AIBU to be disappointed about this?

[mrsm43s]

Later this week, on my birthday, we're doing a long train journey to visit friends for a few days. Whenever we do these long journeys, we always book them over lunchtime, and do a "train picnic" of nice food e.g afternoon tea style and share some prosecco or anti pasta style and share some red. It means that our trip starts when we get in the train, and the journey flies by.

DH booked the train tickets, and he just accepted the default seating rather than selecting seats, and as a consequence we're stuck on a middle and aisle seat with no table. So lunch is pretty much going to be a sarnie and a bottle of water as there's no table space, the journey is going to be long, boring and uncomfortable, squashed in next to a stranger.

We've tried to change seats now, but as it's a couple of days away, there's no availability of seats at a table, and no availability in first class either.

I feel like instead of my birthday starting at 11.30am once we're on the train, it's not going to start until 3pm when we arrive, and the journey is something to be tolerated, rather than something to be enjoyed.

I don't want to be spoilt, and I get that I'm going to have a lovely time with my friends, but I'm really grumpy and disappointed. I think it's mostly because DH has form for this kind of stuff, always taking the quick, easy way, and never checking anything.

AIBU to be pissed off? And does anyone have any ideas of how to make the journey more fun, or special/treat lunch ideas possible to eat when sitting in a cramped middle seat?

I was once next to one of these picnic tables on a train. It was annoying. All that chomping for two hours.

I am going on the trust of the information on the website of my borough being correct.
They could be telling fibs I suppose 🤔
Whatever....I'm not going to stop using wipes.
Sorry if that annoys you.

And we don't have a table, which is the biggest problem. But if the single seats do have tables, and are spaced the same as table seats, then it won't be too much of a problem. It isn't like that on our local trains though, so I was expecting to be crunched in, and no table at all.

@mrsm43s what train company is it?
Seriously....this won't out you.
We can Google a picture of a typical carriage.

You're worried about being crunched in next to your husband who is eating the same food but not worried about being crunched in next to a complete stranger who has to put up with your banquet in polite silence?

We tried to change (as I said in previous post). No availability of table seats left, and no availability to upgrade to first class. Pretty much fully booked train, it seems.

What..?

You say you 'always' impose yourselves on fellow travellers 'whenever' you get a long distance train, then seem remarkably unfamiliar with what the inside of any of these long distance trains look like?

There’s nearly always a coach of unbooked seats. Arrive early and try that first. But yes, your anger at your DH is ridiculous.

Ah, sorry I thought you’d got a long distance train before as you said the train picnics were something you normally do, so would have seen the configuration of the airline style seats.
Ive never been on long distance train that hasn’t had a fold down table in the airline style seats.

All of that, on those teenie train tables? That's an absolute take over when you've only paid for 1/2 of the space! There's no way you're not inconveniencing your table mates with all of that spread!!

No. I'm worried about being crunched in front to back, and no table. When we have a table, we're not crunched in at all. DH and I sit opposite each other, fully contained comfortably in our seats, and place our food on our half of the table between each other. We don't encroach on the other seats or the other half of the table in any way.

You're entitled to do as you please, as am I. It's not about being annoyed, more about education.

All completely within our side of the table, as I've said multiple times. Not a mm outside of our own space.

Yeah....thanks for that 😂
I know baby wipes aren't perfect but many many things in this world that are used every day aren't perfect either.

Do the smells and noises stay 'within your own space'?

So many questions - How much wine and prosecco do you usually drink with these picnics? Do you share the table with two other passengers who are not part of the festivities and if so, do you ever get the impression that they're not thrilled about it?

We do. Not used this line/ operator before though, and have previously always booked table seats.

Why did you trust him to book them if he's got a history?

@mrsm43s what is your train journey? I know you’ve put from London- which station, where to and what train company? I commute in and out a lot- I might be able to advise which carriage is unallocated so you can get a table there.

Bsby wipes aren't even on the scale when it comes to perfect. I think marketers have fooled a lot of people. Also, you're not suggesting wiping a table with baby wipes surely? Wouldn't it be some sort of antibacterial wipe? Baby wipes leave that horrible sliminess.

Honestly, I think you were just pissed off at your DH for not doing as he was told so made a massive mountain out of a molehill.x
I hope you enjoy your birthday.

@mrsm43s this is a picture of an Avanti West Coast carriage.
Whatever train company you are on is likely to be like this.
2 seats together with the flip down tray for a table - marked by the arrow.
(picture may take a moment to appear).

LNER from King's Cross

This thread is bonkers!

OP your picnic celebration sounds lovely and I wouldn’t be bothered at all sitting next to you, maybe a bit jealous but not annoyed. I have misophonia and the sound of people eating enrages me, this is very much a me problem and as such I carry headphones with me to manage the problem.

In your new circumstances I would treat myself to a new book and get some lovely sushi boxes.

@mrsm43s there is usually at least one carriage without bookings (so that people can turn up and buy on the day, usually expensive). If you get there early you can likely have the pick of any unallocated. And you might be able to upgrade to first class and get a single face to face pair with table! Our line doesn’t even allocate specific seats even when you have a reservation for a specific train (eg when you have bought an Advance ticket).

I’m assuming you have advance rather than off-peak so you can’t opt for a slightly earlier or later train from London …(ie might have more seat choice)?