If Someone Has Taken Your Reserved Seat Anywhere Do You Take Action?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
July 20, 2010 8:48am CST
It depends on the situation. For example, if it's on a train and my ticket is reserved but someone is sitting in my seat I tend to ignore them and find another non-reserved seat. I once made the mistake of sitting in someone's reserved seat and was asked to move. This was embarrassing but I did move, had no choice really.
Now then, I once was at a rock gig with my friend Caroline. We had travelled to the Manchester Apollo which is about 45 miles away from Blackpool. We had a few drinks (as you do) before walking into the arena, which was packed at this stage. It was apparent that we were one of the last to sit down lol.
Anyway, Caroline was walking along our row and to her dismay saw someone sat in her seat. He was right at the end and there was a spare seat next to him, which was mine. She looked at me as though she didn't know what to do so, fuelled by the drink I told him that he was sat in my friend's seat. He didn't answer me so I told Caroline to show him her ticket, which she did. He still didn't budge. I then asked me to show me HIS ticket and he ignored me. He started squirming in his seat by this time, though. I soon realised that I couldn't ask him politely to move so, guess what I did? I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and literally threw him up the stairs next to the end seat where he was sat. The force of me moving him made him stumble up the stairs but I really didn't care. There were no staff around to help me out so I had to take matters -literally, into my own hands.
"Thanks!" Caroline said, gratefully.
"No problem!" I replied.
We spent a few minutes looking to see where this guy ended up and he was stood right at the back, then disappeared. Obviously, he didn't have a ticket so God knows how he got in.
I proceeded to stand up when the band came on much to the dismay of people around me..but I was sooo bloody determined to enjoy myself I wasn't bothered what they thought. Anyway, everyone should stand up at a gig unless it's Pink Floyd lol.
Once outside after the gig we were horrified to discover this guy stood at a bus stop opposite. For a moment I thought he was going to follow us...but he just stared at us. I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my neck.
I was relieved to get away, I can tell you!
So, have you ever had to resort to these tactics? My Aries firepower came in handy on this occasion but I don't like using it 'cos I'm a girl and it makes me look aggressive!
Anyway, Caroline was walking along our row and to her dismay saw someone sat in her seat. He was right at the end and there was a spare seat next to him, which was mine. She looked at me as though she didn't know what to do so, fuelled by the drink I told him that he was sat in my friend's seat. He didn't answer me so I told Caroline to show him her ticket, which she did. He still didn't budge. I then asked me to show me HIS ticket and he ignored me. He started squirming in his seat by this time, though. I soon realised that I couldn't ask him politely to move so, guess what I did? I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and literally threw him up the stairs next to the end seat where he was sat. The force of me moving him made him stumble up the stairs but I really didn't care. There were no staff around to help me out so I had to take matters -literally, into my own hands.
"Thanks!" Caroline said, gratefully.
"No problem!" I replied.
We spent a few minutes looking to see where this guy ended up and he was stood right at the back, then disappeared. Obviously, he didn't have a ticket so God knows how he got in.
I proceeded to stand up when the band came on much to the dismay of people around me..but I was sooo bloody determined to enjoy myself I wasn't bothered what they thought. Anyway, everyone should stand up at a gig unless it's Pink Floyd lol.
Once outside after the gig we were horrified to discover this guy stood at a bus stop opposite. For a moment I thought he was going to follow us...but he just stared at us. I could feel his eyes boring into the back of my neck.
I was relieved to get away, I can tell you!
So, have you ever had to resort to these tactics? My Aries firepower came in handy on this occasion but I don't like using it 'cos I'm a girl and it makes me look aggressive!6 people like this
15 responses
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Jul 10
yes,i do.i paid for it,they're moving.especially at concerts.
incidentally,i'm aries too LOL
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Haha! I might've known. Can't say I'm surprised but it's great that you have your "moments" like I do. Welcome aboard the Aries train!
I don't go round beating people up or anything but if I know someone is in the wrong about something, that's it, I go ballistic..but in a controlled way, er..sort of!
2 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
20 Jul 10
i do too.and the older i get the shorter the fuse is getting LOL
1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
20 Jul 10
I wouldnt try that nowadays, Id be afraid to be punched in the face.
A long time ago, I was driving and this small Volks cut off in front of me, in a very dangerous way. I managed to pass him and I cut him off myself, then stopped. I got out of the car with my baseball bat. I was fuming and this 7 feet guy got out of this tiny car......all he did was look me down Im 5'3" and laugh. I can still see it in my mind after all this time. How silly I must have looked against this giant.
I never done that again.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Oh dear.
That is a case of Road Rage you had there my friend. This is one of the reasons why I would be an extremely LOUSY driver, it would stress me out too much.
