Woman Pays A Lot Of Money For A Comfortable Seat On The Train, Elderly Woman Wants Her To Move
Having a nice seat during a long journey where you can feel comfortable often feels like winning the lottery. So it’s no surprise that some people decide to treat themselves and book one in advance. Which is exactly what Reddit user Optimal_Promotion did when she had a 7-hour trip in the United Kingdom.
However, when she got on the train, it turns out that the operator had sold her a priority seat that is usually reserved for people with special needs. So when an elderly lady started demanding the traveler give it up, she found herself facing a tough decision.
Unsure about the way she handled the situation, Optimal_Promotion reached out to the online community ‘Am I the [Jerk]?‘, asking them to evaluate her actions. Here’s what she wrote.
This woman booked a first-class train seat, but the operator gave her a priority one, which is usually reserved for people with special needs
Image credits: Lucía Régules (not the actual photo)
So when an elderly woman who had nowhere to sit approached her, she found herself facing a tough decision
Image credits: Leslie Toh (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Optimal_Promotion879
Seat reservations for UK trains can usually be booked as soon as tickets are released for sale.
Unless specified otherwise in fare conditions, passengers’ tickets are valid without a seat reservation. They can sit in any unreserved seat in the appropriate class of carriage that they’ve booked.
Most UK train operators leave seats available for customers without reservations (there is usually at least one carriage with unreserved seating). However, if there aren’t any seats available, people are required to stand.
“The trouble with trains in England is that everyone’s so stressy by the time they get on,” Vicky, who is a writer, adventurer, and creator of the travel blog Vicky Flip Flop, told Bored Panda. “Whether it’s because of the timings, the journey to get there, the station, seating or just the stress of buying a ticket, the average train traveler in England seems to already have their back up. You need to be prepared, get there in good time and stay calm.”
Vicky has spent quite some time on trains, and shared some really valuable insights about this on her blog. “When you travel by train abroad – depending on where you are – it can be a much more relaxing experience. [Just] make sure you have some good snacks with you, and look up from your device to enjoy the effortless view once in a while!” she said.
Paul of Global Help Swap, a website that aims to protect the world and its inhabitants by promoting responsible traveling, also enjoys trains as he believes they offer the most social form of transportation.
“Motorway journeys are pretty boring, and air travel is mainly interesting at the start and end,” Paul told Bored Panda. “Trains [cross] some spectacular scenery so put the mobile down and just be. If you are on a long journey and will be sleeping on the train, book 2nd class. You will share your room with other travelers. It is a great way to learn about a place.”
Vicky loves overnight train journeys. “One of my best experiences was in India, where the locals in our carriage were very friendly,” she recalled. “All that time and close quarters opened us up to some fun and insightful chats we’d have never had in the busy day to day. In a huge country like India train travel is great for getting around. In smaller countries like Vietnam they’re a great way to cover the country, but with a scenic view. I’ve traveled from north to south twice by train in Vietnam and I’d do it again!”
Another one of her favorites is Japan. “[The trains there are] incredible and just so precise. It’s fascinating to watch them clean them in between routes, you can book food in advance to be delivered to your seat, and they’re so comfy and fast, it really is the best way to travel.”
Interestingly, conflicts like the one in this post are probably becoming rarer in the UK. Its first-class commuter carriages could be on the way out after officials gave an operator the green light to axe them and free up seats.
With demand still below pre-pandemic levels, the country’s Department for Transport (DfT) ordered train companies to find cost savings, and last week, Southeastern (the operator that runs more than 1,500 services from Sussex and Kent into London every day), said it would scrap first-class tickets entirely.
The decision came after rail chiefs revealed just 28 annual first-class season tickets were bought.
The DfT welcomed the move, with its spokesman saying: “Commuters have often been vocal when forced to stand overlooking empty first-class seats in packed trains. Southeastern has taken action to ease crowding and increase comfort.”
Greater Anglia, West Midlands, East Midlands, and the Stansted Express have all quietly phased out first-class seats in recent years on “non-intercity” routes too.
Northern, the train operator that stretches from Liverpool in the west to Newcastle in the north-east also no longer has first-class fares.
Great Western Railway, which removed first-class seats from the majority of its local train services back in 2016, said it made the move after “businesses changed their travel expense policies in response to economic conditions”.
Only a handful of operators, such as Thameslink and Transpennine, continue to offer first-class tickets on commuter routes.
I'm 54. I see you brought a lunch. I forgot to bring one, and I'm hungry. I demand that you give me your sandwich. I'm older than you, so I deserve it. What? You're really going to make me starve all day just because I forgot my lunch? You heartless monster!
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This comment has been deleted.
