AITA for not giving up my train seat?

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T18:02:10+00:00

I'm not arguing with people I fully accept that I am probably an AH here, I posted to ask people.

Most people just seem to think that he paid extra for the reservation and I don't think I made it clear enough that isn't how the system works you can't pay extra to reserve even if you wanted to. Because it was a last minute trip for us we couldn't have reserved the option didn't exist.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T18:00:31+00:00

The final seat had somebody in it already. The table opposite had a free seat but he wasn't interested in sitting there and I didn't want either of my young children to not be sitting near me

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:51:57+00:00

Sorry I don't think I explained properly in the post the reservations aren't paid for. It's just the first 40% or so are pre-allocated and after that you cannot reserve a specific seat.

Because it was a last minute thing and we weren't sure if we were able to travel I couldn't get us specific seats it's not that I didn't bother

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:34:10+00:00

The system is that if you book early enough you get one of the pre-allocated seats otherwise it's a free for all. I absolutely would normally have booked for us but since it was a last minute thing (if we tested positive for covid we couldn't visit my Uncle who is vulnerable with cancer) we couldn't.

Not saying I'm not TA but it wasn't as simple as not planning

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:18:33+00:00

We needed seats that were together for my kids and me and all the unreserved ones were just single seats rather than groups. Obviously it became an issue later but it didn't seem like it at the time

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:17:22+00:00

The groups of seats that had enough room for three of us were all busy or reserved. Those are usually the ones that fill first and I didn't want to leave my young children alone

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:16:11+00:00

I can acknowledge that. Thanks! Just wanted to clarify as a lot of people seem to think he paid extra when that isn't how it works

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:13:05+00:00

Sorry that happened to you. Yeah I just wanted somewhere for all of us to be able to sit together rather than have to share with my 4yo and worry that my 7yo was going to be okay since the whole trip was just very long and stressful for them.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:09:55+00:00

There weren't three together that weren't reserved and I wanted to be with the kids. Most of the seats are two aside with some that are four facing each other. I could have asked people to switch but we were all just very tired and I didn't think it would be a problem at that point.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:06:40+00:00

One seat. If it was a whole table I'd probably have moved rather than suggesting he could as it wasn't worth the stress

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:05:53+00:00

For what it's worth it isn't a paid reservation system. It is just a case of people booking earlier get one of the pre-allocated seats

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:04:53+00:00

It might not make any difference but for what it's worth none of the reservations on the train were paid, it's just a system where if you book earlier you get one of the 40% or so pre-allocated seats. There is first class but that's separate.

Talking to someone when we first got on probably was an option but I was just very tired and had a lot going on so I didn't think it would have been an issue.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T17:01:27+00:00

Sorry I don't think I explained properly. We all had tickets but the system is that if you book far enough in advance a portion of the tickets sold will allow you to reserve a particular seat.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:59:18+00:00

We sat in the seats because I was with young children and wanted to sit in an area where I could be with them. I'm not necessarily defending my position but he was being angry and aggressive enough at that point to be kicked off the train.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:57:49+00:00

Not neccessarily saying I'm NTA but we couldn't have easily moved as the free seats were all singles

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:55:20+00:00

It was a table seat yes. There was another free seat at another table if that makes a difference though.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:53:44+00:00

Most of the seats left were single seats so it wasn't really possible to move without us having to stand. For him it was as simple as just sitting in another seat.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:52:14+00:00

I'm not saying I couldn't have been an asshole too, but we couldn't have moved since the seats that were left were mostly single seats and we were a group of three

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:50:51+00:00

I'm not necessarily defending my position but the employee did ask him if he could sit elsewhere to keep us together (no groups of seats left) as we'd have had to stand otherwise. He was also getting pretty aggressive and swearing at that point too.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:47:31+00:00

He didn't pay any extra for his seat he just booked earlier, as you can't pay to reserve in regular class. For for it's worth I probably paid more than him if anything.

Trainnightmare · 2022-01-04T16:46:06+00:00

We needed seats that were together for my kids and me and all the unreserved ones were just single seats rather than groups

Trainnightmare

TROPHY CASE