Hogging seats on trains

[woollyheart]

Because of a family emergency, I've been on the train a lot this past week.

A lot of people hog extra seats by putting their bags on them, or by sitting on the aisle seat so people can't get to the window seat. I think this is fair enough if there are plenty of other seats available.

But when they try to continue hogging extra seats when there are loads of people standing, I think they are extremely rude.

Surely, if there are people standing, you move your bags so they can sit. If you are in an aisle seat, you either stand up and let them through to the window seat, or slide across and let them have the aisle seat.

If they have to ASK you to move, you should apologise and make space for them.

I've seen people having to be asked to move, and not even acknowledging the person asking, never mind apologising. Or making a huge huff and puff about the whole thing. As if the rest of us are unreasonable to want a seat for a 2 hour journey.

Am I missing something?

See it all the time on buses. People usually so engrossed in their phones (or conveniently pretending to be) that they don't see other people standing, inc. the very elderly person with a stick.

I just ask them (politely enough ) to move up, or move their bag. I couldn't give a stuff about the odd eye roll. They can hardly refuse - nobody ever has.

What amazes me is that so few people ever ask. So all too often they get away with it.
But yes, it's very bad manners/lack of consideration/me-me-me - or whatever you like to call it.

I sit in the aisle seat. Happy to move so you can get to the window seat. I do expect people to say something though. You'd constantly be up and down if you stood up every time someone walked nearby. If they want the aisle seat then it's tough.

Don't put my bags on the seat though. Well maybe if it's a really quiet train but not otherwise.

Yabu there is nothing wrong with sitting in aisle seats, just say 'please can I sit there' and the person will let you in. Bit like if you're at the theatre.

Jeez some people really are so special/ touchy!

I travel on trains regularly I've never seen anyone refuse to move a bag either just say 'can I sit there please'. I really don't get the angst around basic interactions with other travellers. If they don't move out of the way/ move bags they are unreasonable but other people have as much right to be on the train as you do.....!

Personally I prefer the aisle seat, no daft curtains knocking into your head (although this is probably specially a Chiltern Railways issue) and I'm better travel sickness wise in the middle.

Hwory - so only people who speak fluent English, and who don't have any mental or physical impairments that could stop them from asking deserve seats then?

Yeah used to get this all the time when I took public transport for years. Just ask them to move their crap. People like to try this on.

You'd constantly be up and down if you stood up every time someone walked nearby. If they want the aisle seat then it's tough.

Well exactly no one would be able to move down the carriage and there would be a new thread saying 'AIBU to find people standing up when I get on the train annoying' 😂😂

Never had a problem when asking people to move their bag

YANBU. I don’t even ask tbh I just say “move that”. Pig ignorant people don’t deserve to be spoken to politely

TBH - you sound as pig ignorant (or more?) than the people you're addressing

I often put my bag on the seat in an empty carriage because if no one's getting on, it's more comfortable.

And I immediately move it when the carriage starts filling up. I've never needed to be asked.

Hwory - so only people who speak fluent English, and who don't have any mental or physical impairments that could stop them from asking deserve seats then?

Well they could just indicate they wanted the seat by standing there and pointing at it .

I've had to put my bag on the seat next to me once on a busy train. I felt bad but I cannot lift my bag to put it overhead - I am short and not strong enough to do so.
It was quite a big bag and it could have fallen from the tiny overhead section.

Bags on seats, I just ask the inconciderate person to remove as I need the seat.No problem.
Feet on seats. I sit there seething too afraid to say anything in case I get a mouthful of abuse.
Girls putting their make up on, I don’t want to sit next to you blending your blusher, just get up earlier & do it at home.

i just ask,

Contrary to another poster, I find it's mainly women with bags on seats (not men)

If you can’t ask someone for a seat then you deserve to stand sorry

Nonsense, take up one seat, that's all you've paid for. And if for any reason you prefer an aisle seat, simply stand up when someone comes to sit down so they can get to the window seat. No-one should have to ask ignorant people to make a seat available that they havent paid for.

Good for you? Do you often assume things you’ve not personally witnessed don’t exist?

LOL why don't you read my whole post where I clearly say if someone did this then they are unreasonable

I don’t put my bag on the seat no.

If the trains full and there’s someone stood next to me I’ll offer but I’m not leaning over or hollering down the carriage to someone standing next to the doors.

If someone refuses to move after being asked then that’s another story.

But if you don’t wanna ask someone then I don’t know what to tell you 🤷‍♀️

cant say i have noticed huffing and puffing. i dont care about asking, perhaps they huff and puff but i am oblivious, the aisle seat hogger also annoying.

Just ask them to move bag, simple, why is it a problem?

If you can’t ask someone for a seat then you deserve to stand sorry

This is the kind of rubbish spouted by dickheads who think that being a selfish twat with a brass neck somehow entitles them to more than everyone else. You can take up the one seat that you paid for and nothing more. It's not everyone else's responsibility to remind you not to be a twat.

I've had to put my bag on the seat next to me once on a busy train. I felt bad but I cannot lift my bag to put it overhead - I am short and not strong enough to do so.
It was quite a big bag and it could have fallen from the tiny overhead section.

You didn't have to surely? You could have put the bag on the floor or put the bag on the seat and stood up yourself. You can't take up two seats!

Irritating too when you’ve booked a seat ahead, someone is sitting in it and is difficult about moving because the seat opposite is empty. I can’t travel backwards, makes me feel very sick. it’s annoying and I’ve no idea why because I’m not usually a delicate 🌼 embarrassing having to explain it to people which is why I always book forward facing. Most people do move when you explain but I have had to resort to “well ok, do stay there but I may vomit on you”. If someone asks if you’d vacate their reserved seat, please be understanding, they probably aren’t just being awkward.

If they don't move out of the way/ move bags they are unreasonable but other people have as much right to be on the train as you do.....!

Yes they do, but their bags don’t have a right to their own special seat on a busy commuter train.

Seriously, 3 times this week I’ve had to get people to move their stuff out of a priority seat so I could sit down. One of them actually blocked the aisle for anyone else getting past her while she carefully arranged her bags on the window seat, took off her coat and folded it next to bags, flipped down window-seat table and put her phone and coffee down on it, then settled herself comfortably in the aisle priority seat. Then had to do the whole thing in reverse with much huffing and puffing once I got her attention m. It’s just rude. You’re not entitled to as many seats as you can spread your stuff over.

Oh for fucks sake.

If someone came up to me and wasn’t able to speak English or had some sort of mental disability that could mean that they were able to be out alone but not able to talk or point at a seat then yes I would stand up.

What I mean is if you make no effort to notify me that you would like to sit down then want to complain about it later then I have no sympathy.

I’m not putting myself at risk again for your convenience or some unwritten rule of the railway.