That is a case of Road Rage you had there my friend. This is one of the reasons why I would be an extremely LOUSY driver, it would stress me out too much.1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
20 Jul 10
Yes I know, I had it badly in my younger age, but Ive mellowed now. :)
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
20 Jul 10
I would have just gone and gotten an usher myself. Geez, remind me not to tick you off. lol
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Haha! Well that particular incident was a long time ago..I've mellowed a bit since then.
As for ushers..there weren't any which was why I had to get rid of this jerk myself. The thing is, this guy was at the bar before the gig as well...staring at me and my friend the whole time..so to see him in Caroline's seat was..well, scary at first. Once I realised who he was and the fact he was sat in a seat he shouldn't be sat in spurred me into action. No way was that ar*ehole going to ruin our night..and he didn't! It was one of the best gigs I've ever been to.
As for ushers..there weren't any which was why I had to get rid of this jerk myself. The thing is, this guy was at the bar before the gig as well...staring at me and my friend the whole time..so to see him in Caroline's seat was..well, scary at first. Once I realised who he was and the fact he was sat in a seat he shouldn't be sat in spurred me into action. No way was that ar*ehole going to ruin our night..and he didn't! It was one of the best gigs I've ever been to.1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
20 Jul 10
I paid for that seat so darn right I will say something. People do make mistakes and read things wrong but still....The only exceptions I will take is if the person in my seat is pregnant, handicapped in some way that prevents them makes standing hard for them or they're an elderly person. I'm not that heartless.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
Hello Janey,
That's awesome (really)
I had almost same situation like this.
We are to travel back home from a long time vacation last summer and we had our tickets reserved hours before our departure.
Since we had our tickets,we did not bother to go early at the station.
Then,when board on the bus,checking the seat numbers,find a man sitting on one of our seats.
I asked him his ticket number and same thing,he didn't moved and try to ignore me as if i am talking to the air.
I asked him again,and still he did not bother to answer,my son get irritated and yell at the man.(not too loud but intentionally)
The man then stood up and point finger to my son saying "don't you have any manners?"
Gosh,telling my son with manners when he doesn't have any.
Good thing is,the guard quickly came to our rescue and asks the man to take the other bus(to avoid unwanted event)
I don't want to ride the same bus with that man either (ugh!)
I just don't understand why some people like to make scenes for attention.
.
Good thing is,the guard quickly came to our rescue and asks the man to take the other bus(to avoid unwanted event)
I don't want to ride the same bus with that man either (ugh!)
I just don't understand why some people like to make scenes for attention.
@jaiho2009 (39141)
• Philippines
22 Jul 10
yes Janey,the good thing is that,the man doesn't have any companion.
I couldn't just imagine what trouble it may cause
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Hello jaiho2009! What a terrible situation for you and your son to be in. Fancy that guy trying to say that your son was the one with no manners. It really annoys me when people who are in the wrong try to twist it as though it's your fault they are sat in YOUR seat!!
Thank goodness the guard came to your rescue. If only there were more of them!
It really annoys me when people who are in the wrong try to twist it as though it's your fault they are sat in YOUR seat!!
Thank goodness the guard came to your rescue. If only there were more of them!
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
4 Aug 10
Hello my journeys are mostly by train,it is always 2 Tier air- conditioned coach, i have to buy tickets two months or more in advance, i move most of the time with my wife, we have health problems, so if i see somebody occupying the reserved seats, i will ask politely to vacate, if not vacated, i will get it vacated by the conductor or ticket examiner,,,
Thanks for sharing.
Welcome always. 
Cheers.
Professor
Cheers.
Professor
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
8 Aug 10
Hi Professor! We were lucky when we visited Edinburgh as no-one tried taking our seats before we sat down! We did think about catching an early train back but there was a jobsworth on the train who said that if the wrong time was on the ticket we would have to pay again. So we got off and spent another 3 hours in Edinburgh before catching the train we had to catch!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
21 Jul 10
I was on the receiving end of this at a Billy Connolly Gig (not that it got to the stage of force being needed!)..I think my reserved seat was something like E in the row,and I inadvertently sat in the G seat a little further along,or something like that..the row was completely empty whern I sat down,and it was near curtain up time before the rightful owner of the seat showed up..I realised I was in the wrong,so moved without a fuss-at least the seat I was meant to be in was close by!
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
21 Jul 10
Just thought of another one,but not involving a reserved seat..I was shopping in IKEA,and went into the Cafe,ordering a main course,dessert,and a coffee..I didn't want the coffee going cold while I was eating,as I like to have coffee with Dessert..so I'd finished my main course,my bag was on the chair beside where I was sitting,the dessert was sitting on the table,and I went over to the nearby self service drinks for my coffee..and turned round to see an older couple sitting down at the table,and the cleanup worker with my untouched dessert in her hand to take it away! They weren't even bothered when I had to ask to get my bag back from where they'd sat down..
