I will often ask someone sitting on an aisle seat if I can sit in the unoccupied window seat ...
That will probably be thetrout ...
It looks like my comments previous have been taken on board...
For the record my personal preferences/habits are thus:
- 1) I will always sit on an Aisle Seat or Individual Seat (latter is rare, depends on my mood of the day)
- 2) If I cannot get an Aisle Seat or 'flip down' seat in the Vestibule I will stand or perch on the luggage rack
- 3) If standing is not an option (i.e. Medical) Then I will seek the conductor/TM‡ out if possible to explain the reasons for a seat OR ask someone nicely if they wouldn't mind freeing a priority needs seat
Number three on that list is exceedingly rare and have only had to do it twice this year!
- Anyone is welcome to use the Window Seat next to me and I will always stand to allow the person to move in and out as per their needs/requirements throughout the journey
- I sometimes put my bag on the window seat next to me when sat at a Table. If someone wants the window seat I will move the bag without hesitation - This is done as I will otherwise forget the bag if with me
I will not always ask someone to move out of my reserved seat if there is similar accomodation nearby.
Agreed; generally I don't do this either. And for those who do request their reserved seat. I can understand if the train is busy, but when there is for example an Empty Carriage my logic brain hurts at this point.
A while back I took a CrossCountry
HST▸ service from Exeter St Davids - Birmingham New Street. I took a seat in Coach A. It was the pair of seats facing the Disabled Toilet (Where the Wheelchair Space is). In general, no-one really wants to sit in those seats because A: It gets cold if the vestibule door doesn't close because of the droplight windows and B: It's directly opposite the toilet. These reasons however are exactly why I like these seats.
No reservation flags on the seat or anything. The service was diverted between Taunton and Bristol so I had settled myself in for the journey (i.e. Laptop out, Mobile Phone Charger etc etc). When the train pulled into Bristol Temple Meads it reversed there but had to wait for nearly 30 minutes before it's booked departure.
Whilst I was seated someone boarded around 8 minutes before departure and said that he had reserved this particular seat and requested I move. (He was a 'suit') Ordinarily I would move. But there must have been at least 5 tables of 4 free in Coach A alone and a few more in Coach B.
So I refused (Sorry folks). Explained the seat wasn't marked as reserved, it was a priority seat and there wasn't exactly any shortage of seats. Was told he would get the TM. Invited the suit to do so. TM came shortly after departure and I explained why I didn't particularly want to move. TM agreed with me and told the suit to go away and sit somewhere else. Suit was not happy...