Pregnant mother with three kids denied seat on train despite reserving in advanced
"If a mum with 3 kids and bags has 4 reserved seats for a long train journey, and you’re sitting in their seats on a full carriage, don’t tell them you’re not moving and refuse to make eye contact."
Pregnant mum of three Amanda Mancino Williams went out of her way to ensure her lengthy train journey would be somewhat comfortable when she booked four seats with a table.
Yet her plans were thrown out of the window when a couple ignorantly sat in her seats, and when asked to move told Amanda, who is almost seven months pregnant, that her reserved tickets didn’t matter and refused to move.
“If a mum with 3 kids and bags has 4 reserved seats for a long train journey, and you’re sitting in their seats on a full carriage, don’t tell them that their tickets don’t matter in a posh voice and then say you’re not moving and refuse to make eye contact. Don’t be these people,” the angry mum tweeted.
Amanda later told The Sun that she was shocked at the ‘instant dismissiveness’ of the couple and the fact that they were content leaving her three children to squeeze onto two seats, while the Amanda had to stand.
Amanda was shocked when couple refused to give her the reserved seats. | Image source: Twitter/Amanda Mancino Williams
“Sorry we’re not moving”
“Her instant dismissiveness of me and the children told me all I needed to know about her. I didn’t feel it was my responsibility to acquiesce to that kind of behaviour. I was shocked and tired. Any mother who travels with bags and children knows how your mind is in a thousand places, so things like reserved seats are something you count on.
“They make your journey manageable. I’d booked a table so the children could do their schoolwork.”
“She (the woman) looked at me and said, ‘I’m sorry, we’re not moving’,” she said.
Amanda’s three children had to squeeze into two seats. | Image source: Twitter/Amanda Mancino Williams
“I’m moving you to first class”
Thankfully despite the rudeness of the couple, Amanda ended up with a better option for her journey.
“A kind man offered me his seat. Spoke to conductor who was calm, lovely, and apologetic, said that instead of engaging with them that he was going to move us to an empty table in first class.
“I grabbed our bags and turned to the couple and said, with a smile, ‘enjoy your seats!’
“I would always give up a seat, reserved or not, for someone who needed it more.
“But for her to tell me that my tickets meant nothing and then refuse to acknowledge me? Do people just expect you to slink away?”
The couple seemed oblivious to their actions. | Image source: Twitter/Amanda Mancino Williams
“Those miserable people”
Social media flooded Amanda’s Twitter with praise.
“Well done for posting this!” one wrote. “It may be an ‘everyday’ occurrence but that doesn’t excuse this couple’s appalling behaviour.
“Civilised societies depend on people following rules — like seat reservations on trains. Otherwise we have anarchy. Enjoy first class.”
Another added: “You got better seats, these miserable people get to spend the rest of their lives together. Here’s to happy endings.”
This article was first published on KidSpot and was republished here with permission.
