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Original poster

Cinema seats - what’s the etiquette?

63 replies

Pawpatrol21 · 01/08/2021 20:26

Really embarrassed to say I don’t know the answer to this but when I was younger and going cinema in my town everyone would sit where they wanted and didn’t look at seat numbers.

When I go with husband people do tend to sit where the seat says so what is the actual cinema etiquette? Do you sit where the number on ticket says or sit anywhere? If anyone in your seat do you tell them to move?

I assume you sit where the seat indicates as you choose the seats nowadays whereas before they would just allocate.

OP posts:
SmidgenofaPigeon · 01/08/2021 21:29

I sit in my seat but I move just as the lights go down if people then sit too close and are likely to be annoying. I like to be well away from anyone if it’s possible.

toocold54 · 01/08/2021 21:29

If it’s busy I would just say ‘sorry I think you could be in our seats’ and show them the tickets. Chances are they are on the wrong row.
If it’s quiet you could sit in empty seats.

I pre-book my seats as I want specific ones and there are some CF who book late and want them so try it on. Very often it’s a simple mistake and they’ll be happy to move.
If you don’t want to say anything or they appear aggressive you could always ask a worker to show you where the seats are as it looks like people are in your seat - act like you don’t realise they’ve sat in your seats.

Leftbutcameback · 01/08/2021 21:31

If people get it wrong it's usually a genuine mistake and they move pretty quickly. The one time we had a problem it was because we were a day early for our showing! Hope you have a lovely time (just back from seeing Another Round at our new independent cinema that opened this weekend)

Neondisco · 01/08/2021 21:35

we have unlimited cinema passes so go quite often. I think the difference is when I was a kid and a teen designated seats weren't a thing. Not where I lived anyway. So people weren't ignoring any thing, that was just how it worked, you sat where you wanted.

Now it is expected you will sit in your designated seat. It's really annoying and disruptive when people don't. Especially with social distancing.

Hissysnake · 01/08/2021 21:35

The gaps between people was NOT in place when we went to the cinema today. Really pissed off because the cinema was really quiet and this couple ended up sat right flipping next to DH and I. No one else came in so I moved.

I'm not bothered about covid, I just don't like sitting next to random strangers.

Neondisco · 01/08/2021 21:37

@Pawpatrol21

That’s a relief so I have a right to ask people to move if they in my seat? What if they refuse what do you do then? Sorry I have terrible anxiety snd like to be prepared!
If you don't want to ask somone to move or they get rude find a member of staff. Like you would on a train or plane or at the theatre.

Also op it's gone to ask people about stuff you have anxiety about. Hope people sharing their experiences helps. You're not wrong to ask someone to move. It's embarrassing for them not you!

Frazzled2207 · 01/08/2021 21:43

@Pawpatrol21

That’s a relief so I have a right to ask people to move if they in my seat? What if they refuse what do you do then? Sorry I have terrible anxiety snd like to be prepared!
you're over thinking. People sit where they're told. Very unlikely you will have to ask people to move, though it's possible others will have made an innocent mistake and will have to be asked to budge up a seat or two, which is always fine. Never had any trouble. Always sat where I'm told except possibly occasionally when it's been very quiet and I may have moved.

For busy screenings, if people didn't sit where their tickets said it would be chaos! See also a full plane.

melj1213 · 01/08/2021 21:45

Now it is definitely a case of "you have booked G1-4 so you sit in seats G1-4" and if you choose to sit in M8-12 then when the people who have booked those seats show up you have to move.

When I was a kid cinemas didn't have assigned seating - if they had 250 seats, they sold 250 tickets and you could sit anywhere - which is why you always wanted to get there early to get the best seats, and why there would always be last minute shuffles in full houses when two people showed up last minute but the only two seats were at either end of a row and everyone had to move up/down a seat or two

DrMadelineMaxwell · 01/08/2021 21:47

No gaps in Vue yesterday when I took DD either.

I once watched a woman and her 3 kids move seats 4 times before the film started properly because she didn't like the seats she'd had to book right at the front that were all that were left when she'd booked so she'd gone in early and sat in our seats.

