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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Confused about train seat

53 replies

TrainSeatDrama · 02/08/2024 15:42

boarded a train with my son, went to a table where there were 4 seats. 3 of the 4 seats were vacant. The two were reserved (light above the seat), the other two available. There was a woman sat in one of the reserved seats and we went to sit in the two available seats opposite her. She said would I mind not sitting there as she possibly may need to move as she was sat in a reserved seat (she hadn’t reserved it), she was sat there as she can’t travel backwards. I was confused as I said, but these seats are available (where we were about to sit), and she got uppity and said I didn’t understand what she was saying?

I think I do understand- she was sitting in a reserved seat hoping to stay there travelling forwards, but wanted to bagsy the seats opposite in case she had to move but stay near her friends who were sat on an adjacent table.

Was I being unreasonable to sit in the available seats? She got up in a right huff and sat somewhere else close by.

OP posts:
Coughsweet · 02/08/2024 15:46

I think you were fine. She couldn’t effectively take up 2 seats. if someone got on at another station then other people may well be getting off and everyone has a shuffle around then if need be.

Original poster
TrainSeatDrama · 02/08/2024 15:46

She then continued to call me and my son awkward and slag us off to her friends on the adjacent table saying we were unintelligent and misunderstanding the situation

OP posts:
SausageRoll2020 · 02/08/2024 15:48

My chunky clumsy fingers caught YABU, but you aren't at all.

She can't claim multiple seats as fall back plans

Symposium · 02/08/2024 15:48

Wow she was very rude and you did nothing wrong!

Coughsweet · 02/08/2024 15:49

Not reserving a seat is always a lottery and it’s not always practical to do so. It’s unfortunate for her but you didn’t do anything wrong.

SamW98 · 02/08/2024 15:49

No you’re not being unreasonable she’s being ridiculous and entitled

If she wanted one of the seats you sat in, she should have sat her arse on one of those.

systemicmotivations · 02/08/2024 15:52

I'm using the app so it doesn't let me vote but YANBU. You did nothing wrong and it sounds like she was embarrassed so threw her emotions at you because she knows fine well she's been unreasonable and just hoped nobody would notice. I hope you and your son had a nice journey together.

Justhereforthebants · 02/08/2024 15:53

She sounds like a greedy bully. If she was so bothered about having a specific seat/not travelling backwards, then she should have RESERVED one! Don’t take any notice of her, you were totally in the right. You also showed your Son a good example of how not to be pushed around by rude people. I doubt if she’d have spoken to a man in that way.

FionnulaTheCooler · 02/08/2024 15:58

So she can't travel backwards but wanted the seat you were sitting in, which was travelling backwards, if she was kicked out of hers? Sounds like she was just a cheeky mare who didn't want to share the table with strangers.

RaspberryBeretxx · 02/08/2024 16:07

She was being ridiculous. You can't expect to bagsy 2 seats and ensure one is left empty "just in case this one doesn't work out".

DancelikeFredAstaire · 02/08/2024 16:09

Justhereforthebants · 02/08/2024 15:53

She sounds like a greedy bully. If she was so bothered about having a specific seat/not travelling backwards, then she should have RESERVED one! Don’t take any notice of her, you were totally in the right. You also showed your Son a good example of how not to be pushed around by rude people. I doubt if she’d have spoken to a man in that way.

Whilst i quite agree with what you are saying even a reserved forward facing seat doesn't always stay that way. Many times me and DP have been on XCountry trains from Bristol to Manchester that, when we leave Birmingham, have pulled out of the station in the same direction it entered meaning that those forward facing seats have now become rear facing seats.

Anyway, back to the thread, she's was an entitled CF who and best ignored OP.

NotSorry · 02/08/2024 16:14

SausageRoll2020 · 02/08/2024 15:48

My chunky clumsy fingers caught YABU, but you aren't at all.

