Passengers who spread over two seats

[TUC]

If there's one thing that annoys me when travelling its passengers (and it is usually men) who are sat with their legs sprawled open over one and a half seats and make no attempt to move in when you sit next to them.

I've just had that experience on the train I'm on now. Not only was the guy's legs sprawled over the two seats but his elbow was pushed right across too-something I didn't notice till I tried to sit down and sat on his elbow which he hadn't bothered to move even though he could see I was about to sit there. He then looked offended that I had sat on it!

He then proceeded to keep his legs and backside pushed right over into my seat. My response to people like this us usually to not shrink back but continue to press against them- not venturing into their seat but making clear that I intend to be able to use all of mine. It made no difference to this guy! Do sone people really think they've bought the rights to two seats?

 

[londonboi]

just saw a similar experience on a train from Victoria. Although was a Elderly Lady. train was packed as was 4 car instead of 8. Gentleman came over to said lady whom had her hand bag on the seat. gentleman politely asked said Elderly lady to kindly move her back so he could sit down.

Lady tuts and mumbles then says rather quietly to herself "why cant you walk down the train find another seat" I look at the man and shake my head offered the man my seat as i as only going 2 stops. He said no its ok then asked the lady if she had a ticket for her bag seen as she wants to take up 2 seats. Needless to say the bag quickly gets moved and she pretends to read a newspaper while the people around her start laughing.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I ask em to move it. And stare at them till they do it... I enjoy making them feel uncomfortable.

 

[route:oxford]

If there's one thing that annoys me when travelling its passengers (and it is usually men) who are sat with their legs sprawled open over one and a half seats and make no attempt to move in when you sit next to them.

I've just had that experience on the train I'm on now. Not only was the guy's legs sprawled over the two seats but his elbow was pushed right across too-something I didn't notice till I tried to sit down and sat on his elbow which he hadn't bothered to move even though he could see I was about to sit there. He then looked offended that I had sat on it!

He then proceeded to keep his legs and backside pushed right over into my seat. My response to people like this us usually to not shrink back but continue to press against them- not venturing into their seat but making clear that I intend to be able to use all of mine. It made no difference to this guy! Do sone people really think they've bought the rights to two seats?

Close your eyes as if you are drifting off to sleep, relax your body, then let your hand fall slowly onto his thigh.

If you are happy to play further, rest your head on his shoulder.

He'll probably move it.

 

[Saint66]

Whenever I use FCC to get into London, as we approach a station, or as other passengers get on, most people will move over to one seat/move their stuff, so I've never had to ask someone to move.

Having said that, I often stand in the vestibule for the 20/25 minute journey if I'm on a fast train as standing just doesn't bother me.

 

[TUC]

If there's one thing that annoys me when travelling its passengers (and it is usually men) who are sat with their legs sprawled open over one and a half seats and make no attempt to move in when you sit next to them.

I've just had that experience on the train I'm on now. Not only was the guy's legs sprawled over the two seats but his elbow was pushed right across too-something I didn't notice till I tried to sit down and sat on his elbow which he hadn't bothered to move even though he could see I was about to sit there. He then looked offended that I had sat on it!

He then proceeded to keep his legs and backside pushed right over into my seat. My response to people like this us usually to not shrink back but continue to press against them- not venturing into their seat but making clear that I intend to be able to use all of mine. It made no difference to this guy! Do sone people really think they've bought the rights to two seats?

Close your eyes as if you are drifting off to sleep, relax your body, then let your hand fall slowly onto his thigh.

If you are happy to play further, rest your head on his shoulder.

He'll probably move it.

There was an occasion when I was on a National Express coach and I fell asleep. In my dream I was sitting next to my wife. I woke up to find I'd put my head on the shoulder of the guy sitting next to me!

 

[Chouette]

While I do always move when necessary, it would be nice if train seats felt less like they were specially designed to remove my kneecaps

 

[Vicpaul]

It's the sitee that gets me. I'm sat comfortable you get on fall from the sky into the chair and hen proceed to claim my space as your own.

Oh and the table thiefs, to have a book, laptop, phone and a cup of coffee all out at once is a tad excessive

 

[londonboi]

i find if you ask them politely to sit on a vacant seat they normally apologize and move. Manners cost nothing and been polite is always the best way i find

 

[snail]

I ask em to move it. And stare at them till they do it...

...then spot another seat and say 'doesn't matter, there's a seat over there'. But only after they have moved their stuff.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

There are a few objectionable , rather large individuals on FCC north who try this tack. Politeness does not work always ....

 

[TheEdge]

Oh and the table thiefs, to have a book, laptop, phone and a cup of coffee all out at once is a tad excessive

I came across a pair of these. I was happily sat on a FGW 158 reading a magazine on an otherwise empty table. Pulled into Temple Meads, two business type ladies get on complete with coffee and pasta pots. Not a problem.

Once they've finished their pasta pots out comes the laptop, bag and the one opposite me wants to use a full size keyboard and mouse. Does she ask if its ok? Course not, just encroaches on me.

My properly British passive aggressive tendencies kick in. Suddenly I need to read my magazine laying flat on the table and I make sure my legs are just enough in the way to be irritating but not obvious. And so we continued all the way to Salisbury.

 

[user15681]

Ah, the habits of the commuter. I'm sure I could write a book of stories of people that I encounter every day. Not a day goes by without something amusing or odd happening.