You would have a better chance with a nicer approach. The fact that you "demanded" something of me because of your ill planning guarantees you absolutely will not receive whatever it is you feel entitled to because of your age.
If you look up whoosh! in the dictionary it shows a screenshot of this comment.
It was a tongue in cheek comment. She was being facetious.
I was shocked to see someone trying to play the 'elderly card' when they were only 60 years old. That's middle-aged, not elderly.
Yes I once asked a woman if she wanted my seat. She said: No silly! I'm only 75.
I asked my mother if she wanted me to book a seat for her, but she said she didn't mind standing. She was 89 at the time.
Yeah my mother is 60 and she keeps up with the grand children.
Thank you! I'm 59, and I would never impose on someone like that. If I need a nice seat or anything else, I'll be organized and reserve it myself, not try to take it from someone. I plan to not do so when I'm 90 either.
60 is old. Not middle aged. Unless you have plans to live well over 100. I am near 70 and would never think of asking others to move. But 60 IS well beyond middle aged
60 is not old!!! It may be past middle aged but certainly not what I would consider old. 70 is old.
I'm a sassy 60 plus year old woman. I don't consider myself old. I run up and down my stairs, walk, still drive, take care of my home & hang out with my golden age friends that are in their mid 80's and 90's. I have younger friends, too! That 60 year old wanna be entitled Senior was just grumpy grouchy!
Sorry to beak it to you, but the vast majority of people dont live to be 120.
Average lifespan in UK for men is 79 and women is 83. So 60 is not middle aged. Though my dad at 75 is in far better shape than me at 38. So it all depends on the person. I will never understand people who feel entitled to anything. I try to give what I hope would be given to me but certainly don't expect anything from anyone. It makes the times people do go above and beyond for you, that much sweeter. I remember struggling with a newborn on a train here in US and having my bags, baby, stroller, etc. On a 3 day cross country trip alone. An elderly lady helped me with my daughter and a man helped me up the escalator with all that stuff. That was 16 years ago. I remember them perfectly. Or the old lady on the plane who held my hand because I was afraid 13 years ago. People can be great.
I have found, that people are almost always ready to help out, when they can see the need. That is part of being human.
Right. If I see somebody struggling, I try to help. Getting something from a shelf they can't reach in the grocery store, give them a few cents if they're short(not a lot of people use cash anymore), helping an elderly person with something. "Do something nice for somebody, you might be the only one who does."
Exactly
Her true mission was to use her age to receive a free upgraded seat. That’s why she didn’t prepay for one in advance. She most likely gets away with this practice everywhere she goes.
Unfortunately, elderly is in fact the correct term. Whether people actually look or feel what we consider to be connected to the word, makes no difference. It is decided based on the average human life expectancy, which is still pretty sadly low in years. The age 60 is certainly above the mid range, middle age, so it is indeed elderly.
Only if you plan to live until 120. Otherwise middle age is 40 and 60 is elderly. Just because the elites like to treat people like cattle these days it does not change basic human biology. Human aging process slowed by only 1.5 years in the last 100 years, and, thanks to the horrible treatment we receive in our lives as compared to people born 70-80 years ago, human life expectancy already dropped by 2 years. And that is theory. I am 47 and considering the quality of food and care today, and multiple engineered virus infection, I am not even sure I will make it to 60.
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Middle-aged? Because most people live to be 120? Lol what?
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The writer estimated they were elderly and 60 years old. The writer is the clueless one.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Do you think people regularly live to be 120 years old?
If that's how the train company manages it, it's possible the older lady has talked people out of their first class seats before using this priority seating as an excuse. Could be she doesn't buy a reserved seating ticket knowing she can scam a seat this way. There are some people who will take advantage of things like this to benefit themselves.
This! Absolutely crossed my mind. The "old" lady just wanted a nice first class seat and probably does this a lot to get one. Good scam. Didn't work this time.
Exactly!
Yeah I was leaning that way and then especially when she just rudely pointed to the sign like 👆👆.. probably with one those scrunch your face up and "smile" all at once kinda smug "thaaaanks sweetie" kind of smile that toxic women do. Especially Karens of any race or creed. But yeah the way she so casually demanded she get out of the seat she payed for by pointing to the sign? Miss me with that s**t. LOL. I would have pulled out my digital reservation receipt or what have you on my phone....and like.. point to the seat number listed on the ticket and then on the seat itself, then do that obnoxious "smile" right back at her, and toss in one of those waves where you twiddle your fingers around... yk the one. So difficult to express in text form..lmfao.
LOL Do you mean the one with your hand under your chin, wiggling your fingers at the offending party?
Likely
I'm 54. I see you brought a lunch. I forgot to bring one, and I'm hungry. I demand that you give me your sandwich. I'm older than you, so I deserve it. What? You're really going to make me starve all day just because I forgot my lunch? You heartless monster!
