Movie theater assigned seats - what if someone is sitting in your seat?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don`t goto movies that much and so far we are not a fan of the assigned seating. In this case there were 3 of us and we had 3 seats next to each other. When we got there someone was sitting in one of the seats (the one on the end). I first just stood there while the kids sat in the 2 empty seats. Then I sat on the other side of the group that was in the wrong seat. I did say "these are our seats" and say the seat number but the woman in the wrong seat just sat there. Would you have gone to get someone that works at the theater? Or yell at the woman? I am wondering what the right thing to do here was. It was dark in the theater, but the movie had not started yet. 5 minutes latter the whole group moved over, so it did all work out.

Next time stand up for yourself. Geez.

I've asked people to vacate my seat before, and I won't hesitate to do so again. Any flack, I'm getting their ass kicked out of the theater.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the theatre isn't packed, we just sit wherever. It's an $8 ticket. Nobody cares. Only the movie theatres seem to like this assigned seating.

If the place is packed then say "Oh, I think this is my seat, but maybe I'm confused - what does your ticket say?"

Speak for yourself. I LOVE assigned seating, especially for popular movies. A little planning ahead and I sit exactly where I want without having to show up early to get in line, etc.

[Anonymous]

This drives me crazy with my husband's friend/couple-they will just find another seat which then invariably the person for those seats comes and then, instead will hang out in back of theater. I have told my DH I am done with this passivity and now refuse to go out with them - well because we are not with them. When someone has been in my seat I just show my ticket - never a problem except one group was convinced I was wrong and got angry and brought in usher only to be told they were in wrong theater.

[Anonymous]

Be polite and show them your ticket just as you do on an airplane. Then if they refuse to move tell them you will be bringing an usher by to help with the confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be polite and show them your ticket just as you do on an airplane. Then if they refuse to move tell them you will be bringing an usher by to help with the confusion.

This. It happens all the time on planes. Show the ticket and if they refuse to move get the movie usher/flight attendant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the theatre isn't packed, we just sit wherever. It's an $8 ticket. Nobody cares. Only the movie theatres seem to like this assigned seating.

If the place is packed then say "Oh, I think this is my seat, but maybe I'm confused - what does your ticket say?"

What? No, you don't just sit wherever. Then you'll end up sitting in some other person's seat.

If you arrive to your assigned seats and someone is sitting there, you simply say "Excused me. I believe these are our seats." And show them your tickets. If they do not move or respond, then you get someone who works at the theater.

And we sure do care. We chose the seats we wanted for a reason.

You don't say "I think" or "I believe."

Be more direct. "Excuse me. You are sitting in our seats." Not "I think you are" or "I could be wrong" or "I believe you are." Just "you are."

[Anonymous]

I was in a seat with my tween next to me (assigned) for a PG movie. Some scary guy came up and said I was in his seat so I checked tix again and row and explained these were our seats and perhaps his seat # was in a different row. He walked off rambling curse words etc. if he had come back I would have taken my daughter and left, he seemed to have a short fuse and I wondered if he'd been drinking? He left thankfully but not a nice situation. Hate preselected seating now.

[Anonymous]

PP here,
He was saying things like bit$h, f$ing, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in a seat with my tween next to me (assigned) for a PG movie. Some scary guy came up and said I was in his seat so I checked tix again and row and explained these were our seats and perhaps his seat # was in a different row. He walked off rambling curse words etc. if he had come back I would have taken my daughter and left, he seemed to have a short fuse and I wondered if he'd been drinking? He left thankfully but not a nice situation. Hate preselected seating now.

He was probably in the wrong theater.

[Anonymous]

OP, was this at Landmark Bethesda, and was the woman a senior citizen? That place seems to attract the rudest group of elderly folks I've ever encountered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the theatre isn't packed, we just sit wherever. It's an $8 ticket. Nobody cares. Only the movie theatres seem to like this assigned seating.

If the place is packed then say "Oh, I think this is my seat, but maybe I'm confused - what does your ticket say?"

What? No, you don't just sit wherever. Then you'll end up sitting in some other person's seat.

If you arrive to your assigned seats and someone is sitting there, you simply say "Excused me. I believe these are our seats." And show them your tickets. If they do not move or respond, then you get someone who works at the theater.

And we sure do care. We chose the seats we wanted for a reason.

You don't say "I think" or "I believe."

Be more direct. "Excuse me. You are sitting in our seats." Not "I think you are" or "I could be wrong" or "I believe you are." Just "you are."

I'm the PP you are responding to. Someone was "direct" to me at the last movie I attended and they were in fact wrong. They "believed" I was in their seat but they had the seat numbers wrong. There's nothing wrong with being polite throughout the interaction.

[Anonymous]

She could have just been like my mother, who resents the concept of assigned movie seating, and so tries to sit in a better seat than she got assigned to, hoping no one comes for it. Then gets indignant when she does have to move eventually. My poor father...

[Anonymous]

It’s just like being on a plane OP, I’ll tell you that it’s my assigned seat and if decide not to move I’ll go get the proper person who can.

I don’t pay for someone to sit in my seat. Pisses me off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't hard. Get an usher and they will be moved.

+1 Absolutely nothing wrong with getting an usher to help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the theatre isn't packed, we just sit wherever. It's an $8 ticket. Nobody cares. Only the movie theatres seem to like this assigned seating.

If the place is packed then say "Oh, I think this is my seat, but maybe I'm confused - what does your ticket say?"

The people who took the time to buy their tickets in advance for their preferred seat location care

Exactly
I picked my seat
I paid for my seat
I want it