Public Transport: Aisle Seat Etiquette

[cdd]

Here's the deal: on public transport I prefer aisle seats. This is for many reasons but the key one is the extra space in the aisle region, place to put a bag, ease of exit etc.

Most of the time this preference works out in my favour since semi-full buses offer plenty of window-occupied, aisle-free seats. The problem emerges with buses that have empty adjacent seats.

The logical thing to do is take the aisle seat. However this is fraught with complications: I suspect I am judged as one of those people who just doesn't want someone next to them. These complications came to a head a lady wanted to sit down next to me and told me in no uncertain terms that if I was the first person to arrive at a double seat I should have taken the window and furthermore I should move up to the window when she arrives not leave her to go past me take the window.

So I've been left feeling all uncertain about the etiquette of seat choice for aisle seat preferrers. And I put it to Metropol to explain this to me. I would ask William Hanson, but somehow I don't think he takes public transport.

[rts]

I like the aisle seat too, CDD. Being rather tall, I appreciate the extra leg room, and being able to have all my bags etc next to me.

On chock-a-block trains, I sit against the window giving others the option of a seat.

On half-full trains, I remain seated in the aisle, in the selfish hope new passengers will plonk their behinds on one of the other available seats.

On virtually empty trains, I sit in the middle of three seat section for maximum arm stretching when reading the paper!

[Nini]

The etiquette is usually to move towards the window seat if someone seems to be eyeing your place. Sticking around in the aisle seat with nothing in the next seat is considered rude but usually if something is there which seems sizeable enough is there already they'll pass you over. Aisle dwellers will have to deal with the window seat or bring something large like a rucksack so they can keep their preferred seat.

[Nick Harvey]

I think you should all stand up and let the older generation have the seat.

[Pete]

These complications came to a head a lady wanted to sit down next to me and told me in no uncertain terms that if I was the first person to arrive at a double seat I should have taken the window and furthermore I should move up to the window when she arrives not leave her to go past me take the window

So long as you stood to let her take the window seat, and crucially, had longer legs than her, you should have the aisle seat and she can pop herself down at the window.

I think the key is standing up, so long as she was offered the seat that's good. If she wasn't happy I'd have sat back down in silence.

[James H]

The little bucket seats on Stagecoach buses aren't wide enough. I have a wide frame being built like a rugby player, thus when I sit down I always end up on the edge of an aisle seat. Thus I always try to get a window seat, because the person next to me can then deal with having one cheek hanging off, so to speak. I'm also not so keen on people sitting next to me, I'd like a bit more room to stretch out, read my book, fall asleep etc. On Go-ahead buses I hate the quads of seats, because you nearly ALWAYS end up engaging in half-hearted small talk with the old biddy across the seat from you.

It's the people who look at you like you're stupid when they're sitting in an aisle seat after you've said excuse me please. Similarly, I can't stand people who, when you're sitting down, merely expect you to move without saying anything. What makes you so important?

Yet again though cdd does that not emphasise the phenomenon of people who live to complain about shit?

[cdd]

The etiquette is usually to move towards the window seat if someone seems to be eyeing your place.

Sadly I get the feeling you're right. It's ironic, since most people seem to prefer the window seat; but if there's someone in the aisle seat I feel terribly boxed in there. On partially full buses it obviously doesn't matter a bit.

The trouble is the second camp of Aisle Seat user, who simply use the aisle seat as a means to try and put off the idea of having someone sit next to them. I get the feeling I'm judged as one of them (who are indeed worse than scum) and consequently get tarred with the same brush. If there were a lot more space between the seats, it would be much less of an issue since getting around to sit in the window seat wouldn't be a problem. The fundamental problem with the window seat if there is someone in the aisle, is the trouble of interacting with the person in the aisle seat to get to sit at the window seat.

I think the key is standing up, so long as she was offered the seat that's good. If she wasn't happy I'd have sat back down in silence.

That's a good suggestion, but consider that this situation arises as soon as all or most double seat seats have been taken. There are many free non-double seats, so is someone in the aisle seat to get up at every single stop or just when someone directly asks for the seat? Obviously I have no trobule sitting next to someone as long as they are in the window and I am in the aisle; but I suspect it requires an especially assertive kind of pasenger to ask for the free Window seat in the first place, and the lady in this case study seemed to take offense at having to interact with me in the first place.

Grr, stupid etiquette condemning me to a life of window seats.

[Pete]

if person who has alighted wishes for "your" window seat they should look at you with an inquisitive face as if to say "may i?", at this point you stand politely.

[Nini]

Similarly, I can't stand people who, when you're sitting down, merely expect you to move without saying anything. What makes you so important?

Because I'm burning a hole into the side of your head with my eyes, MOVE YOU PLEB!

Sadly I get the feeling you're right. It's ironic, since most people seem to prefer the window seat; but if there's someone in the aisle seat I feel terribly boxed in there. On partially full buses it obviously doesn't matter a bit.

The trouble is the second camp of Aisle Seat user, who simply use the aisle seat as a means to try and put off the idea of having someone sit next to them.

The aisle seat camper.. dicks. For everyone else looking for someplace to sit on a crowded bus, you're that aisle seat camper even if you just prefer it and will sit in a window seat.

Grr, stupid etiquette condemning me to a life of window seats.

Take it and shut up, Nick wants someplace to sit.

[Sput]

Know who you need, cdd?


Look at that poise: he's on a bus seat ready to spring to attention when anyone gives him the nod.

[Nini]

I would ask William Hanson, but somehow I don't think he takes public transport.