There's the one with loud music, the one on the phone, the one that snores, the one doing their make up, the one that takes up all manner of space with body or possessions. Then there's the ones that chat, the one that has breakfast on the go, the one changing from trainers to shoes, the one with wet hair from the shower, the one that steals the armrest, the one that ploughs to the front near the terminus and worst of all... the one that eats food that smells disgusting.

I once sat next to an individual who took up half of the next seat as you say. She then proceeded to eat a tomato and cheese baguette that she let dribble down her chin and all over herself, it was vile. She was making noises like a hoover or a walrus. I couldn't think of any way to resolve the situation as the train was full, so I pretended to ring someone and have a chat, before I said down the phone in my pretend conversation "Oh, I think I've just found a couple of nits in my hair". She moved, I got some space. I was more than happy to let someone else sit in her seat and they kept to their own space.

I've just remembered, I saw some gentlemen yesterday on the tube who had the perfect tactic to maintain their own personal space. They were each carrying a potted cactus.

 

[The Decapod]

The opposite side of the 'sprawling' passenger problem is the type of passenger who decides to sit next to you even though there are lots of empty pairs of seats. It is as a defence against such people that I employ the sprawling tactic.

 

[dcsprior]

Some people are just ignorant. However perhaps train design can help to discourage this by having a decent-length solid armrest between every pair of seats? Folding it down would leave no avoidance of doubt!

 

[TUC]

worst of all... the one that eats food that smells disgusting.

I once sat next to an individual who took up half of the next seat as you say. She then proceeded to eat a tomato and cheese baguette that she let dribble down her chin and all over herself, it was vile.

Of all the food that could be objected to, I think a tomato and cheese baguette falls pretty far down the list!

 

[Kite159]

Eating food & drink is all fine, as long as the passengers remember to take the rubbish with them as they leave the train to place into a bin, rather than leaving it on the table.

 

[user15681]

Of all the food that could be objected to, I think a tomato and cheese baguette falls pretty far down the list!

It wasn't the tomato and cheese I was objecting to, but the mess being made and the noise made by eating. There is worse though!

 

[TUC]

Oh and the table thiefs, to have a book, laptop, phone and a cup of coffee all out at once is a tad excessive

If more trains had power sockets for aisle seats that would help solve the problem. I am someone who often has several things out at once, particularly if I'm on a long journey during which I'll need to do work on my laptop but also have something out to read and relax at some point, although I always try to squeeze everything into my own space. The problem is that ideally I'd keep things in my bag on the rack until I need them. However the fact I need a power socket means I need the window seat and so to avoid having to ask the person next to me to let me past several times during the journey I'll get them out at the start.

As I say, something that could easily be solved by aisle seat power sockets. One of these things that some trains have so its difficult to see why others don't.

 

[Deerfold]

Of all the food that could be objected to, I think a tomato and cheese baguette falls pretty far down the list!

Indeed. I must be unlucky in keep getting the person who's just bought sushi on the trains out of Kings X.

 

[Class172]

...and then there are the people who physically take up two whole seats - last week on the train there was a couple who managed between them to cover 6 seats, and passengers around them were none too impressed when they started eating some fast food meals that stank the area out.

 

[Firesprite]

...and then there are the people who physically take up two whole seats - last week on the train there was a couple who managed between them to cover 6 seats, and passengers around them were none too impressed when they started eating some fast food meals that stank the area out.

That sound like the last time I used a National Express coach, Two Billy Bunters taking up the four front seats. Two booked passengers at a later stop on route were unable to board and had to wait for the next service.

 

[starrymarkb]

Had one on the the plane yesterday. Had taken over the middle seat (3+3) for bags and was using its table for more crap as his macbook took up his own table. Still schadenfreude when the stewardesses made him stow it for landing and he left the Macbook in the seat pocket after arrival

 

[TUC]

That sound like the last time I used a National Express coach, Two Billy Bunters taking up the four front seats. Two booked passengers at a later stop on route were unable to board and had to wait for the next service.

Surely if they had booked seats they would have had every right to board?

 

[swj99]

He then looked offended that I had sat on it!

Could it be that he was lamenting the fact that the seats hadn't been made slightly larger ?

Thinking about the thread title, I suppose it depends on what exactly is being spread over two seats. For example, if it was marmite, I certainly wouldn't blame anyone for complaining.

 

[Parallel]

It is annoying sometimes if someone is sprawling over 2 seats, although sometimes it can't be helped - My legs usually have to face diagonally when traveling on FGW 150/1s, 150/2s or 153s because I'm quite tall - But I don't sit like that when I have the choice because IMO it's quite rude.

 

[fowler9]

Well I was on a 156 from West Allerton to Lime Street two winters ago and the guard actually volunteered to me the info that the train was freezing and they had contacted their manager about it earlier on their shift and been told that the passengers had paid for travel, not comfort so stop worrying.

So there is your answer if you can't sit or are too warm or cold, "tough s***".

 

[Firesprite]

Surely if they had booked seats they would have had every right to board?

Where would they have sat? The driver had to chose the lesser of two evils. Have you tried to move someone the size of 'Cyril Smith'?

 

[Argosy]

...and then there are the people who physically take up two whole seats - last week on the train there was a couple who managed between them to cover 6 seats, and passengers around them were none too impressed when they started eating some fast food meals that stank the area out.

Perhaps they were travelling on a family railcard?

 

[reb0118]

Where would they have sat?

In their booked seats.

The driver had to chose the lesser of two evils. Have you tried to move someone the size of 'Cyril Smith'?

I'd have papped them off at the bus stop. Well one at least.

Fatties should be made to buy two tickets? Discuss............