Irritating Passengers

Nothing irritates me more than those passengers who think they are entitled to two seats on crowded trains, like the Pacific Surfliners leaving Solana Beach in the a.m. and from LA in the p.m. rush.

I wish I had a dollar for every glare or mean look that you get as you walk down the aisle looking for a seat, every window seat long gone and every aisle seat cluttered with papers or computers or bags of window passengers who don't want anyone sitting next to them.

Is this only a West Coast commuter phenomenon? Does it happen on other trains? Is it a legacy of the days when far fewer people rode Amtrak?

Whatever it is, it is incredibly rude behavior considering everyone only bought a single ticket!!!

It happens everywhere in the country on any mode of transportation with open seating (including Southwest Airlines).

Haven't traveled as much abroad to know whether it more or less often elsewhere in the world.

That is why I like sleepers on LD Trains. Coach and Thruway Busses are something I try to avoid. Although, my home station being STP, it is impossible!!! Plus 9 times out of 10 you wish you would've chosen another seat anyway!!!

gust of fresh air said:

Nothing irritates me more than those passengers who think they are entitled to two seats on crowded trains, like the Pacific Surfliners leaving Solana Beach in the a.m. and from LA in the p.m. rush.

I wish I had a dollar for every glare or mean look that you get as you walk down the aisle looking for a seat, every window seat long gone and every aisle seat cluttered with papers or computers or bags of window passengers who don't want anyone sitting next to them.

Is this only a West Coast commuter phenomenon? Does it happen on other trains? Is it a legacy of the days when far fewer people rode Amtrak?

Whatever it is, it is incredibly rude behavior considering everyone only bought a single ticket!!!

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Could this be our Johnny??

I'm currently sitting on 2160 and directly across the aisle from me is one of those seat hogs. And while the train is not sold out, I'd say that probably 90% to 95% of the seats are full.

gust of fresh air said:

Nothing irritates me more than those passengers who think they are entitled to two seats on crowded trains, like the Pacific Surfliners leaving Solana Beach in the a.m. and from LA in the p.m. rush.

I wish I had a dollar for every glare or mean look that you get as you walk down the aisle looking for a seat, every window seat long gone and every aisle seat cluttered with papers or computers or bags of window passengers who don't want anyone sitting next to them.

Is this only a West Coast commuter phenomenon? Does it happen on other trains? Is it a legacy of the days when far fewer people rode Amtrak?

Whatever it is, it is incredibly rude behavior considering everyone only bought a single ticket!!!

Click to expand...

Every single time I take the Texas Eagle, announcements are made to the effect of, "This is a very full train, if you have two seats to yourself PLEASE remove bags, papers, etc. from the seat next to you so we may seat people there." So, I don't think it's just on PacSurf. I know the last time I traveled coach on the TE, it was tough to find someone willing to give up the "extra seat they didn't pay for"

I've had this happen a couple of times, not many considering the number of trains I've taken in the past 11 months.

That said, I'm not intimidated by anyone that's not pointing a weapon at me

I look at the seat number, repeat it, and tell the offender that the Coach Attendant told me that I HAD to sit in that seat.

They're welcome to ask the CA for their *extra* seat back.

I haven't had a bad seat mate yet, then again, I spend most of my time in the SSL or Lounge in LD trips.

I will split my answer into three parts: 1) seat-hogs, and 2) shoes-on-seats 3) rude handicap seat squatters

1) I only find seathogs mildly irritating. Only mildly because I feel 100% justified in asking them to move an inanimate object so I can sit my animate carcass down on a seat. Bags don't need a seat, but my butt does. If I get a glare or a sigh, I (quite literally) glare or sigh right back at them. My wife, however, will become irritated and brood about this type of thing. We will walk past perfectly good seats taken up by bags and I will have to listen to her say its not right, grumble grumble. I used to be the same way quite honestly. However now, I quite honestly could not care less if a person has to move their bag for me. Its not my fault the person didn't put their bag where it was supposed to be in the first place. I make an effort to do the right thing, they can too.

2) The people who put their shoes and/or obviously stain-generating objects onto a seat seriously grind my gears (IE: a cup of liquid with no top). I find it a blatant lack of consideration for your fellow passenger. I don't care if you painstakingly tip toe around on your sneakers and have never stepped in dog mess. The fact you put your shoes on a seat where a person wants to sit really irks me to the point where I consider the person a neanderthal. Exceptions: a cast or full leg brace. Obviously, some leg injuries require leg elevation. I really cannot fault an injured person for doing this if it eases pain.

3) This last one is pretty rare, and I will keep it brief because it is only partly related to the original question- not giving up your seat to a pregnant lady (or elderly person) - in fact I've only seen it once. A man refused to give up his seat for a (very) pregnant woman because he was working on his laptop. I regret saying nothing about it years ago when I saw it happen.

