Buquebus Etiquette

Gringo80

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Awhile back my wife and I boarded a Buquebus back to Buenos Aires. I took a window seat and she sat next to me. We cleared trash off the tray tables and relaxed for our trip. Then a young woman came down the aisle and told us we had to move because I was sitting in her seat. She said she had left her soda can and sandwich left-overs on the tray to indicate that the seat was occupied. The cabin was about half empty so I didn't see any reason for us to move, told her to take another seat. She carried on insisting that I move and growing more and more indignant every time she explained the soda can rule of seat possession. Other people in the cabin were watching but no one gave any indication that I was violating any Buquebus protocol. Fnally, red faced and hyperventilating she turned a left. A minute later she returned the Buquebus version of a lady flight attendant (I don't know what the correct term for her would be, boat attendant? ferry lady? seat enforcer? cruise director?). The accuser looked on smugly as the ferry lady told us that we were in the woman's seat and we had to move. I politely told the cruise director what I had told the seat lady, 'there were plenty of other seats available for her, no need for us to move'. The cruise director fumbled for a reply and came up with, 'Then how do you intend to resolve this problem?' to which I replied, 'I don't have a problem, you have one.' The conversation deteriorated as she asked me, 'What is my problem?'. To which I pointed at the claimant and said, 'Her, she's your problem'.
At that point they looked at each other unsure about their next move. I let out a deep, relaxed exhale and slid down in my seat putting my feet up on the window sill and settling for the rest of the cruise in MY seat.
The flight attendant took the victim forward to first class. En route to first class she turned and gave me a finger and a victorious smile.

My question is, was I wrong? Do we mark our seats with soda cans? Could I have been banned from Buquebus?

By the way this is only the second most bizarre thing that has happened to me while travelling to BsAs.
 
Last time I was on one there was no assigned seating, at least not in pleb class, and given how lazy Argentines are at cleaning up their trash after eating, I'd equally assume that the seat was abandoned too.

You're more patient than I am, I would have asked her how she planned on getting through Aduana smuggling a stick up her ass, but I also have a lower tolerance for bullshit, especially as I've gotten older 😅
 
Wow every buqbus ive been in was half full with annoying kids and dogs running everywhere. I would have just moved to another seat within eyesite and given her the stink eye all trip
 
People from this country have an obsession with claiming their seats, their spaces, their shower space at the gym and their space at a comunity swiming pool, at tables anywhere, be it a gathering, a school class, a workshop and very specially done by women (usually not the younger ones). In addition, I am repeatedly approached at flights leaving from EZE, by other argentinean passengers asking me to give up my seat (even paid for) and switch with them because they seem to think they have some privilege over me and will find any excuses to get away with their wish. This drives me crazy and in these situations I never give in. I must clarify that I am a local person and I think that you did what you had to do. On Buquebus, I spend most of the trip inside the Duty Free shop and if I really want to keep my seat, I leave my clothes or something personal which makes it very obvious that somebody is there. Most people switch spaces in the ferry, walk around, go outside and don't come back until it's almost time to get off and most of them do not return to the same seat. A soda can is not going to hold my seat. Don't bother with it and be firm. When they show you a finger you can send a flying kiss.
 
Awhile back my wife and I boarded a Buquebus back to Buenos Aires. I took a window seat and she sat next to me. We cleared trash off the tray tables and relaxed for our trip. Then a young woman came down the aisle and told us we had to move because I was sitting in her seat. She said she had left her soda can and sandwich left-overs on the tray to indicate that the seat was occupied. The cabin was about half empty so I didn't see any reason for us to move, told her to take another seat. She carried on insisting that I move and growing more and more indignant every time she explained the soda can rule of seat possession. Other people in the cabin were watching but no one gave any indication that I was violating any Buquebus protocol. Fnally, red faced and hyperventilating she turned a left. A minute later she returned the Buquebus version of a lady flight attendant (I don't know what the correct term for her would be, boat attendant? ferry lady? seat enforcer? cruise director?). The accuser looked on smugly as the ferry lady told us that we were in the woman's seat and we had to move. I politely told the cruise director what I had told the seat lady, 'there were plenty of other seats available for her, no need for us to move'. The cruise director fumbled for a reply and came up with, 'Then how do you intend to resolve this problem?' to which I replied, 'I don't have a problem, you have one.' The conversation deteriorated as she asked me, 'What is my problem?'. To which I pointed at the claimant and said, 'Her, she's your problem'.
At that point they looked at each other unsure about their next move. I let out a deep, relaxed exhale and slid down in my seat putting my feet up on the window sill and settling for the rest of the cruise in MY seat.
The flight attendant took the victim forward to first class. En route to first class she turned and gave me a finger and a victorious smile.

My question is, was I wrong? Do we mark our seats with soda cans? Could I have been banned from Buquebus?

By the way this is only the second most bizarre thing that has happened to me while travelling to BsAs.
Yes, seats ARE marked by soda cans. Sugary sodas mean I'll be right back. Diet sodas mean I'll be back but I can sit on your lap.
 
You have me wondering if I didn't have another seat claiming experience. I was sitting on a bench at my gym almost at the end of the three different exercises that I use the bench for. A lady came over and demanded the bench. It seemed like she was on a rotation and my bench was her next stop. I'm almost always happy to let someone work-in with me but she was demanding and I really didn't want to interrupt my exercise at that moment. I told her I needed two more minutes. She got upset, went to get the manager. I told him that I needed one more minute. He said ok. She was incensed and made ugly faces at me for the rest of the day. Did I violate a gym protocol here?
 
You have me wondering if I didn't have another seat claiming experience. I was sitting on a bench at my gym almost at the end of the three different exercises that I use the bench for. A lady came over and demanded the bench. It seemed like she was on a rotation and my bench was her next stop. I'm almost always happy to let someone work-in with me but she was demanding and I really didn't want to interrupt my exercise at that moment. I told her I needed two more minutes. She got upset, went to get the manager. I told him that I needed one more minute. He said ok. She was incensed and made ugly faces at me for the rest of the day. Did I violate a gym protocol here?
 
Get used to ugly faces and unwelcome comments when you don't give in to requests. My strategy is to put earphones or airpods and pretend I listen to music and I don't hear.
 
Well if there were window seats available nearby, I would have moved and let her have her seat back.
Sorry.
 
Well if there were window seats available nearby, I would have moved and let her have her seat back.
Sorry.
Like I said, I almost always yield in order to avoid a hassle but, my wife and I were settled with out suitcases and the request was so bizarre I opted to play it out. The was no harm done and now I'm aware of the seat-soda protocol in BsAs.

Now I'm curious about another incident. We were eating dinner with my mother in law in Miami. She's Argentine, poised and well mannered. After diinner the waitress brought our check and my wife and I were shocked when her mother blew up at the waitress. Growing up and living in Argentina she apparently had been taught that the check isn't delivered until you ask for it, any sooner is like rushing a guest out of your house, so she was deeply offended. Even in Miami the waitress should have asked if we were done but she didn't. Of course, as a New Yorker, I like to have the check so we can choose to linger or leave. In both the Buquebus seat and the restaurant incidents seem to have strong and unnecessary emotional components to an otherwise simple situation.
 
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