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
This comment has been deleted.
You would have a better chance with a nicer approach. The fact that you "demanded" something of me because of your ill planning guarantees you absolutely will not receive whatever it is you feel entitled to because of your age.
If you look up whoosh! in the dictionary it shows a screenshot of this comment.
It was a tongue in cheek comment. She was being facetious.
I was shocked to see someone trying to play the 'elderly card' when they were only 60 years old. That's middle-aged, not elderly.
Yes I once asked a woman if she wanted my seat. She said: No silly! I'm only 75.
I asked my mother if she wanted me to book a seat for her, but she said she didn't mind standing. She was 89 at the time.
Yeah my mother is 60 and she keeps up with the grand children.
Thank you! I'm 59, and I would never impose on someone like that. If I need a nice seat or anything else, I'll be organized and reserve it myself, not try to take it from someone. I plan to not do so when I'm 90 either.
60 is old. Not middle aged. Unless you have plans to live well over 100. I am near 70 and would never think of asking others to move. But 60 IS well beyond middle aged
60 is not old!!! It may be past middle aged but certainly not what I would consider old. 70 is old.
I'm a sassy 60 plus year old woman. I don't consider myself old. I run up and down my stairs, walk, still drive, take care of my home & hang out with my golden age friends that are in their mid 80's and 90's. I have younger friends, too! That 60 year old wanna be entitled Senior was just grumpy grouchy!
Sorry to beak it to you, but the vast majority of people dont live to be 120.
Average lifespan in UK for men is 79 and women is 83. So 60 is not middle aged. Though my dad at 75 is in far better shape than me at 38. So it all depends on the person. I will never understand people who feel entitled to anything. I try to give what I hope would be given to me but certainly don't expect anything from anyone. It makes the times people do go above and beyond for you, that much sweeter. I remember struggling with a newborn on a train here in US and having my bags, baby, stroller, etc. On a 3 day cross country trip alone. An elderly lady helped me with my daughter and a man helped me up the escalator with all that stuff. That was 16 years ago. I remember them perfectly. Or the old lady on the plane who held my hand because I was afraid 13 years ago. People can be great.
I have found, that people are almost always ready to help out, when they can see the need. That is part of being human.
Right. If I see somebody struggling, I try to help. Getting something from a shelf they can't reach in the grocery store, give them a few cents if they're short(not a lot of people use cash anymore), helping an elderly person with something. "Do something nice for somebody, you might be the only one who does."
Exactly
Her true mission was to use her age to receive a free upgraded seat. That’s why she didn’t prepay for one in advance. She most likely gets away with this practice everywhere she goes.
Unfortunately, elderly is in fact the correct term. Whether people actually look or feel what we consider to be connected to the word, makes no difference. It is decided based on the average human life expectancy, which is still pretty sadly low in years. The age 60 is certainly above the mid range, middle age, so it is indeed elderly.
Only if you plan to live until 120. Otherwise middle age is 40 and 60 is elderly. Just because the elites like to treat people like cattle these days it does not change basic human biology. Human aging process slowed by only 1.5 years in the last 100 years, and, thanks to the horrible treatment we receive in our lives as compared to people born 70-80 years ago, human life expectancy already dropped by 2 years. And that is theory. I am 47 and considering the quality of food and care today, and multiple engineered virus infection, I am not even sure I will make it to 60.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Middle-aged? Because most people live to be 120? Lol what?
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
The writer estimated they were elderly and 60 years old. The writer is the clueless one.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Do you think people regularly live to be 120 years old?
If that's how the train company manages it, it's possible the older lady has talked people out of their first class seats before using this priority seating as an excuse. Could be she doesn't buy a reserved seating ticket knowing she can scam a seat this way. There are some people who will take advantage of things like this to benefit themselves.
This! Absolutely crossed my mind. The "old" lady just wanted a nice first class seat and probably does this a lot to get one. Good scam. Didn't work this time.
Exactly!
Yeah I was leaning that way and then especially when she just rudely pointed to the sign like 👆👆.. probably with one those scrunch your face up and "smile" all at once kinda smug "thaaaanks sweetie" kind of smile that toxic women do. Especially Karens of any race or creed. But yeah the way she so casually demanded she get out of the seat she payed for by pointing to the sign? Miss me with that s**t. LOL. I would have pulled out my digital reservation receipt or what have you on my phone....and like.. point to the seat number listed on the ticket and then on the seat itself, then do that obnoxious "smile" right back at her, and toss in one of those waves where you twiddle your fingers around... yk the one. So difficult to express in text form..lmfao.
LOL Do you mean the one with your hand under your chin, wiggling your fingers at the offending party?
Likely