To think you shouldn't put bags on train seats

[LaughingCat]

Just this really.

Context: On a train that’s crossing the country.

Almost impressed with a guy who has sat at one table seat, put his bag on the next seat, put his suitcase on the seat opposite, put a smaller suitcase on top of the aisle half of the table and then filled both sides of his window half of the table with stuff.

On a peak time train.

When there are only two tables in this carriage.

And loads of empty luggage racks/overhead storage space.

His chutzpah is amazing. I’d be dying inside at the thought of someone challenging me to move my stuff in his shoes.

Also, had a ticket inspector round and they only beeped one ticket so he’s definitely not bought all four to sprawl out. Inspector didn’t say anything even though it’s getting busy 😭

This really gets to me. Super early in the morning or late at night, sure, my bag will land on the seat next to me but otherwise it stays on the floor or on a luggage rack because that’s what you do to be a considerate passenger.

AIBU? And what other transport etiquette fails really get your goat?

We were on a train coming home from a football match and my 8 year old stepson had left his rucksack on the seat next to him. Some drunk bloke got on, picked up his bag and threw it at my stepson and said "sorry but your bag doesn't pay for a seat"
Maybe people should do this (not to kids obviously, and yes my husband gave the guy a mouthful) but to entitled adults.
Also travelling with our own kids years later there were no seats and I was holding my baby daughter, on a table there were 3 people but there was one free seat by the window. I kept trying to get the attention of the guy sitting next to it to let me ditto down but he completely ignored me until my husband physically grabbed his shoulder and shook it to get his attention. Honestly people on trains are the worst

I would have asked him if he had paid for all four seats. If not to move his shit or a row would have happened, I’d have put his bags on him and the train inspector called to sort it out. I’ve done this before on a train to London. Big scene ensued. Bags moved!

If anyone wanted to sit there they just would though.

If you’re all uncomfortable at the table because you won’t go over at sit by him it’s your own fault. Grow some balls.

This is why I like having my husband around on trains, he would say something (i wouldn't im a wuss)

I always ask them to move their bags to the luggage rack. It's entitled BS and needs calling out.

As someone who travels into London for work this is extremely annoying - I will always say ‘sorry do you mind if I sit’ or ‘excuse me’ and they will begrudgingly move their bag to let me sit (even when heavily pregnant I felt like I was asking for the world). I think some people are honestly just oblivious to the fact they’re on a packed train and people do like to sit.. or maybe just ignorant

The Piccadilly Line serves Heathrow so some passengers have luggage. What are they supposed to do?

And I'd say no because I can't lift things in and out of the luggage rack without assistance and even if you lifted it up for me, you or anyone else might not be there when I wanted to leave.

Ah, these feckers on trains who give their bloody bags a seat, usually my seat. Had to deal with one of these last week. Turned out she had her own reserved seat a few rows further down the carriage, but couldn't be arsed to walk to it. She made some sarcastic remark when I didn't respond to her "it looks like there are plenty of free seats" remark. Cheeky cow.

I know. And being small, I have no problem with squeezing in behind someone’s case. But it’s amazing how often they manage to free up two of the three seats they’ve been using when asked.

I got on a train at Manchester Victoria to Leeds a few weeks ago and there was a table with two teenagers on the isle seats, window seats had some shopping including a large lego bag. The train was busy and I have a back issue at the moment where I need to sit.

The girl said to me...where will I put my bags...I said on the table or overhead...she stared at me. .I said can I sit down...another minute of huffing she moves the bags as does her friend and both shuffle to the window seats.

I don't know if it was an age thing they were only about 18 but I made it very clear that they can't have 4 sears when they have paid for 2 on a busy train!!!

As soon as we got up to leave they moved to the isle seats again and people were still standing I actually couldn't believd the audacity!

I am the type to pick a seat based on if someone has ther bag on it to annoy them 🤣🤣.

I would just say politely

I'm just going to move your bag so I can sit down

then I would move a bag of his do I could sit down

A guy once asked me where he should put his rucksack when I asked him to move it so I could sit. I said "How about in your seat and you could stand?" Credit to him, he laughed said "fair play" and did.

Thing that people often don't even consider is...many people dump their bags on the ground. The ground which is filthy. They then put on public seating. The public then sit on it.

That is an additional issue to the arsehole who is taking up seats for his bags. He should be chucked off the train/tube.

Usually a simple 'excuse me' works.

I once asked a man whether he'd got a ticket for his arse cheek that was sitting in my seat.

How busy was the train? I agree that people shouldn’t be putting bags on seats and preventing people fine sitting, but we had an awful train journey to Manchester airport where there were so many people with luggage that there was nowhere to put it. We were told off for putting luggage in the aisle (buy the conductor) and ended up putting luggage on the seats, the standing in the aisle next to it. Other people were in the same situation, it was awful and so dangerous. I don’t know why there’s so little luggage space.

I bet if another bloke had gone near him he’d have moved his stuff without a word. Male entitlement is alive and well.
Last week on a packed train (two seats left) a bloke was sat with his feet on the seat next to him. SIL asked if she could sit there and he very loudly retorted “a please would be nice!” (She had said please) Then he told her there was another seat across from him with a bag on it and wanted to know why she hadn’t asked that person to move. Like he was entitled to an extra seat for his fucking feet.

Its completely normal on trains to say can you move your bag please iv asked millions of times and never had a problem. Im not standing if there are seats

Because societies breakdown when citizens don’t enforce acceptable standards of behaviour on each other

It didn’t use to be like this. Around thirty years ago there were still luggage carriages on trains. I used them when taking my suitcase to and from Uni each term.

Then they disappeared. After they dissapeared, I remember a train conductor making an angry scolding announcement telling people off for bringing luggage on the train at Christmas!!! It’s like they actually want to force people off the trains and into cars!

When I was a kid we packed our suitcases and took the train to the seaside for our annual holiday. Families wouldn’t be able to do that now.

Yes it's so selfish on a busy train. Buses not quite so bad, but similar behavior.
My DH is a daily commuter and he just tells people to move their bags and if they don't, he moves them himself. I'm far too British for that.
But I think it is because trains are so expensive. Squashing into one seat (if you manage to get one) feels such terrible value for money. People feel entitled to spread because they have spent so much.

I remember once getting a train to the airport with my husband and two young kids, one of which was disabled. The train was busy but there were three seats together (one with a bag on) and a fourth just across the aisle. I asked the young woman to move her bag to let us sit down and she was really rude and said the bag was heavy so if I wanted to move it I’d have to do it myself!

I shrugged, put my own luggage in the rack, settled my kids and went to move her bag which was in fact unexpectedly heavy given its size and I accidentally dropped it. This was genuine but she went absolutely ballistic, started screaming and shouting that I’d deliberately thrown her bag down the carriage and after a few minutes of a huge scene, got up and stormed off and ended up standing at the other end of the carriage. This allowed my husband to sit in her vacated seat so we ended up with a set of 4 seats and the rest of the carriage seemed to rather enjoy the entertainment 😂

Just politely ask to sit there. Not sure why haven’t done already on busy train. Is there a luggage rack. Just point to that if so.