I am interested in whether anyone has experienced the following phenomenon.
I booked a return journey from London to Bradford using Uber ticketing, to benefit from the 10% rebate (better in my pocket than theirs, etc.) — the itinerary was outbound via LNER into Forster Square and back via GC from the Interchange. Fine.
But for both journeys I requested a backward facing table seat (my preferred position) and on both I received an airline-style seat (backwards on outbound and forwards on return).
This is of course completely unscientific and could be a coincidence, but i do normally find that my seat reservation preferences are honoured when I book via the LNER or Grand Central websites. Of course preferences are subject to availability but it seems odd they were not available on both legs of the journey.
Any idea if Uber is designed in this way (to "ignore" seat preferences) or whether it's more likely I just got unlucky and it happens these seats just weren't available? There are definitely fewer tables on board the GC service I'm currently travelling on compared to others I've used in the past.
Cheers
tt
The forum's site has a seat selector, so you can get the exact seat you want.
If you want more information regarding the seating options available, many operators produce PDFs which can be cross-referenced.
LNER's seat map is backwards; their own website then reverses it. I understand that LNER refuse to amend it, because it works for them. So, when using the forum's site, I suggest cross-referencing with the PDF.
Note that Grand Central services can face either direction; I am not aware that GC attempt to face a particular direction (but someone can correct me if they do; but even
if they do, they don't achieve it consistently). Also, I'm not sure how forwards/backwards requests are fulfilled for trains that reverse, such as LNER's London to Bradford services (which usually reverse at Leeds, though they don't have to); presumably it's taken from the point your reservation starts from, but someone else could no doubt confirm.
I'm stopping using Uber too - disappointed that the credit never seems to show for journeys in March. Maybe once it arrives I'll reconsider
Uber's model is the opposite of the forum's site; the model appears to be to entice people with offers (that are unsustainable and/or cross-subsidised from elsewhere in the business, and may not always be forthcoming) and not to focus on providing good customer service.
