One woman, Jane, bought an expensive train ticket in a first-class seat, only for it to be a priority seat. When an elderly woman asked her to give up the seat, she refused before being praised on the internet for her actions!
Taking Priority
Jane embarked on a train journey from London to Aberdeen, a seven-hour venture across the United Kingdom.
Opting for a first-class seat, she made this choice to treat herself after a 2-week work trip due to the comfort and space benefits of traveling first-class.
First-class carriages in the UK are extremely expensive but offer the advantage of “individual seats,” providing privacy and room for personal activities.
Upon boarding the train in London and settling into her designated seat, Jane found herself in the “priority seat,” typically reserved for passengers with mobility issues due to age or disability, as that’s the seat she was assigned by the booking company.
Find Another Seat
Shortly after, a woman in her sixties approached Jane, asserting her need for the priority seat due to her age.
Jane politely explained that she had booked the seat in advance and directed her to the train staff for assistance in finding another available seat.
A train guard intervened, attempting to resolve the situation with the elderly woman who held an “open ticket” with no specific seat reservation.
In the UK’s rail system, open tickets grant the flexibility to travel on any train but do not guarantee a seat without a reservation.
The train guard proposed moving either Jane or the woman to the standard class if a seat could be found, a suggestion Jane declined, reiterating her prior reservation and the necessity for the designated seat.
Efforts were made to accommodate the woman in standard class, and it is assumed she was eventually provided with a seat, but Jane was left with reservations.
Not My Problem
Jane, although empathetic, stood by her decision to retain her booked seat, showing resilience in a situation that she claimed was out of her control.
After the journey, Jane started having second thoughts about her decision to refuse to give her priority seat to someone who needed it more, “I felt bad, but I also don’t think I needed to put myself in severe discomfort because someone else didn’t think ahead and reserve a seat,” she said.
The elderly woman was accused of being cheap, “I think the lady tried to pull a fast one to save a few bucks by not reserving a seat,” one user said.
“Also sounds like the lady was trying to get a first class seat on a standard ticket.” another added.
The company was accused of sexism, “Single female travelers are always asked to give up seats in such situations,” they argued.
Was Jane correct to stand her ground, or should she have given up her seat for the elderly woman? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
The post When Should You Give Up Your Seat On Public Transport? Who Takes Priority? first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Natee Meepian