Splitsavers always taking my reserved seat!!

[Chatandtea]

Is it just me but seems majority of time I get on a train, a person with a split saver ticket has taken my seat not realising that their ticket has only reserved a seat for 1 leg of their journey. Frustrated that people don’t check their reservations more thoroughly but also that the trains companies/sellers are allowing this confusion to roll on and on. Often spoils journey trying to sort the issue out

See I think it's perfectly reasonable to stay until someone turns up with a reservation for the seat, though I would be aware and would move straight away.

My son bought one of these and I had to remind him to be aware that someone may have his booked seat booked for the latter part of the journey. Luckily they didn’t but he would have got up and moved.

To add, I see nothing wrong in sitting in an empty booked seat until the passenger arrives as often they don’t even turn up. As long as you vacate for the reserved passenger then it’s not CF.

I have to disagree, unless it looks unlikely the person will not be turning up e.g screen says booked London to York but the train left London 10 minutes ago. It makes a lot of people feel very awkward having to confront someone and why should they have to when they’ve made the effort to ensure they’ve booked themselves a seat

But really you "feeling awkward" is kind of your issue. It really shouldn't be beyond any NT adult to politely say "excuse me this is my seat'. If the response is hostile or aggressive then absolutely just step back and go find the conductor, or a free seat but I can see why a person with a split ticket might stay put in the first instance, given how many no shows there are. Obviously they should be paying attention and ready to move if needed but it should "ruin your journey" to have to speak up briefly.

This is about what you're making the confrontation mean. Polite conversation smiles, and patiently waiting, what, 90 seconds for them to get their stuff together? Not a hardship unless you make it one.

How is expecting someone not to jump into my seat before it’s even left the station it’s clearly marked as being reserved from ‘my issue’ it’s just rudeness!

But as you've pointed out, they haven't done this deliberately- they've misread or misunderstood their reservation.

I despair that so many adults appear incapable of basic polite interaction.

Absolutely agree. Also the OP has chosen the word 'confront' but why not think of it as 'approach'? I am autistic and feel anxious in these situations but that's a me problem. It's really not a big deal for most people.

Usually takes a good 10-15 minutes to sort out with the split savers as they appear to genuinely believe it’s their seat

Really? I think you’ll find it is, maybe not as difficult as it is for you but still feels very awkward

You feeling like it's "ruined your journey" is your issue is what I meant. As pp have said, it's basic adult interaction to point out someone has jumped the queue, or is too loud out in their garden at 1am or is in the wrong seat or whatever. It shouldn't be a huge deal.

It makes a lot of people feel very awkward having to confront someone

Why is it awkward? It’s a normal everyday interaction. It isn’t confrontation or conflict or anything else to let someone know they are in your booked seat. Honestly if it’s happening as much as you say it’s happening you should be used to having this conversation by now.

My point is that this appears to be a perpetual mistake, shouldn’t either the booking process be making this clearer or people be taking more notice?

I agree. It’s amazing how many reserved seats never get claimed.

It actually puts me off train travel to know high chance of that potential awkwardness. If the booking process made it clearer and the other proportion of people who are aware they are sitting in someone else’s reserved seat weren’t so rude then it would make things so much more pleasant

Re it being made clearer, it is on the booking for people to see. I think having the app beep at you etc is unnecessary and intrusive. Phones monitor our behaviour and whereabouts too much as it is.

It actually puts me off train travel to know high chance of that potential awkwardness.

You do know it’s not compulsory to reserve a seat?

No just for it to flash up as you are confirming the booking that you have separate seat reservations for the different legs of the journey

@Chatandtea Then I guess the only option for you is to find a different mode of transportation. The world is not going to change so you can avoid self inflicted awkwardness.

Personally I would chalk this up to something I cannot change and adapt, but you do you 🤷‍♀️

Yes I know, but if you have reserved a seat surely it should be available for you to sit in with having to ask someone to move

It’s perfectly normal and sensible to sit in a seat that’s reserved further down the line when the train’s busy- loads of the time the person who made the reservation doesn’t show anyway. Are you suggesting that on a busy train people should stand rather than sit in a seat which is currently empty and may well be for the whole journey?

It wouldn't ruin my journey. If it does for you then I'd look into treatment for your anxiety.

Well we’ll have to agree to disagree that sitting in someone else’s reserved seat (unless has left the station it was reserved from some time ago) is rude and selfish. I would think so if people I knew were doing it and certainly be more likely to travel with a company who avoided this situation. Sorry I’m not going to ‘adapt’ to thinking being rude and selfish is acceptable, parking on other peoples drives or whatever else is ok

To be fair, everyone knows it isn't always that simple. Plenty of people refuse to move, even if they know it's not their booked seat. Happens all the time ... just look at the threads on here about it!