Have you ever been asked for the seat reservation coupon on the train?

Posted by IdiotBearPinkEdition@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 28 comments

We were about to board a Big Train from Euston today and showed the ticket guard our tickets. The guard asked for our seat reservation coupon because 'this is an advance single, how do I know you've booked this specific service?' I have *never* been asked for the seat reservation before. I confidently left them behind at home. She was about to refuse us entry until after some back and forth, she just decided that 'just this once, it's okay, but next time bring your reservation coupons' Has anyone else experienced this?

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28 Comments

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Just-Standard-992@reddit

Hasn’t it always been the case that you have to show both the ticket AND the reservation attached to it for advanced singles? I personally can’t remember a single time I’ve not had to show both.

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Free_Ad7415@reddit

I dunno but this question is yet another reason train travel in the UK is ridiculous, it’s all so confusing and expensive! I don’t even really know what kind of ticket that is

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bowak@reddit

It is needlessly confusing. A lot of advance tickets print everyone on one recently but it doesn't seem to be universal yet.

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FreddiesNightmare65@reddit

It should be in the confirmation email or on the ticket if you ordered it online

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IdiotBearPinkEdition@reddit (OP)

I showed her the confirmation email, she wasn't convinced. Coupon or nothing

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seven-cents@reddit

Sounds like you encountered a jobsworth. Any tiny amount of power given to them goes straight to their heads. You showed her proof in the form of the email, and that's all that was needed

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bowak@reddit

But also an understandable one as otherwise people could split the tickets to travel for half price. However, we could solve this to everyone's benefit by doing away with the stupid idea of advance tickets and just having a simpler system where you know what you're going to pay and you don't get a random amount of the ticket by remembering to go online exactly 12 weeks before.

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erinoco@reddit

Last time I remember the guard asking for it was around five years ago, on a New Street to Euston service. I had an Advance Single, but had not looked closely at my ticket, and caught the wrong train. Fortunately, nothing came of it.

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Real-Apricot-7889@reddit

Yes often. It’s not about the seat but it’s got the exact train you’re booked onto which they do usually check.

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Opening_Succotash_95@reddit

Always

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IncompleteObjects@reddit

Ive been asked for the reservation because someone else claimed I was sat in their seat (I wasn't) so the member of staff checked both reservations. The other person was in the seats facing me (going backwards) which made for an awkward onward journey

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Justboy__@reddit

The same thing happened to me. The woman made a huge scene on the train about how I was in her seat and she was going to get the curtain guard. I told her go ahead and Lo and behold she was n the seat opposite. She sat down and didn’t say a word whilst her husband sat there looking really sheepish unable to look in my direction. I was sat there fuming I’d not received an apology, to this day I’m still annoyed I never said anything.

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ImmediatePiano6690@reddit

Don't be annoyed, just enjoy the satisfaction of her feeling humiliated for the entire journey, couldn't just put it behind her because there's a reminder in front of her every second.

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PoolRamen@reddit

I would have had an insufferably smug face for the rest of the trip

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Terrible_Ad_7735@reddit

I can't remember the last time I sat in my reserved seat. I just sit in whichever one I fancy and then say sorry and move if the actual owner turns up.

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grogipher@reddit

Why?

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andyc225@reddit

I didn't think reservation cards were still issued. I thought the seat details were on the ticket these days.

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ABraines@reddit

Advanced singles are only valid on that specific train - which is shown on your seat reservation, it's says it on the ticket, they belong together and have to be shown together and are technically not valid without one another

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grumpyaskate@reddit

I'm pretty sure the ticket says only valid with reservation ticket (ref no), and the reservation ticket says only valid with ticket (ticket no) so I've always travelled and shown them both together.

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Separate-Region2070@reddit

It used optional. I think can book seat if want to via the ticket office / App.

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KindlyAppointment973@reddit

Yes, I've been asked for both many times with an advance single when I have a paper ticket.

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CharlotteElsie@reddit

Yes, always if it’s an advance single. Sometimes nowadays it is all on one ticket, but when a separate reservation exists for an advance single I have always had to show it when asked for tickets.

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NessunoComeNoi@reddit

Same. Always been asked, because as the guard says your advance single could be for any (potentially cheaper) train - so your reservation would be the proof. OP has messed up.

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PoolRamen@reddit

As Freddie says any such information should surely be in your booking that you can just show the guard? To answer, no - but I only use first class for pretty much the sole reason of liking to sit down whenever I choose to travel so I don't think stuff like that applies. In terms of ticket details I just show them my phone and that's it

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Scared-One9295@reddit

Surely the advance single should have the time of the service the ticket is for printed on it and that's how they'd know which service the ticket is for?

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DoftheD@reddit

It’s always been on my ticket/in the Trainline app, I wouldn’t even know what a seat reservation coupon was

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AuroraDF@reddit

I don't use a paper ticket these days, but when I did, I always showed both, and the ticket inspector always clipped both. That would generally have been between Edinburgh and King's Cross.

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