She can't claim multiple seats as fall back plans

you can change your vote (I'm a fellow sausage fingers person 😂)

diddl · 02/08/2024 16:23

TrainSeatDrama · 02/08/2024 15:46

She then continued to call me and my son awkward and slag us off to her friends on the adjacent table saying we were unintelligent and misunderstanding the situation

So she was travelling with friends but they hadn't reserved so that they could sit together?

Was it very busy so that she had to be in that reserved forward facing seat??

MinnieMountain · 02/08/2024 16:42

I notice that none of her friends offered to swap with her.

We asked a woman to move her luggage off the 3 other seats at a table so we could sit with DS on the magical mystery tour train that is GWR over the Christmas period. She huffed and moved elsewhere.

Some people don’t get the concept of public transport.

lunar1 · 02/08/2024 16:45

She's an idiot!

OlympicsFanGirl · 02/08/2024 16:47

She was a CF and rude as well.

Flossflower · 02/08/2024 17:15

When you book in advance and reserve a seat it is usually a cheaper fare but the condition is that it is only valid with the seat number on your ticket.
YANBU. I always see CFs on long distance train rides. Some person got really upset with us because we wanted the seats we had reserved and it was a crowded train.

LlynTegid · 02/08/2024 17:18

I think you were very reasonable to be honest, given her continued complaints throughout the journey. I would have been tempted to explain the idea of special assistance to her given her alleged medical condition, and what to do for future journeys.

Flossflower · 02/08/2024 17:18

I always find the people who ‘can’t travel backwards’ are always the most obnoxious type of people.

Cherrysoup · 02/08/2024 17:21

She was rude and entitled, you did nothing wrong. She can’t ‘reserve’ seats when she hasn’t paid to do so or tell others not to sit in non-reserved seats. CF, frankly.

Anewuser · 02/08/2024 17:25

Flossflower · 02/08/2024 17:18

I always find the people who ‘can’t travel backwards’ are always the most obnoxious type of people.

Judgy much?

I can’t travel backwards but have never been obnoxious.

OP you are not unreasonable, she totally was.

PeloMom · 02/08/2024 17:29

She had a choice to take an in reserved seat. If she needed a particular seat (front facing) she should have booked.

ExpressCheckout · 02/08/2024 17:32

she was sat there as she can’t travel backwards

Oh, that old chestnut

wanted to bagsy the seats opposite in case she had to move but stay near her friends who were sat on an adjacent table

Yes, regular passengers know this sort of group, especially on a Friday afternoon

Was I being unreasonable to sit in the available seats?

Nope, you're doing just fine ... enjoy your journey!

sonofrageandlove · 02/08/2024 17:35

Flossflower · 02/08/2024 17:18

I always find the people who ‘can’t travel backwards’ are always the most obnoxious type of people.

That is really judgy, travelling backwards makes me really sick but I’d never take up more than one seat to do it.

YellowphantGrey · 02/08/2024 17:38

TrainSeatDrama · 02/08/2024 15:42

boarded a train with my son, went to a table where there were 4 seats. 3 of the 4 seats were vacant. The two were reserved (light above the seat), the other two available. There was a woman sat in one of the reserved seats and we went to sit in the two available seats opposite her. She said would I mind not sitting there as she possibly may need to move as she was sat in a reserved seat (she hadn’t reserved it), she was sat there as she can’t travel backwards. I was confused as I said, but these seats are available (where we were about to sit), and she got uppity and said I didn’t understand what she was saying?

I think I do understand- she was sitting in a reserved seat hoping to stay there travelling forwards, but wanted to bagsy the seats opposite in case she had to move but stay near her friends who were sat on an adjacent table.

Was I being unreasonable to sit in the available seats? She got up in a right huff and sat somewhere else close by.

Well if she can't travel backwards and chooses to sit in a reserved forward facing seat, why would she be able to them travel backwards once the person who has reserved the seat gets on?!

It was definitely her, not you.