Oh dear yes, it’s a thing. A long while ago my DH and were sent on a holiday by family members. We were about 30 years younger than most on the trip (it was a package that had bits by coach.
Anyway, we just sat in the back, we didn’t care. We thought it was odd that the guide made an announcement about sharing the front seats and he’d establish a rotation if needed. Honestly we didn’t pay too much attention. But then every morning we started noticing septuagenarians darn near throwing elbows to get on the coach first so they could sit in the front.
The magic happened at glacier natl park when everyone was lined up to board the glacier mobiles (no idea what they are called). We were standing off to the side chatting in an empty bay when one pulled up where we were standing. Everyone else was directed toward us. We got to sit in the front for the most spectacular part of the trip.
Everyone who boarded either gave us the thumbs up and a silent ‘good for you’ or a muttered not so friendly something.
That trip was something else… The same people bitching about us getting the front on the glacier were the same one who would complain about me smoking before boarding the coach… well away from anyone in line and down wind. I’d catch snippets of comments like “oh we have to wait for her again” Do you know how long it takes 40 old people to board a coach? I could smoke, go to bathroom, have a snack, smoke again, (do my taxes, apply for citizenship, ok maybe not that long, lol) and still have to wait before my first foot hit the stairs. Like settle down SusanI’m not holding anything up.
Most of the people were wonderful and we had a great time… but some people are miserable in any location.