What happens if you don't get on the coach?

[thenavyone]

So long story short, myself and my husband got tickets on the coach resale, but we can't get coach seats for our 2 kids and even though they are little (3 years a 7 weeks) we can't take them on our laps.

So if one of us gets the coach with one of the kids would they:

1. Let the kid take the seat of the adult

and

2.Let the adult take the other adults ticket?

Annoyingly, if my 7 week old baby was a little older my sister could have dropped them both down to us (we live in Bristol) but I can't leave me 7 week old with anyone as he will just be so tiny.  So we need at least 3 coach tickets to get us all down on the coach if options 1 and 2 aren't going to work out! I remember there being some T&CS about booking coach tickets but in my rush to get tickets I did not read them!  I did get ticket insurance though incase the birth doesn't go to plan etc.

 

Thanks

[musky]

I think the answer is - it depends. The only time I've taken a Seetickets coach as lead booker my name was called out and I was just handed the tickets for the group. I have heard others say they've been handed out individually with ID required though.

In the first scenario you'd be fine, in the second you wouldn't. Best thing to do would be to ask to remove any doubt. I suspect Seetickets first response would be to say the tickets aren't transferable so the named person would have to travel on the coach, but escalating the matter might get you someone with a bit of common sense and the responsibility to make a decision. I'd probably contact the festival first as they tend to be more reasoned in their replies.

[pie_and_a_pint]

Wow, do See really not allow you to take a 7-week old on your lap on the coach? Surely they can't expect you to buy a seat for the baby to sit in, as he'd obviously travel on your lap at that age (as he would on an aeroplane until the age of two).

[thenavyone]

yup see have already said both kids need their own paid for ticket, they said:

"UK coach travel regulations stipulate that the total number of passengers per coach (regardless of age) must not exceed the total number of seats."

I'm down as the lead booker and I'm happy to get the coach with the 7 week old.  In an ideal world we'd all get the bloody coach but the way it work is you have to buy adult tickets first and then contact see directly to add kids.  I contacted them 2 seconds after I bought my ticket, but no seats are left on any coaches leaving Bristol

[giantkatestacks]

That 7 week old rule is plainly ridiculous. They would be strapped to you anyway. Plus it invalidates the tickets as one of the parents, presumably the mum if youre feeding would have to take the baby so 2 adults wouldnt be on the coach.

in that situation I would phone see tickets and/or email the festival and explain that the coach tickets need converting into normal tickets or something.

[thenavyone]

Neither of us mind getting the coach so not trying to get around that so don't expect the tickets to be converted.  But if I took the coach, the baby took my husbands seat and then my husband and toddler met us there.  That would work fine for us.  Just not sure they will give me his ticket or let the baby sit in what is, technically, his seat?! 

[stardustjunkie]

Every time I've been on the coach they just shout out the name, you put your hand up and they give it to you without a seconds thought.

I think you'd be fine doing what you have suggested. As long as you say 'yes' to your tickets, you'll be fine - it would've worked the past couple of times I've got the coach.

[thenavyone]

yay thats good news!  Now i just need to work out where to meet my husband!?  Is gate A only accessible through coach station or from car parks too?

[pie_and_a_pint]

13 hours ago, thenavyone said:

yay thats good news!  Now i just need to work out where to meet my husband!?  Is gate A only accessible through coach station or from car parks too?

Gate A is for coaches and people coming by car. 

I'm still gobsmacked at the ridiculous notion that See expects your tiny baby to have a seat of its own, though! I'm SURE I've been on National Express coaches where small children have been on mum's lap!

[thenavyone]

Yup we've done lots of traveling with our eldest and it's usually 2 and under they sit on your lap for free, and then over 2 they pay half (or some places let under 3s go through, but not as many).  Crazy isn't it.  

The annoying thing is all 4 of us can't just go down there and see if 2 people don't turn up for their coach tick as that will leave my eldest and husband stranded at the coach station.  And they can't drive the car down because then there is nowhere to leave it for a week on the off chance they do get on the coach!

I think I'll take the baby and the tent and hopefully meet him and the toddler and all the stuff at the gate with husbands ticket!?

[pie_and_a_pint]

8 minutes ago, thenavyone said:

 

I think I'll take the baby and the tent and hopefully meet him and the toddler and all the stuff at the gate with husbands ticket!?

And the Festival claims to encourage travel by public transport to make things easier?! 

Good luck! Hope you don't have too much of a faff to get there!

[thenavyone]

I'm sure it will be worth it in the end!  It does seem a but silly, they should probably just have said from the Off that coaches are family / disabled friendly really as you can't get your kids/PA on with any degree of certainty.  At least not in the resales anyway!