a first class ticket, so I'm in my reserved seat at a table of four.
I'm at the window seat, forward facing. Theres an older man in the backwards facing aisle seat, which he chose. He's very pleasant by all accounts, made some pleasant small talk with him.
A couple, not booked in first class, came and sat with us. The young man asked the older man to move to the window, which he refused to do, as he liked the aisle seat.
The younger woman then asked me to move to the aisle, which I said I did not want to do. She threw herself down next to me and huffed at how smug we were.
I can't work out if I should've moved, they've now stopped off to sit on the floor because at least they'll be together.

OP posts:
ZeroFoxGiven · 22/04/2018 15:10

I think the old man should have moved next to you. That way he would still get the aisle seat and th couple could sit next to each other.

TidyDancer · 22/04/2018 15:11

You didn't need to move but I probably would've done to make life easier for them (unless they were rude from the start).

Original poster
Darknessinthevalley · 22/04/2018 15:12

They asked that, but he specifically wanted to go backwards and I get sick if I don't go forwards.

OP posts:
JobHunting4 · 22/04/2018 15:13

I think no one is obliged to move. If they choose the floor so be it. Not anyone else's fault

QuiteCleanBandit · 22/04/2018 15:13

Why do people get on a train and expect everyone to move for them ?Confused

Ohdearyme2018 · 22/04/2018 15:13

They are silly and immature, ignore them

MouseholeCat · 22/04/2018 15:14

It wasn't unreasonable of her to ask, but you were both perfectly within your rights to stay put. It's their prerogative to sit on the floor, as weird as it seems to do that just to be together.

Lockheart · 22/04/2018 15:15

YWNBU - if the train has had issues and first class is declassified then if it had been me I’d have just been grateful to have a seat! Often on crowded trains you have to split up from your party - it’s no big deal.

TheEmmaDilemma · 22/04/2018 15:15

Will they implode if they aren't sat that close? I highly doubt it. They need to suck it up.

53rdWay · 22/04/2018 15:15

they've now stopped off to sit on the floor because at least they'll be together

Grin young love.

No, you shouldn't have moved unless you were already happy to do so. Am sure they'd have coped with the deep emotional anguish of sitting diagonally across from each other for a train journey.

PurpleDaisies · 22/04/2018 15:16

Wouldn’t they still have been on the same table if they’d sat in the empty seats? It’s not exactly a long way apart.

You didn’t do anything wrong.

AlmostAJillSandwich · 22/04/2018 15:17

Had the man also paid for a first class ticket and was feeling put out that people who hadn't could now be in the first class carriage for free, meaning he basically wasted money?

Maybe he gets motion sick forward facing, and might need the loo multiple times being older hence wanting a backward facing aisle seat. You already stated why you wanted forward facing, and understandable you wanted the view out the window too.

People already sitting shouldn't have to move if they have a specific preference for the seat theyre on, and come on, at a train table, how much difference would it really have made for them to sit diagonal from eachother rather than face to face or side by side.

Procrastination4 · 22/04/2018 15:17

For goodness sake! They’re adults! It’s not going to harm them to be sitting diagonally from each other for the duration of a train journey. You are NOT being unreasonable, the elderly gentleman is NOT being unreasonable but the couple is, in trying to guilt trip either of you into changing your seats. Put them out of your mind.

Original poster
Darknessinthevalley · 22/04/2018 15:18

They were just so angry about it! They were almost certainly older than me though!

OP posts:
steff13 · 22/04/2018 15:18

They would have been seated diagonally across from one another, how close do the need to be? They're weird, just leave them to it.

Original poster
Darknessinthevalley · 22/04/2018 15:19

We're getting a partial refund for the declassification of first class to be fair

OP posts:
DuchyDuke · 22/04/2018 15:25

They asked, you said no, so they sat on the floor. Nothing you did or didn’t do was wrong.

Ellendegeneres · 22/04/2018 15:27

I had this on a train only the person wanted me to remove my ds (whose seat I had paid for) and send him halfway up the carriage so the pair of pals could sit together. Neither could work out what was wrong asking a 4yr old to sit far away from Mum and baby brother. Pair of arseholes.

Saucery · 22/04/2018 15:27

There were two seats available, you weren’t blocking them, so no, YWNBU.

Pengggwn · 22/04/2018 15:31

If a seat is occupied, you sit in another one. You can ask someone if they wouldn't mind moving, but you have no right to be annoyed if they would prefer the seat they chose.

Pringlecat · 22/04/2018 15:34

So they would have been sitting diagonally? I would have probably agreed to shuffle along one so they could sit across from each other, but I wouldn't switch direction because like you, I don't travel well when facing backwards.

They were U for throwing a strop. Not U to ask, but U to strop when knocked back.

I am mildly surprised that the man didn't agree to swap to next to you, though. That way he would still have had an aisle seat (possibly so he could get up to go to the toilet?) and would have been facing forward. I don't know anyone who actually prefers facing backwards!

Boysnme · 22/04/2018 15:38

I would have been reluctant to move for them if it hadn’t suited me and then even more determined not to when they got angry

PompholyxOfUnknownOrigin · 22/04/2018 15:42

They were being ridiculous and immature. You did nothing wrong and neither did the older man.

ferntwist · 22/04/2018 15:51

YANBU. They were being really cheeky to ask you to move. Well done for not giving in to them.

ArcheryAnnie · 22/04/2018 15:52

They were being reasonable to ask.

You and the older man were equally reasonable in saying no, these were the seats you wanted.

They were unreasonable for getting the hump about it. They won't combust if made to sit very, very slightly apart.

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