Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Travel&Dining > Budget Travel
Reload this Page >

Bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was not treated well by fellow passengers

Bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was not treated well by fellow passengers

Old Mar 2, 2013, 12:30 pm
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 765
Bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was not treated well by fellow passengers

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.
cybill234 likes this.

Last edited by EmailKid; Mar 20, 2013 at 8:35 am Reason: Edit title to closer reflect what happened
nd2010 is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 1:22 pm
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA,SPG,Carlson,Hertz
Posts: 151
I bought 2 seats for myself on Bolt Bus, and was treated badly

I would do the same. I am bit clausphobic (spelling). At least, you offered to sell the ticket to standby. Kind of you to do that.
shopper711 is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 1:27 pm
  #3  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, LH Senator *Gold, AA EXP OWE Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,556
Good strategy and good for holding your ground.
SFO777 is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 1:40 pm
  #4  
sfx
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
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?
sfx is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 3:42 pm
  #5  
Suspended
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,621
GOOD For You

I would have done the same thing.
DaddyRabbit is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 3:44 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, AA GLD
Posts: 237
interesting strategy...not going to make you friends but clearly works.

only 2 reasons for standby on bolt (i don't believe they allow overbooking): the pax were either were unable to buy a ticket online and are trying to buy one on the spot, or pax were late to their ticketed bus. in either case, they are at the mercy of boltbus, and since you bought 2 tickets, you shouldn't be forced to give one up for standbys.

that being said, this is also the nicest budget nyc-bos transport option (relative to greyhound, megabus, and lucky star), and you're traveling on peak time. just because you can legally do it doesn't mean people aren't gonna be pissed, unless you have like a medical claim or something.
psychoandy is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 4:31 pm
  #7  
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,946
Originally Posted by sfx
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.
Au contraire!

A customer of size gets both seats that he/she paid for. So does a passenger who buys the second seat for a service animal or similar essential cabin item.
Spiff is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 5:24 pm
  #8  
formerly known as Tad's Broiled Steaks
Shangri-La Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,412
Treated badly? How is anyone supposed to know that you bought the second seat? Was there a "Reserved" sign on it? Not to mention, seats aren't assigned beforehand.

At the same time, I can relate. On my first chicken bus trip, in Nicaragua, I paid the cobrador (person who collects money on the bus) for two seats, since I had a lot of luggage. He didn't bother me afterwards, but I did get some displeased glances from fellow gringos. My brief moment as a fachento.
BuildingMyBento is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 6:30 pm
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 765
The bus driver thought I was lying, even when I showed him both tickets. He thought they were fake because the confirmation numbers were consecutive.
Besides, wouldn't BoltBus find it better for business to retain a customer who would pay twice the fare for the same service?
I guess there was an increased demand for NYC-Boston due to the Fung Wah bus being shut down.

And I thought that anyone can buy 2 tickets on the same plane flight and as long as they're reserved next to each other, no one can sit in the other seat.
nd2010 is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 6:42 pm
  #10  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,805
youre certainly not in the wrong
although not sure how it works when seats arent assigned (some air travel like this too)

but this is one of the things that keeps me away from these buses
even though i recall there was one bus that had single seats along one side
Kagehitokiri is offline  
Old Mar 2, 2013, 7:25 pm
  #11  
In Memoriam
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
Not really sure what you expected, everybody to welcome you with open arms? To the rest of the bus you probably seemed like some kind of fool with a invisible friend.
cordelli is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2013, 12:45 pm
  #12  
sfx
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 439
Originally Posted by Spiff
Au contraire!

A customer of size gets both seats that he/she paid for. So does a passenger who buys the second seat for a service animal or similar essential cabin item.

the animal is a pax.

a person can't have two seats on a flight because you can only ever have one BC for security reasons.
sfx is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2013, 12:51 pm
  #13  
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: On the road in North America....
Programs: UA 1MM, *G, Global Entry
Posts: 579
Originally Posted by sfx
the animal is a pax.

a person can't have two seats on a flight because you can only ever have one BC for security reasons.
Not true. The second seat (and boarding pass) have a different name, usually with "Extra" as the first name.
FlyingDiver is offline  
Old Mar 3, 2013, 8:26 pm
  #14  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: Frontier Gold, DL estranged 1MMer, Spirit VIP, CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat/comped gold now dust.
Posts: 37,907
FWIW, I've been known to buy 2 seats on bus trips in Thailand, even though it's not really the done thing over there, either. Except for the VIP buses it can feel a little cramped otherwise, but I always fill the other seat with a carry-on and have both ticket receipts out. With those buses there isn't much overhead space and anything of much size has to go in the hold, so if anyone asks I just say that I bought 2 because I have fragile/valuable items and also want the space.

Also u must've missed the new slogan: Ride Bolt, & get treated like a Dolt.
RustyC is offline  
Old Mar 10, 2013, 12:02 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA, WN, BA, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 313
In all fairness, if I was standing on that bus and I saw your empty seat I would not be happy to be told that you bought the seat and want it empty. I understand that you had the right to the seat, but unless you're a person of size, have baggage or have a good reason for buying the second seat, I would just let someone sit there. Call it a good Samaritan rule or whatever you want, the bus ride is not a short ride, and its unpleasant to stand on a crowded bus for hours.
littlemookie is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.