National Express Seat Allocation

[Temple Meads]

On National Express coaches do you get allocated with a specific seat, or is it just a case of take any seat that's free?

Having not travelled with National Express for a long time (since I was a small child), I have no idea!

Thanks in advance.

Tim

PS: If it's operator specific we're talking about Parks of Hamilton on South West to London services, and SGBC on North Devon to London services.

 

[Martin1988]

National Express do not allocate specific seats. You can sit in any seat that's free when you board the coach.

Something that is worth bearing in mind is that if the stop you are boarding at is not the first one on the route and other passengers have boarded before you, your choice of seats may already be more restricted when you board. For example, I've found that the ones right at the rear or with the most legroom seem to be more popular for passengers traveling on longer journeys.

Also, if front row seats are your thing, bear in mind that there are some drivers who do not make a habbit of keeping these seats free for passengers and instead use them to store their bags, making them available at their discretion. Also, it is possible that you could find yourself in a situation where you are required to move from a front seat due to a passenger with restricted mobility boarding

 

[Temple Meads]

National Express do not allocate specific seats. You can sit in any seat that's free when you board the coach.

Something that is worth bearing in mind is that if the stop you are boarding at is not the first one on the route and other passengers have boarded before you, your choice of seats may already be more restricted when you board. For example, I've found that the ones right at the rear or with the most legroom seem to be more popular for passengers traveling on longer journeys.

Also, if front row seats are your thing, bear in mind that there are some drivers who do not make a habbit of keeping these seats free for passengers and instead use them to store their bags, making them available at their discretion. Also, it is possible that you could find yourself in a situation where you are required to move from a front seat due to a passenger with restricted mobility boarding

Thank you for that detailed reply, much appreciated

My preference on coaches is usually for a seat in the front couple of rows, for a decent view through the windscreen.

 

[starrymarkb]

The Parks routes to London tend to be the new 15m Elites. The seating in these is high backed. You might get a Panther with lower seat backs but they have a large destination box

The 502 is a Levante - not sat at the front of one but from being parked along side it looks like the first row or two don't have a side view as the seats slope towards the front but the window line doesn't! These may have high or low backed seats depending on age. (NatEx now specify high back leather seats with power sockets and tables on new deliveries)

In any case the first two rows on the passenger side are priority seats for wheelchair bound passengers. The seats fold and slide back to create a wheelchair bay.