AIBU to think empty first class should be opened on crowded trains?

[boredsoscrollingonMNagain]

I was on a long journey this weekend , It was a 5 and a half hour journey with one change.

our first train was massively delayed , meaning we missed our next one. But , we coped and it’s all done now and we will get compensated .

However , I was really cross at this:

We had reserved seats on both trains. We don’t travel on trains with no reserved seats as my eldest is autistic and gets distressed with nowhere to sit. He prefers a certain seat, so we always try for that, but the main thing is he has a seat. The train was taken from 9 to 4 carriages so all reservations cancelled and this first train was a 2 hr journey for us. My husband wasn’t with us and we had large cases so I was stressed ! My eldest was obviously worried - luckily we found seats and all was ok . But , when the train came in I saw a carriage empty and my worry was getting these cases on alone and having no space , so I went to the empty carriage and was turned away because it was first class. We got on fine in the end, thanks to the help of lovely strangers and we got seats right next to first class and I could see in and it said all seats were available- not reserved - and maybe 2 people in the whole carriage. For the whole journey , the other carriages were like sardines - it was awful. They announced they couldn’t get the refreshment trolley out because it was so busy ( also it was during a heatwave ) . First class was empty. I saw a family - including a woman with a tiny baby in a carrier and young children, turfed out. I saw many families struggling to find places to sit.

Now , I understand if you have paid for first class and the carriage was full of people who hadn’t , you would be angry . I agree if you have paid first class you should be able to sit in it. But if it’s empty , why were people turfed out when everyone’s reserved seats were cancelled ? I would understand if first class was busy , so all were reserved and they kept that carriage for that reason - it costs a lot . I also would understand if maybe they usually had 2 first class carriages ( I don’t know if they do ) , took one off , so kept all the first class seats for those with first class tickets , but on a first come first served basis. But to have them all free , the whole journey , with lots of people - families coming back from holiday - who reserved seats for a long journey and lost them , standing and struggling - but then keep it empty and leave people standing , and actively turn people holding babies in arms away - I found this disgusting !

Just to add - this isn’t about me wanting to go in first class , we had seats , we were ok and I did offer my seat up too.

Have you often travelled in First class? They may be stereotypes but in First I've never been surrounded by loud, obnoxious, drunk people like I have in standard.

You have never been guaranteed a seat in second class though.

They should definitely have a special carriage for people wearing Polyester - especial tracksuits.

They should also have special carriages for people looking for quiet spots so they can scream into their phones for the duration of the journey. Why is it so hard for people to understand that nobody else wants to hear your conversation.

Creche carriages wouldn't be a bad idea too, for those who travel with screaming kids and can't be bothered to parent.

I also wouldn't mind a party carriage for those of us who are social and like a drink. Not 80s disco, but Witty Conversationalists Cocktail Carriage.

It's truly pathetic op, first class is only marginally more worth the money and often its a small increment, not exactly luxury, so they should declassify it in that case and if the first class ticket holders dared to protest, refund them the difference instead. Its ridiculous to treat the majority like that so a few people could sit in 1st class.

Also one for hen and stag do’s and also football fans.

What is seatfrog ? I have never heard of it.

Fucking hell the entitlement.. I pay for a seat on a train.. not cheap even for standard class.. if that train has carriages removed so I can’t get a seat yet there are 20 spare seats in first class then fucking use them!!!! If I was sat in first class and it was empty and they opened it up to ensure people weren’t having to stand in the fucking doorways next to toilet I wouldn’t give a shit!!!!

We came back once from London once after my 6yo DDs hospital appointment. Open return so no booked seat on the way back as I didn't know how long we'd be. She had to sit on the floor of the bike rack. It was so crowded. People were trying to get me to stand further into the bike rack to free up some space until they saw my small child squashed in there surrounded by tall adults and you could see the guilt. I spent the whole time praying no-one would come on with a bike! Honestly, it was horrible and reminded me why I hate public transport. If it happens again I will sit in the first class until someone tells me off.

Absolutely not. I pay for FC so I have room and it's quieter.

What should happen is that every single person books a seat so there is no overcrowding issue. Or put on more trains if the demand is there.

I have often just sat myself in first class when this has happened. I haven’t been moved out like the passengers you mention which is fortunate as I’d be likely to argue until I was thrown off the train… If I were sitting and watching another person stand, especially a woman with a baby and toddler, I’d feel so uncomfortable. It’s worrying that so many people on this thread think it’s acceptable to make a seat something that can be reserved empty just in case a wealthier person needs it…

You get compensation for delays so that covers your inconvenience. If it's massively delayed( over an hour) you'll get your whole fare back.

Plenty of times in first class, plenty of times not.

But if you reserve a seat in a first class carriage that has, say, twenty seats, you are paying to sit in a carriage with up to 19 other people.

Whether those people have paid full whack or got a free upgrade is irrelevant to you. Just as it’s irrelevant if you book a hotel and discover the person in the same room next to you got a free upgrade.

Have you been surrounded by loud, obnoxious drunk people in First?
I never have whereas I have in standard.

My point is I would offer my seat to someone of that age in first class, standard class or on a bus. They can decline if they feel patronised by me!

Every mainline train I ve been on in the last five years have been rammed. They’d have to open first class for free all the time. So who would buy first class tickets if you thought you’d could just get In For the same price?

On my local line (Thameslink) there is an extremely small chance of you meeting a ticket inspector so all the low life travel in first class.

I think we should just have standard class, and improve the standards.

But there no way of knowing if first class is going to be full though or have fewer children. It might be a safe assumption, but not a given. And what if everyone on the train decided to pay the upgrade fee to move into first class - that would also be a legit way to fill it up. My son is on chemo so this situation would be a real one for us, but I would never get annoyed if the first class carriage was full, as that's always a possibility!

Exclusivity is key when it comes to paying more for experiences. If a plane is overbooked, they don’t tend to upgrade the extra to business class, for instance. Many would just not travel 1st class on a train if it was going to be opened up to the masses. They’d drive or also take their chances in standard class, hoping to be allowed in if there were issues.

It’s like top brands like Chanel who would prefer to shred their items than sell at a discount.

According to this thread, everyone books first class cus it's never full. So i can't image the revenue lost is that much.

It's not like planes, where first class seats are quadruple the economy ones, and keep airlines in business.

Oh how ridiculous. You sound as though you'd start a fight over a bag of crisps!

No. Let me explain for you.

Standard class passengers (that's always me, btw) are just people who've paid to get from A to B. Some are families, maybe with young children, some are old ladies like my mum who love to chat. No problem with that.

First Class passengers are either professional people who are being paid to work during their journey and need peace and quiet, or people who have forked out more for the benefit of being quiet.

If Standard Class move to FC it would be courteous of them to respect the quiet working atmosphere. Have you got a problem with that? YOu sound very chippy.

I hope that helps.

This attitude is human, and fine for luxury brands, but not appropriate for a public rail SERVICE.

It may be a public service but it's still a two tier service where users can choose to pay more for a better experience.

The service part is to get you from A to B irrespective of whether you have a seat or have to stand.

If you want more then pay for first class.

I’m disabled. The few times I travel by train, I travel first class so I can get a seat. There are times, if not getting on first stop, people are sat in ‘my seat’, they usually do move when politely asked, but not always, it has to be said.

Honestly I couldn’t care less, if they open up first class, as long as the person in my seat moves, when asked, otherwise I’ll have to get off the train, for a seat that I have paid for.

Local journeys and the tube is hardly ever an issue, someone usually gives up their seat, but I always try to avoid the rush hour, planning my journey meticulously, with step free access all the way.