Saving seats in train

[managedmis]

Every morning a woman on my train saves her mate a seat. Every morning the train is rammed and loads of people ask her to move her bag but she refuses and saves she saving it for her pal, who eventually shows up. People end up standing, the seat free, then pal arrives. I've seen a couple of people ignore her, move the bag and plump down in the seat, the entire train almost cheered.

What's the protocol here?

If there are only singles left, that's the point at which the carriage is half full or greater (assuming a second class carriage that only has double seats) so I would expect bags to be off seats by then.

That would be my understanding too Likethebattle & ScreamingValenta.

If they haven't paid for a reserved seat, then it's not reserved. This is not primary school.

She moves the bag or you sit on it. It's her choice.

I"d tell the woman who gets on late, that you'll be taking her seat from tomorrow, as you pay more and travel further. Tell her you'll be happy to sit on the inside, so her bagsaver friend can sit on the aisle and talk to her. Suggest bagsaver gives up her own seat for her friend, not your seat.

Cheeky Fuckery like this boils my piss!!

I do hope you find a brilliantly creative way to deal with the ballsy cow, OP!

@ Winesalot : Just like those whose sit on the aisle seat beside an empty window seat on the bus.
I always sit in the aisle side seat. I’m happy to let people in to the window seat though.
I just don’t like being trapped against the window - due to being trapped and assaulted that way many years ago by a man who decided it was OK because, apparently I “would enjoy it and no one could see”.

^^
I’m like Riv. I’m claustrophobic and can’t stand to be trapped in by the window. However I don’t put a bag on the seat so it’s clear I’m not taking up the window one
And will happily standup and let people into the window seat as soon as they indicate they’d like to sit there (and let them out again at their stop of course!)

I’m sorry if it’s a bit inconvenient to have to go past me but claustrophobia is a real reason and I’ll panic if I can’t sit by the aisle (it’s difficult for me to stand as I have back problems). You can’t tell this by looking at me though so please don’t judge “aisle sitters” as you don’t know what their reason is.

I haven’t been assaulted I should say but have had some traumatic experiences with being trapped in places.

Fair enough Riv & blackteasplease. Though by the sounds of it, neither of you are sitting there with bag on seat ignoring people just in case they ask to sit in the seat to be fair.

Tell her unless she’s paid to reserve a seat between a certain route then she’s absolutely no rights doing it!
Public transport is a free for all as it is.
If her friend wants a seat that bad she can give up the one she was sat in? That would be my reply!

When I used to commute by train, people who were meeting their friends on a peak/packed train like this would either wait for them at the doors/vestibule area (and not sit at all) or friend 1 would sit in a vacant seat and friend 2 would stand next to their friend after they got on, as there would be 0 chance of a seat after the first stop!