Sometimes seat blocking tactics are de rigeur. Take a London-Edinburgh train out of London in the evening, and everyone does it.. bags on seat next to you in the hope of getting double seat to self. In fact the latest fad, which I won't do, is to take the aisle seat and put stuff in the window because the train has to be very full before people will insist on claiming that seat. However, if you are caught, you are caught - being asked "is that seat taken?" means you have to give in and move your stuff. Regular travellers know the unofficial rules of travel So i dont really see a big issue with what the OP is doing, as long as she moves them if someone asks or wants to sit there, and she has already said she will.