Saying "Pardon me" when sitting next to someone

[GodAtum]

I was brought up to say "Pardon me" when sitting in an empty seat next to someone on a train or bus. I just think this is good manners but does anyone else do this?

 

[A0wen]

If somebody next to me said 'pardon me' on a train or bus, I'd assume they'd either just belched or farted.

 

[Urban Gateline]

That is good manners! If the only seats left are next to someone then I will just ask if they mind if I sit there, bit of a rhetorical question really as unless the person sitting in that seat has genuinely popped to the Loo or Buffet then there should be no reason for saying it's taken!

 

[najaB]

I was brought up to say "Pardon me" when sitting in an empty seat next to someone on a train or bus. I just think this is good manners but does anyone else do this?

I don't say 'pardon me' but I do always ask if the seat is taken.

 

[bengley]

No, I've never done this.

 

[ainsworth74]

I don't say 'pardon me' but I will always ask if anyone else is sitting there before I sit down next to someone.

 

[delt1c]

Lets rename the forum MannorsUK Forum, seen some great threads but reckon this takes the biscuit.
By the way if you drop one you dont say pardon , you look at someone else and shake your head

 

[Antman]

I was brought up to say "Pardon me" when sitting in an empty seat next to someone on a train or bus. I just think this is good manners but does anyone else do this?

I can't say that I have or had anybody say it to me in such circumstances

 

[DaleCooper]

I, and most people in my experience, just say something like "Is this seat taken?" or "May I sit here?". If someone said "Pardon me" I'd assume they had done something wrong and were asking to be forgiven.

 

[Strat-tastic]

Someone at work says pardon me after sneezing

 

[455driver]

Lets rename the forum MannorsUK Forum, seen some great threads but reckon this takes the biscuit.
By the way if you drop one you dont say pardon , you look at someone else and shake your head

Or even MannersUK!

 

[Crossover]

Or even MannersUK!

Glad someone pointed that out

P.S. That looks like post 10k for you!

 

[MCR247]

Personally I wouldn't say anything when sitting down unless there was something on the seat or something. Its not really rude IMO (but of course I'd say that) as I wouldn't feel the need to say it on the bus (no one has ever said it to me on a bus). Only very rarely does anyone ever say it to me (or around me if I'm paying attention) on a train tbh

 

[455driver]

P.S. That looks like post 10k for you!

Oh yeah, I must find something more interesting to do with my time!

 

[168lover]

I never say pardon me when sitting. I just ask if the seat has been taken or not to the person sitting next to it.

 

[Temple Meads]

"Excuse me, is it okay if I sit here please?"

That's my usual line.

 

[fishquinn]

What happens if they say

"No, I don't like people sitting next to me!"

But seriously, I've never heard anyone say Pardon me when sitting in any seat next to someone.

 

[delt1c]

Or even MannersUK!

keeping a railway slant on the thread but leaving the extra n

 

[AM9]

What happens if they say

"No, I don't like people sitting next to me!"

But seriously, I've never heard anyone say Pardon me when sitting in any seat next to someone.

I might say "Excuse me, is this seat taken/free?" which would normally be answered honestly. Asking if they mind is giving them a choice which insn't theirs.

 

[455driver]

What happens if they say

"No, I don't like people sitting next to me!"

I would sit down and then reply-

'well buy a 1st class ticket in future that way you have a choice'

 

[ScotTrains]

I usually ask if it's OK to sit there. I do the same if I ever travel on a bus. If it's a busy commuter train I'll just sit if a seat is available.
If someone is in my reserved seat I will stand at my seat then look at my tickets then look at the seat number. If they don't get the hint I will say 'excuse me, I'm afraid I have these seats reserved'. Strangely, I then always apologise when they move out my seat. Must be a British thing!

 

[pdq]

For an aisle seat - I just sit down, unless the other passenger needs to move a bag or suchlike; window seat or bag on seat - I say 'excuse me' and head for the seat. Likewise when alighting from the window seat - 'excuse me' and 'thank you'.

 

[rjholt]

I have not come across 'pardon me' in this format. Seems a little old fashioned. I do always ask if someone is sitting in a seat however.

That said, I do take particular pleasure in choosing the seats where the person purposefully sits on the ailse with their bag on the window seat.....

 

[AndrewE]

Is the OP american? or have they just watched too much transatlantic TV / too many films? In the UK "Pardon me" is definitely asking to be excused for something (the literal meaning), whereas I believe that over there they use it (and assume the question is obvious) where we would say "Excuse me, .." and then ask the question.
A normal UK response would be "Why, what have you done?"
A

 

[Merseysider]

I was brought up to say "Pardon me" when sitting in an empty seat next to someone on a train or bus. I just think this is good manners but does anyone else do this?

On a bus, I never ask. Nor on a busy train unless it looks like there's a family there. I wouldn't consider it bad manners to say nothing. In Germany though, it's considered good manners to ask on trains so a simple 'ist hier noch frei?' is customary.

Strangely, I then always apologise when they move out my seat. Must be a British thing!

Yup, we apologise for pretty much everything, whether it's our fault or not

 

[GodAtum]

In Germany though, it's considered good manners to ask on trains so a simple 'ist hier noch frei?' is customary.

Interesting! In the same vein, I only go for a seat next to a gentleman first before I sat next to a lady.

 

[WestCoast]

I ask if the seat is free on a train as there is a chance the seat could already be taken by someone at the buffet / in the toilet. On a bus/metro/tram etc, no.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

In Germany though, it's considered good manners to ask on trains so a simple 'ist hier noch frei?

Yes, it is. However, the British way is to add a 'sorry' in there.

 

[Starmill]

Glad someone pointed that out

P.S. That looks like post 10k for you!

I just thought they meant a forum about Newcastle!