Last October while returning to Spokane from the Seattle Gathering, an announcement was made in our coach car prior to our stop at Everett that there was a large amount of passengers boarding at Everett and that the train would be completely full. And that if someone wanted two seats to themselves, they would be happy to sell them the other seat, as no one was entitled to two seats. As it turned out, no one sat next to me anyway. (That must tell me something about myself, but I'm not sure what :lol: ). At any rate, this was the first time I'd heard an announcement like that and thought it was a great idea.

Whenever I have ridden the Heartland Flyer seat hogging has never been a problem mainly because I try to schedule my trips for weekdays when loads are light. Even with the Conductors keeping pax "herded" into only 2 Coaches, getting a seat to yourself when traveling solo is usually never a problem and folks are often encouraged to find a seat to their liking.

Usually they make that announcement on the Keystone, mostly when you are heading east closer to Philly. I usually keep the seat open but I don't think people want to sit with me. When I sit with somebody I always get those glares.

There is nothing local about rude or selfish behaviour, it is a worldwide phenomenon. I always make a point of taking a seat that has baggage on, I love to upset annoying people... We need to make a stand against selfish behaviour!

Interestingly, I read that when the police investigated every able bodied driver who parked in a disabled parking bay, they always found that those people had commited additional "crimes"... so when you hog two seats, it says a lot about your nasty character, methinks!

Ed

gust of fresh air said:

Nothing irritates me more than those passengers who think they are entitled to two seats on crowded trains, like the Pacific Surfliners leaving Solana Beach in the a.m. and from LA in the p.m. rush.

I wish I had a dollar for every glare or mean look that you get as you walk down the aisle looking for a seat, every window seat long gone and every aisle seat cluttered with papers or computers or bags of window passengers who don't want anyone sitting next to them.

Is this only a West Coast commuter phenomenon? Does it happen on other trains? Is it a legacy of the days when far fewer people rode Amtrak?

Whatever it is, it is incredibly rude behavior considering everyone only bought a single ticket!!!

Click to expand...

As others have said, it's an issue wherever there is "open seating." I guess people just want to have "their space" for as long as they can. Sometimes, they'll do things like pretend they're sleeping, in order to avoid being asked for the seat or, at least, be the very last to be asked. I rode NJ Transit trains for 8 years, and always gave up my other seat if asked or if it appeared the train was getting full. But I always ensured I got the aisle seat so I could move if I wanted to, later on. Talk about "glares" (for abandoning your seat mate)... <_<

As for "irritating passengers," the only ones that bother me now are (as you may have guessed) one of the AT's primary constituencies. Families with young (unruly) children (same issue on airplanes). That is, the one's that usually get put in the adjoining bedroom (i.e. with only the partition between us)... Don't get me wrong... I don't blame the kids at all. I was one once myself. I blame the parents for either not being able to, or just simply refusing to take control of their kids. I like the kids' enthusiasm for train travel, etc. But parents need to take control and teach them how to respect the their neighbors' right to a little peace and quiet. I wonder if they even realize how the sound carries through those flimsy little partition doors. In fact, I really feel sorry for some of those kids... because you can also hear how the parents choose to (or choose not to) discipline them.

Speaking of "sound carries," I've often wondered about couples, not realizing how easily the sound does carry, attempting to fulfill one of those "Cialis moments" only to discover they had an audience... talk about "embarrassing," especially when your neighbors leave signs on your door... "5.9...5.8... 5.9...5.6 (Russian Judge)... 5.9"

Speaking of "sound carries," I've often wondered about couples, not realizing how easily the sound does carry, attempting to fulfill one of those "Cialis moments" only to discover they had an audience... talk about "embarrassing," especially when your neighbors leave signs on your door... "5.9...5.8... 5.9...5.6 (Russian Judge)... 5.9"

:lol: :lol: :lol: 10.0 (American Judge/Occasional Cialis Customer!)!!!

Amazing how quickly a discussion can get sidetracked by a good joke. Equally amazing how prevalent railroad analogies are in our language.

Shanghai said:

gust of fresh air said:

Nothing irritates me more than those passengers who think they are entitled to two seats on crowded trains, like the Pacific Surfliners leaving Solana Beach in the a.m. and from LA in the p.m. rush.

I wish I had a dollar for every glare or mean look that you get as you walk down the aisle looking for a seat, every window seat long gone and every aisle seat cluttered with papers or computers or bags of window passengers who don't want anyone sitting next to them.

Is this only a West Coast commuter phenomenon? Does it happen on other trains? Is it a legacy of the days when far fewer people rode Amtrak?

Whatever it is, it is incredibly rude behavior considering everyone only bought a single ticket!!!

