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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask who was right in this situation... Couple refused to move for a 'mum' and her 3 children on the train. (When the mum had reserved the seats.)

194 replies

FreshWinterMorning · 09/12/2023 15:24

Just that really. Whose side are you on here?

I won't say much yet as I don't want to skew the poll results.

So pick YABU if you think the mum is in the wrong.

And pick YANBU if you think the couple is in the wrong.

Thank you for participating. Smile

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7602911/Furious-mother-three-slams-elderly-couple-refusing-seats-reserved.html?ito=social-facebook&fbclid=IwAR0C3fJhfMxidfTyOfm8wJ2C7v7st2ZgeCZi3aDr8YlabYhoaoMWM_lI_Ik

Mother-of-three slams elderly couple for refusing to move from seats

Amanda Mancino-Williams claimed the couple refused to move after she advised them that she had pre-booked seats on the packed train from Cheltenham to Nottingham.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7602911/Furious-mother-three-slams-elderly-couple-refusing-seats-reserved.html?fbclid=IwAR0C3fJhfMxidfTyOfm8wJ2C7v7st2ZgeCZi3aDr8YlabYhoaoMWM_lI_Ik&ito=social-facebook

OP posts:
tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:26

It’s disappointing for her but old age and potential disability always trumps parent with kids, even with a reservation. The man looks pretty old and if you’re not mobile you have to place your safety above others comfort. I voted YABU.

MarilynBoo · 09/12/2023 15:27

The article was from 2019 but has been reshared by the Daily Mail on Facebook as I saw it earlier. But for what it's worth, I'm on the mum's side. She paid to reserve those seats. The older couple sounded very entitled and unapologetic. If they couldn't find seats then they should have asked the conductor for help rather than take seats reserved for others.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 09/12/2023 15:27

Couple is in the wrong.

I assume everyone’s gotten over it since it happened in 2019 though…….

Jeffsmeffsmiff · 09/12/2023 15:28

Obviously the couple are in the wrong. Twats

cairnterriorist · 09/12/2023 15:28

I'm not clicking a daily mail link. Would you mind summarizing?

LlynTegid · 09/12/2023 15:28

The person in the wrong was the one who went to The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts.

theduchessofspork · 09/12/2023 15:28

Well they were rude but they were found seats, so..

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 09/12/2023 15:29

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:26

It’s disappointing for her but old age and potential disability always trumps parent with kids, even with a reservation. The man looks pretty old and if you’re not mobile you have to place your safety above others comfort. I voted YABU.

Edited

Reservations trump no reservations every time.

Cotswoldmama · 09/12/2023 15:30

I'm on the mums side but I wouldnt post photos etc all over the internet. I'd just be angry and tell them that. If they are capable of booking tickets then they are capable of reserving seats.

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:30

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 09/12/2023 15:29

Reservations trump no reservations every time.

Show quote history

Not really because the conductor moved the mum and kids, not the elderly.

And the mum and kids got to be in First Class, which I’m happy for, as they do deserve recompense and a refund.

sleepyscientist · 09/12/2023 15:30

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:26

It’s disappointing for her but old age and potential disability always trumps parent with kids, even with a reservation. The man looks pretty old and if you’re not mobile you have to place your safety above others comfort. I voted YABU.

Edited

Kids over old people any day. I'm happy to stand but always book seats with DS as he is A)likely to wander b) the perfect height to get his head bashed off the side of a seat etc if the train breaks hard.

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 09/12/2023 15:31

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:30

Not really because the conductor moved the mum and kids, not the elderly.

And the mum and kids got to be in First Class, which I’m happy for, as they do deserve recompense and a refund.

Edited
Show quote history

Well then the conductor didn't do their job properly.

Megifer · 09/12/2023 15:31

Couple in the wrong, obviously. I'd have set my kids up with endless annoying shite on YouTube to listen to with the speaker on just loud enough to be a constant mild annoyance to just them, and got them to stretch their legs out while eating cheese and onion crisps.

Discospacecherry · 09/12/2023 15:31

The couple are in the wrong. But so is the mum for going to that rag of paper over a none story.

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:32

Perhapsanorhertimewouldbebetter · 09/12/2023 15:31

Well then the conductor didn't do their job properly.

Show quote history

S/he’s had the job training, not you, so s/he can judge best.

catotangent · 09/12/2023 15:32

The couple were rude, entitled tw*ts.

ButterCupPie · 09/12/2023 15:32

@MarilynBoo

She paid to reserve those seats.

Train seat reservation is free in the UK, isn't it?

enchantedsquirrelwood · 09/12/2023 15:33

The couple was in the wrong.

If you have a disability or are old or just want to make sure you can sit down, you book a seat.

If your train is cancelled, you then explain the situation to the guard on the train you manage to get on and ask them to find you a seat. In extremis they can (and should in my view) let you sit in first class. But you don't hog reserved seats.

tachycardigan · 09/12/2023 15:33

sleepyscientist · 09/12/2023 15:30

Kids over old people any day. I'm happy to stand but always book seats with DS as he is A)likely to wander b) the perfect height to get his head bashed off the side of a seat etc if the train breaks hard.

Show quote history

It’s about safety, and I think the elderly couple were right to prioritise their own safety. The kids look ok and they got moved to First Class.

GreyCarpet · 09/12/2023 15:33

She reserved the seats. They're hers to use.

It's irrelevant how old they are, they could have reserved seats too. It's free.

RedHelenB · 09/12/2023 15:33

Reserving train tickets is free. And also at the train companies discretion, for eg if the train is particularly crowded.

ButterCupPie · 09/12/2023 15:34

LlynTegid · 09/12/2023 15:28

The person in the wrong was the one who went to The Paper that Supported the Blackshirts.

I wasn't the person who invented the name Völkischer Beobachter for that paper, but I happily use it.

Circularargument · 09/12/2023 15:34

Ooh look it's MN ageism bingo

Octavia64 · 09/12/2023 15:34

Whoever reserved the seats gets them.

I'm disabled and use a wheelchair and I reserve seats, it's free.

commonground · 09/12/2023 15:35

I am sure they are all over this by now, but honestly? Who takes photos of other people and 'shames' them on social media?

So they were sitting in her seats? Obviously that is annoying, but she got a better outcome - being moved to first class. She sounds charming (not). That pic of her kid 'staring down' the couple is hilarious - but also, what was she thinking?! Stop with the over-sharing.

(I bet she wouldn't dare do it now for fear of being called a Karen.)