Bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was not treated well by fellow passengers
#16
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,410
#17
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA, WN, BA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 313
If everyone had a seat then I take back my entire post. If the standby passengers had a seat, although it may have been in the back or somewhere undesirable, then good for the OP for standing his ground. I was under the impression that the standby pax were standing. Apologizes on the confusion.
#18
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: LHR/LGW
Programs: DL Gold, CO Silver
Posts: 1,036
I bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was treated badly
I don't get it
It was important enough to you to go through all that nonsense with the other passengers yet then offered to sell the seat for thirteen dollars?
It was important enough to you to go through all that nonsense with the other passengers yet then offered to sell the seat for thirteen dollars?
#19
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Of course the person who wanted said seat already paid for one, and most likely didn't want to pay again just for the privilege of sitting next to OP @:-)
Of course, the offer would have meant more had OP offered the seat for $13 to a standby that was left behind @:-) OK, OK, I'm ... U me ing that there were pax who didn't get on
EmailKid
#20
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
Unless someone doesn't fit onto one seat when they should paid for two, because it is rough on whoever gets the seat next to them.
To buy two seats just to have the space, is against the whole spirit of communal/public transport. Just because you can buy two tickets doesn't mean you should. If you don't like random people and coaches, check out Net Jets.
All that really happened is you had to explain the situation of you having two tickets. What did you expect, people to see an empty seat and ignore it when loads pax on standby?
To buy two seats just to have the space, is against the whole spirit of communal/public transport. Just because you can buy two tickets doesn't mean you should. If you don't like random people and coaches, check out Net Jets.
All that really happened is you had to explain the situation of you having two tickets. What did you expect, people to see an empty seat and ignore it when loads pax on standby?
Last edited by EmailKid; Mar 11, 2013 at 8:21 am Reason: Deleted personal attack
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 56,446
#22
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
you can't just buy two tickets, specific tickets exist re flights per airline. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ir_Travel.html
#23
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the road in North America....
Programs: UA 1MM, *G, Global Entry
Posts: 579
you can't just buy two tickets, specific tickets exist re flights per airline. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ir_Travel.html
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
you can't just buy two tickets, specific tickets exist re flights per airline. http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...ir_Travel.html
#26
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 118
To buy two seats just to have the space, is against the whole spirit of communal/public transport. Just because you can buy two tickets doesn't mean you should. If you don't like random people and coaches, check out Net Jets.
All that really happened is you had to explain the situation of you having two tickets. What did you expect, people to see an empty seat and ignore it when loads pax on standby?
All that really happened is you had to explain the situation of you having two tickets. What did you expect, people to see an empty seat and ignore it when loads pax on standby?
And are you actually suggesting that fat customers should have more rights?
Its also not very fun to sit next to me "as a person of height" on a standard bus, especially if sleeping or using a laptop. I am glad people are largely understanding of my reasoning for buying two seats when I have to travel at busy times. Of course if I'm boarding late without assigned seat and there aren't two left next together though, that's my problem.
Of course the implicit betterness of having payed twice is a bit annoying. (Though with discount pricing you've still payed less than others.) I'm surprised none of the operators have gone for a "economy plus" section at the front of the bus where customers who pay for two seats per person are seated.
#27
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 306
On a recent trip from NYC to Boston I opted for the Bolt bus instead of Amtrak. Since I found a bus ticket for $13 each way I decided to buy two for myself to hopefully guarantee an empty seat next to me.
The bus was sold out since it was a Friday afternoon. There were a lot of people trying to stand by. Every time someone asked to sit in the empty seat next to me I said that I bought 2 seats and got a dirty look. Then the driver boarded standbys. The last standby tried to sit next to me and I didn't let him. I told the driver that I purchased 2 seats on the same bus, and even showed him both tickets. He thought one was a fake because the confirmation numbers were consecutive. Of course they would be consecutive since I bought one right after the other. Eventually the driver relented after calling his manager to confirm my tickets and explain the situation. The standby passenger thought I was being mean for denying him the seat next to me. I said that I'd let him sit there if he paid me $13, he didn't, and chose to leave and wait for the next bus.
I felt like its well within my rights to buy 2 seats for myself and defend the second seat I paid full price for. It's just like my imaginary friend was sitting next to me. I shouldn't have to let someone sit in the seat I paid for without expecting compensation, the price I paid for the seat. Everyone has the option to pay for 2 seats for themselves, so it's not like I'm special.
The bus was sold out since it was a Friday afternoon. There were a lot of people trying to stand by. Every time someone asked to sit in the empty seat next to me I said that I bought 2 seats and got a dirty look. Then the driver boarded standbys. The last standby tried to sit next to me and I didn't let him. I told the driver that I purchased 2 seats on the same bus, and even showed him both tickets. He thought one was a fake because the confirmation numbers were consecutive. Of course they would be consecutive since I bought one right after the other. Eventually the driver relented after calling his manager to confirm my tickets and explain the situation. The standby passenger thought I was being mean for denying him the seat next to me. I said that I'd let him sit there if he paid me $13, he didn't, and chose to leave and wait for the next bus.
I felt like its well within my rights to buy 2 seats for myself and defend the second seat I paid full price for. It's just like my imaginary friend was sitting next to me. I shouldn't have to let someone sit in the seat I paid for without expecting compensation, the price I paid for the seat. Everyone has the option to pay for 2 seats for themselves, so it's not like I'm special.
Next time you know just to buy one seat or two but place something on top of that seat,or just sit in the middle,make it seem you really need both seats.
#28
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PVD, GVA, BUD
Programs: AA ExecP
Posts: 830
lucky to get away with that. trains and planes need a real person for each ticket for the ticket to be valid. for example one person buys two tickets for the same flight - you only get one seat.
bit much to say "treated badly" - you had to explain the situation as everyone could see the empty seat. what you'd expect?
bit much to say "treated badly" - you had to explain the situation as everyone could see the empty seat. what you'd expect?
They were even successful in filing claims to receive FF credit for each seat they purchased. I believe it was 4 to 5 seats at once (basically the middle section of Y on a 777).
#29
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,580
If you bought two tickets but only one passenger showed up, the other passenger is a NO SHOW and the bus can assign their seat to someone else. Who told you that you could buy an extra seat and use it yourself?
Far too many people get on a bus and try to hog two seats for themselves, because it is more comfortable. The polite ones then get stuck with a seatmate while the rude ones get more space. This game is well known to frequent bus travelers.
I don't think you were treated badly. I'm not sure what you expected to happen differently.
Far too many people get on a bus and try to hog two seats for themselves, because it is more comfortable. The polite ones then get stuck with a seatmate while the rude ones get more space. This game is well known to frequent bus travelers.
I don't think you were treated badly. I'm not sure what you expected to happen differently.
#30
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Moderator note
I am also editing the title to closer reflect what actually happened, as Bolt Bus did not treat OP badly, it was the pax who gave him dirty looks.
EmailKid
Budget Travel moderator