Click to expand...

Could this be our Johnny??

Click to expand...

No.

I sit in the seats marked as reserved right next to the booths for conductors. I am never one of the seat hoggers, though I see it often. Those are the trains I usually take though. I am very personable and will happily engage in conversation with any other teen if I'm unaccompanied or if I'm next to an adult as well when I'm not exactly following the rules.

What I love are the people on #5 who 'reserve' seats in the SSL with books, etc. and then go have breakfast. :angry2: :angry2: :angry2:

I've moved their stuff before. :giggle:

The Davy Crockett said:

What I love are the people on #5 who 'reserve' seats in the SSL with books, etc. and then go have breakfast. :angry2: :angry2: :angry2:

I've moved their stuff before. :giggle:

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I had a guy tell me he was saving a seat in the SSL for his daughter, who went to the room to take a nap!!!! :angry:

Just for the record, it happens frequently here in Australia. Also, I regret to say, the feet on seats! I am surprised to hear that happens in the US, where I find people are generally well-mannered. Recently I enjoyed an incident travelling between Sydney and Newcastle (a regional train). Two teenage girls in an uncrowded car had their feet on the opposite seats when along came an officer from the transit police. He very promptly and sharply reprimanded them, pointing out the nearby sign which gave the fine for this offence, $100. After he moved on I watched to see if the feet went back up. Lucky for them they didn't try it again, because in less than 5 minutes he was back. He just walked slowly by. Wish it could happen more often.

Jean

It seems to be an Anglo/American thing...I travel regularly in continental Europe, and such behavior is quite rare there.

guest said:

It seems to be an Anglo/American thing...I travel regularly in continental Europe, and such behavior is quite rare there.

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The 'seat piggies' on #5 who tried to 'reserve' seats both mornings in the SSL on #5 were British, so possibly...

The Davy Crockett said:

guest said:

It seems to be an Anglo/American thing...I travel regularly in continental Europe, and such behavior is quite rare there.

Click to expand...

The 'seat piggies' on #5 who tried to 'reserve' seats both mornings in the SSL on #5 were British, so possibly...

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Well trying to reserve space on #5 in either morning is not a bad idea!!! I agree that it was not appropriate to hog them, but it sure is cool when you do get those seats, whether winter or summer or snowy or sunny.

Since the subject of irritating people has come up, one thing that really irritates me is people who speak very loudly as if they have no consideration for folks sitting near by. One such situation occurred on a regional NEC train where a woman was calling her girlfriends to describe he shopping spree in NYC. Her voice was so loud - I mean her voice had range! She was on her cell phone from the time we left NYP through WIL. She was three rows behind my seat and I could hear her as clearly as the person sitting next to me. A similar situation occurred on a different trip from NYP to BWI. Two women sitting in the seats across the aisle were speaking very loudly. I looked over - just to make eye contact and they immediately got the hint that they were speaking way to loudly. One of the woman actually apologized to me. Of course, I was pleasantly surprised. So, despite the fact that some people have no clue about how their conversations may irritate others, there are some folks who do get it!

The "seat hog" issue doesn't bug me if it's a near-empty section of a route (i.e. RVR-NPN), but if it's not and/or it's a busy day then I see an issue.

It's true that you can find rude people anywhere in the world, but the issue of the seat hog seems to be amplified here in the US.

Despite record ridership in some areas, much of America's population remains uninterested in mass transit. Just because someone moves to an area where mass transit makes sense doesn't mean they agree with it or enjoy it. Even in those instances when we begrudgingly surrender to mass transit in the name of time or money, many of us still attempt to keep every stranger around us at arms length. You really never know what sort of person is going to sit down next to you. Maybe they will be exceptionally clean and respectful. Or maybe they won't. Maybe they'll leave you be. Or maybe they'll bother you incessantly with any number of obnoxious traits they're either oblivious of or indifferent to. Or maybe they'll be some sort of head decapitating nutcase or face eating maniac.

If someone fails miserably at life, we do not consider that to be society's problem. We expect the person who failed to figure out what went wrong with their own decisions and either fix it themselves or end up in the penal system. But what do you do if that person is allowed to enter your personal space like might happen on a mass transit commute? How do you keep their problems from becoming your problem if they're allowed to get close to you? If we have to see and hear (and smell) the problems of others then it suddenly becomes our problem, and that's not something many of us are taught to handle, from either direction.

I think some folks end up riding mass transit despite the potential for problems and learn important lessons from the experience. Others do whatever they can to make riding the train as close to the experience of riding a private vehicle as possible. Thus we have the seat hog.

As for why this is so pronounced here in the US, maybe a society which preaches individualism and personal achievement at the expense of the group is inadvertently promoting perpetual alienation?

Food for thought anyway.