buying 2 seats for yourself - train

boliston

Altarf wrote: »

Absolutely.

And if there are no empty 'set of two' seats so you have to sit next to someone else, I always pick a bag seat.....

I would have thought that most people travelling alone would tend to sit in the aisle seat and dump their bag on the empty window seat so this would mean you end up "hemmed in" in a window seat quite often.

For me the pecking order when travelling alone is:
best: aisle seat with empty window seat
no so good: aisle seat with person occupying window seat
worst: window seat with person occupying aisle seat

chuckley

is your friend immune to the use of luggage racks?

I openly look for such folks on busy trains, especially the ones that sit on the aisle seat with their bag on the inner seat thinking 'you won't bother'.

Altarf

boliston wrote: »

I would have thought that most people travelling alone would tend to sit in the aisle seat and dump their bag on the empty window seat so this would mean you end up "hemmed in" in a window seat quite often.

For me the pecking order when travelling alone is:
best: aisle seat with empty window seat
no so good: aisle seat with person occupying window seat
worst: window seat with person occupying aisle seat

Personally I don't care. A seat is a seat.

If an aisle sitter makes it clear that they will stand up to allow someone to sit down next to the window, that is fine. But the ones that annoy me are those who avert their eyes as people get on, hoping that nobody will actually ask to sit down.

If I need to ask rather than them automatically moving, then I don't rush at all whilst I take my coat off and fold it for the overhead rack, and then the same with my jacket, and then getting a book out of my bag, etc. All the while them standing there and sighing.

martindow

Off peak tickets allow you to reserve seats on a specific train although you are free to travel on others, so a great many of these are not taken up. On busy trains a lot of people take their chances and sit in reserved seats and often the rightful owners never turn up. If the friend buys two reserved seats only one person would move out if he turns up no matter how many tickets he has bought.

I agree with another poster that this is a cultural issue where in other countries it may be common to buy more space in trains.

boliston

Altarf wrote: »

Personally I don't care. A seat is a seat.

If an aisle sitter makes it clear that they will stand up to allow someone to sit down next to the window, that is fine......

Not sure how you can "make it clear that you will stand up"

Do you take a sign saying "I will stand up if you want the window seat" and hold it aloft every time the train stops at a station?

Altarf

boliston wrote: »

Not sure how you can "make it clear that you will stand up"

Do you take a sign saying "I will stand up if you want the window seat" and hold it aloft every time the train stops at a station?

It sounds as if you don't you catch a busy commuter train where there are people standing.

If you did then you would know that there are either the people sat on an aisle seat who recognise that the train is full, and as you approach make eye contact and prepare to stand up and let you sit down.

And then there are the selfish gits who stare at the floor, pretending you don't exist, and hoping you will walk past.

FOREVER21

Even if he could have reserved a second seat, which has been said is unlikely.

The usual experience is that seats with the reserved ticket on them but not occupied when the train leaves then become available.
This is my experience of catching trains from Kings Cross at peak times. You will often find someone without a reservation standing near to a vacant reserved seat waiting until the train leaves.
In fact I have seen onboard train staff telling travellers to do this.

Bobcrowther

thriftymanc wrote: »

It might not be 'fair' but if he did actually pay for AND reserve both seats, he can do what he wants with them and whoever tried to sit in it should respect that if they didn't have a reservation themselves (there was nothing stopping that person from making one - they should have got there sooner!). If he did have a reservation he should be asking for a refund.

100% incorrect.

The nrcoc clearly states a standard class ticket guarantees you a journey ONLY. Very kindly, most tocs allow you a generous luggage allowance, but can charge you a half fare for larger items.
Only PEOPLE may occupy seats at other people's expense.
You can buy as many tickets and reserve as any seats as you like for your luggage, if the train is full and standing, your stuff WILL be moved (either by other members of public, on train staff, or, if you're being a nib about it, the Btp).
OP - if human contact bothers "your friend" that much, a train isn't really the best mode of transport for "your friend".

TBagpuss

cookie365 wrote: »

He can't be that bright if he didn't see that coming.

What university is desperate enough for students that they'll take on people with his level of common sense?

Depend where he is from. I recall when I travelled in Poland, for instnace, it was compulsory for all ticket holders to have a reservation for intercity trian, and also compulsory to sit in the seat your ticket related to. So buying 2 tickets would result in two seats which no one else was entitled to use.

In this country, I think that if other seats were available, it would be reasonable forthe persn who bought a second ticket to be able to keep his luggage on that seat. However, if the train was crowded, then people trump luggage. A reservation doesn't guarantee a seat, and tickets with reservations are often chaper than those without.

trukdiver

Altarf wrote: »

And then there are the selfish gits who stare at the floor, pretending you don't exist, and hoping you will walk past.

I was on a commuter train last week where somebody put a large case in the aisle. All the standing passengers were bunched up at the end and some people couldn't get on. I had a window seat and was getting off at the next station. The person next to me let me out but then put her bags on the seat I'd just vacated! I stupidly thought It would make it easier for me to get off and also making room for somebody else to sit...:rotfl: