A woman has sparked a debate on travel manners after she staunchly refused to surrender her seat to an elderly lady during a train journey to Scotland. While it’s generally considered polite to offer one’s seat to older people, those with disabilities, or expectant mothers, this passenger held firm in retaining a priority seat she had booked ahead of time.
As reported by Edinburgh Live, the woman was travelling from London to Aberdeen on an unspecified rail service and had splashed out on a first-class ticket to ensure a private seat for uninterrupted work. Upon boarding, she discovered that her assigned seat was designated as a priority seat but remained resolute when a woman in her 60s insisted on taking the seat.
Recounting her experience on Reddit, the traveller shared: “I recently got a train across the UK from London to Aberdeen. It’s a seven-hour journey so I booked myself a first-class seat well in advance.”
Opting for first-class seats on UK trains can be a pricey affair, but the passenger chose to splurge for a couple of reasons. She elaborated: “First-class seats on trains in the UK can be expensive, but I decided to treat myself because 1), I knew I’d have work to do on the train, so I wanted to make sure I had space/comfort to be able to work, and 2), certain trains in the ‘individual seats’ which means you’re not sitting next to or sitting opposite anyone. I specifically booked one of those seats to enable me to work.”
The trip started off without a hitch as they boarded the train in London and found their pre-booked seat, she explained: “I got on the train in London and sat in my seat. The seat they’d assigned me was also the ‘priority seat’. Priority seats are the ones at the end of carriages for people with mobility issues due to age or disability.”
However, the situation escalated when a woman insisted on taking the seat, citing her seniority. She continued: “A woman got on after me who was around 60 years old and pointed at the sign above my head and, quite rudely, told me to move because she was elderly.”
The passenger who had reserved the seat stood firm: “I told her I’d booked the seat and she’d need to speak to a member of staff to find her one. She pointed out that the train was full and there were no other seats. I apologised but reiterated that I’d booked the seat and wasn’t going to move.”
When the train staff arrived, it became clear that while the older woman held a first-class ticket, she hadn’t reserved any particular seat, therefore did not have a guaranteed spot. Despite efforts to resolve the matter, including an offer to switch to standard class, the seated passenger remained resolute in keeping their place.
She recounted the event, stating: “Eventually, a train guard came over to try to help. The lady had booked a return ticket, but she hadn’t reserved a specific seat.”
She offered some clarity for those not well-versed in rail travel, saying: “For those who don’t know how trains work, if you have a ticket but haven’t also booked a seat reservation, it means you can travel on a train, but you aren’t guaranteed a seat unless there’s one available.”
The tale unfolded as she described the guard’s proposition: “He asked if either of us would consider moving to standard class if he could find us a seat. I again refused, explaining I’d booked the seat well in advance and that I needed it. Eventually, he took the woman to standard class and I assume found her a seat there.”
She shared her conflicted feelings about the episode: “I felt bad, but I also don’t think I needed to put myself in severe discomfort because someone else didn’t think ahead and reserve a seat.”
Online opinion was divided over the matter, with discussions arising about the responsibilities of the train company. One individual argued: “The train company are the a**holes here. They sold the disability seats as the most expensive seats on the train. Those seats should never be sold unless the occupier is disabled. That’s on the train operator. It’s not on you.”
Conversely, another commenter made a strong comparison: “If it was a first-class seat on a plane and someone asked you to move to economy, you’d tell them to f**k right off. Same applies here, in my mind.”
Another individual offered their perspective, remarking: “The woman was for thinking she was entitled to your reserved seat though. Elderly or not, you paid in advance and shouldn’t have to move just because she showed up.”