She moved....to someone else's booked seats. Etc. Etc.

Such a fuss.

MyShoelaceIsUndone · 01/08/2021 22:00

Used to be able to sit wherever, past few years it’s been allocated seats.

Dreamstate · 01/08/2021 22:06

Sounds like they remove social distancing in cinemas

HughGrantsHair · 01/08/2021 22:09

I always book online so I get to pick my favourite seats, so I would ask someone to move (politely of course)

OnTheBoardwalk · 01/08/2021 22:14

Last time I went to the cinema was Beauty and the Beast opening week. We’d booked premium seating and someone in our seats. We asked them to move, they just moved further down the row

Of course the people allocated these seats turned up and the moved again repeat repeat.

It was getting close to film starting and the were causing chaos. I went out to speak to member of staff who came in and turfed them out for not having tickets

Double check your tickets and if they don’t move speak to a member of staff

ScottishNewbie · 01/08/2021 22:17

Everyone I know pre-books their seats. I have and would ask someone to move out of mine. I think it's a bit rude tbh.
Pre booking ensures you get good seats, if you don't pre book, sit where you have been told

NothingIsWrong · 01/08/2021 22:18

Ah, the time I went to the cinema and they'd accidentally sold every seat twice. Was utter carnage. Not even a case of first in the seat gets it as group sizes didn't match up. Film was half an hour late starting and there was a lot of frustrated definitely-not-shouting-in-very-British-fashion going on. It was almost completely sold out twice so the poor manager...

Sillysuzie · 01/08/2021 22:27

If someone sat in my seat any refused to move I would sit on their knee.
Not what you asked but I quite like confrontation 😂

lazylump72 · 01/08/2021 22:34

Can we have a thread too about the ettiquette of people who cannot seem to grasp how to pee or feed themselves etc before the film has begun..these damn insufferable fools who shift everyone once everyone is seated comfortably cos they are utter knobs??? asking for a friend!!!!

Walkingtheplank · 01/08/2021 22:35

We have a cinema near us where almost everytime we've been, someone has been sat in our seats. If I ask them to move they won't, if my husband asks them they, they will.

I had a friend (now no longer with us Sad) who would call the management who wouldnt ask people to move but we'd get free tickets for next time.

I dont go to that cinema anymore as almost every visit started with a confrontation. OP, sit in the seats you've booked.

wordsareveryunnecessary · 01/08/2021 22:35

I book in advance. Just before the film starts, if someone sits near me then I move

PumpkinKlNG · 01/08/2021 22:41

My kids were sat in the wrong seats when their father took them to the cinema, he had left them to go to the toilet and someone came and asked them to move so yes people do ask

PumpkinKlNG · 01/08/2021 22:41

Btw they didn’t know it was the wrong seats

Lulola · 01/08/2021 22:58

If you get there in plenty of time you can sit in your seats before anyone else has the opportunity to so you won’t need to ask them to move. And if you don’t want people sat too close eat popcorn really loudly until they move 🤭

WhatAShilohPitt · 01/08/2021 23:02

Yes OP, if you book online or at a box office desk it will either show you that you can select your seats or it will be a ‘turn up and sit wherever’ kind of cinema. If you do reserve seats and you turn up and someone is in them, you can ask them to move or if you are very anxious about doing so then you can go back out and ask a steward to. If you arrive nice and early you’ll reduce the worry of anyone already being in your seat. Often there are 20-30 mins of trailers.

PigletJohn · 01/08/2021 23:19

Correct seats, like a theatre, assuming the seats are numbered.

Delinquent sitters are moved on.

I have been a theatre manager in a local community theatre.

AdobeWanKenobi · 01/08/2021 23:23

@lazylump72

Can we have a thread too about the ettiquette of people who cannot seem to grasp how to pee or feed themselves etc before the film has begun..these damn insufferable fools who shift everyone once everyone is seated comfortably cos they are utter knobs??? asking for a friend!!!!
What’s the etiquette for those with weak bladders and disabilities who can pee before the movie but then often have to go again before the end? Asking for a friend.