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
21 Jul 10
Yes, I find that can be a problem too..not being able to read the small print on (either) a ticket sticking out of the back of a seat or the electronic version. The latter can be very embarrassing as it's above the seats (where hand luggage goes) and leaning over people to read it is a real pain!!
@Galena (9110)
•
20 Jul 10
I will ask people to move if they're in my seat.
I remember on one occasion we'd booked reserved seats on a train for the way back from our holiday.
the train was absolutely heaving, and it was so crowded, both in the seats AND in the aisles that it took us about 15-20 minutes to reach the seats themselves, and the people sitting there were really quite snappy with us for asking them to move, and said "we only sat down after you didn't get on" well, obviously we DID get on, but it took all that time to get there. yes, it's FINE to sit down in a seat when the train leaves the station unused, but it's not okay to be rude to the person whose seat it is when they finally manage to get to it.
fortunately, even if it was with much muttering of "some people" and about us being rude (for politely asking if we could please use the seats we'd reserved) they did move, and we were able to use the seats we'd reserved in order to make sure we were able to sit down.
they seemed to think that because it was so busy we should just stand up, and forget about the reserved seats. but that's WHY you reserve seats. so that you are guarunteed a place to sit, even if it's busy.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
I know what you mean about having to walk for ages to find your carriage sometimes, never mind your seat, so I agree with you that, having someone be rude to you like that when you're so very clearly in the right, is frustrating from your point of view.
Good for you in confronting them in the first place.
@BarBaraPrz (47313)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Jul 10
You were aggressive. Good for you!
Don't be ashamed of it.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
It was years ago and I was quite proud of myself at the time. If I hadn't have moved him there's no way he would've moved voluntarily, the ar*ehole. Haha!
1 person likes this
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
21 Jul 10
Hahahaha. I once did that, and it was on a plane, only because I had asked specifically for a window seat, and a woman took mine, so I asked her, politely though that she was seating on my seat, she moved and said sorry, so it was really uneventful. Hahahaha.
Another time, there was an old man who took my seat on a plane ( It was the window seat of course ), I didn't have the nerve to ask him to move, and I just thought what the hell right? It's only like a 2-hour travel, so I took the middle seat, and after the take off, I just moved to the other window seats which were not taken. So we were all happy in the end. Hahaha.
Another time, there was an old man who took my seat on a plane ( It was the window seat of course ), I didn't have the nerve to ask him to move, and I just thought what the hell right? It's only like a 2-hour travel, so I took the middle seat, and after the take off, I just moved to the other window seats which were not taken. So we were all happy in the end. Hahaha. 
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
20 Jul 10
This would have to depend on whether i had paid for the right to have that seat or not. If it was free, i probably wouldn't compalin too much, depending on the situation where somebody had acquired my seat. If i had paid for the seat, I would not back down. I would get my seat back.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Usually, when we reserve seats on trains over here it's in advance of the time of travel. I have done this recently with seats to Edinburgh on the train. However, if I find that there are loads of unreserved seats on the day of travel then I won't persue the fact that someone might be in our seats. In some cases, the unreserved seats may be better than the reserved ones! If the train is packed though, then I will get my seats no matter what.
@chipesterkhan (2925)
• Philippines
20 Jul 10
of course.
i paid for it and it's my seat for the time i paid for it
i usually just tell the person to move
they usually do
and when they don't....
i call people who are authorized to remove the person from my seat.
no need to get physical unless they ask for it
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
20 Jul 10
Oh yes, I would normally do what you do but the fact there wasn't a member of staff around to help me at Manchester Apollo left me no choice but to remove this guy all by myself. Fortunately, he was a bit of a weed lol.
@sakthimaharai (154)
• India
21 Jul 10
Hi,
Actually it depends, Since if he or she needs for urgent or any avoidable situation mean i will sure give up my reserved set. We need to adjust to life some times.:)
Cheers,
Sakthi
@ANIME123 (2466)
• United States
21 Jul 10
Actually if somebody took my reserved seat I would first tell them and if that person didn't move I would get mad and make them get off my seat because that is just really annoying when someone takes your seat.
Like in a classroom when we had a sub somebody had taken my seat I was like heck no and I told them hey get off my seat and my friends because it was two people sat in my seat and my friends.
They finally get off and their like psshh it's just seats and I was all like then go sit somewhere else man stuff like that just gets me really mad you know it really does annoy me it's like they do not even care you know.
Also this other time I was sitting down in a chair and I got up just to kindly tell some people about my college board it was a college fair thing and then when I was done I went to sit back and a girl was sitting right there.
I was like excuse me your in my chair and shes all like no I need it because I'm wearing high heels and I was all like I don't care I was seriously getting mad and was actually going to fight her, but you know everyone else calmed me down and said she wasn't worth it.
Everybody told me that she is just the rudest person you will ever meet I told my sister and she all like yeah I hate her too I guess she already had a reputation, but man did she really get me mad.
