As the title states, is it possible to get 2 seats for 1 traveler? 

I've taken the Bus in the picture below, from Eastern Bus Terminal Bangkok Ekkamai to Air Conditioned Bus Terminal on North Pattaya Road a few times.

Anyway, I'm a bit of a bigger fellow, and was wondering if it's possible to get the attendant that sells tickets at the counter, to sell me 2 tickets (sitting next to each other), and use both of them for myself?   I know the tickets don't really cost much (~125 baht), but I would be willing to buy 2, if I can have travel comfortably by having both seats to myself.  

Does anyone know if this is possible, and most of all - would it be honored by the staff manning the bus?  I wouldn't want to buy two seats, and then have the staff take it upon themselves to force someone into the additional seat I purchased/tiny space left.  Not only did I just pay for a service that wasn't honored, but most of all - it would be a completely horrid 2.5 hours being cramped up next to someone.  Any advice or suggestions are welcome.  

Can't see it being a problem especially from Ekkamai. They sell you tickets and it show's a clear plan of the bus on the counter. There's 48 seats on the bus. Tickets number 1 and 2 together at front left along with 3 and 4.front right. 12 rows with 4 seats in each line. Just ask the seller for two tickets together. As long as you do not buy the 48th and last ticket on the bus or one of the last ones where there's only single seats. The seller is not to know the other ticket is for you. The other ticket could be for a girl friend. The price is 108 Baht for each ticket. Day time the journey time is nearer to two hours late night it's 2.5 to 3 hours as the bus goes round the houses in Chonburi, Bang Saen, Sri Racha and Laem Chabang dropping lots of people off

I know a Canadian guy that has successfully bought two bus tickets side by side for the trip from Pattaya to Ekkamai.  It worked for him. He said he was far more comfortable doing the bus ride that way.

I've done this before and it's a pain in the ass.  Somehow, someway they always stopped and more people got on(of course they wanted to sit in the other seat I had purchased).  It was just uncomfortable telling them "no I purchased 2 seats"  and then them having to stand for the rest of the trip. 

The 2nd time I did it, a lady kept trying to sit in the seat and then the Monk in front of me got involved motioning for her to sit in the seat.  The bus driver finally straightened it out but again it was uncomfortable as hell!!!

I never did it again.

More chance at the back especially next to the toilet. Ask for seat 47 and 48 or 45 and 46

Shouldnt be a problem, they dont need to see every passenger when you buy multiple tickets. They seem to sell tickets sequentially so just make sure you tell them you want two seats together and make sure they are not either side of the aisle

My first trip to Pattaya was from here on this bus run. I was on my way back from kanchanaburi and had to switch buses here. It took nearly 3hr 30 minutes. The bus must have stopped 20 times to let people on and off. I though it would be an adventure 1st time in the country use the buses and experience and see the country. My ass it was a complete drag!

Edited March 26, 20188 yr by Joethescot

No problem, 108 baht each. Check the seat numbers are next to each other as opposed to both aisle seats

 

 

I've done this before and it's a pain in the ass.  Somehow, someway they always stopped and more people got on(of course they wanted to sit in the other seat I had purchased).  It was just uncomfortable telling them "no I purchased 2 seats"  and then them having to stand for the rest of the trip. 
The 2nd time I did it, a lady kept trying to sit in the seat and then the Monk in front of me got involved motioning for her to sit in the seat.  The bus driver finally straightened it out but again it was uncomfortable as hell!!!
I never did it again.

Like if you only had 1 seat. Just show them your ticket stubs. Everyone is assigned seats!

As the title states, is it possible to get 2 seats for 1 traveler? 
I've taken the Bus in the picture below, from Eastern Bus Terminal Bangkok Ekkamai to Air Conditioned Bus Terminal on North Pattaya Road a few times.

Anyway, I'm a bit of a bigger fellow, and was wondering if it's possible to get the attendant that sells tickets at the counter, to sell me 2 tickets (sitting next to each other), and use both of them for myself?   I know the tickets don't really cost much (~125 baht), but I would be willing to buy 2, if I can have travel comfortably by having both seats to myself.  
Does anyone know if this is possible, and most of all - would it be honored by the staff manning the bus?  I wouldn't want to buy two seats, and then have the staff take it upon themselves to force someone into the additional seat I purchased/tiny space left.  Not only did I just pay for a service that wasn't honored, but most of all - it would be a completely horrid 2.5 hours being cramped up next to someone.  Any advice or suggestions are welcome.  

Just explain to the ticket agent what you are trying to accomplish. 2 seats for yourself. I think they will understand to give you seats next to each other!

10 minutes ago, hioctane said:

9 hours ago, Jack Scagnetti said:

I've done this before and it's a pain in the ass.  Somehow, someway they always stopped and more people got on(of course they wanted to sit in the other seat I had purchased).  It was just uncomfortable telling them "no I purchased 2 seats"  and then them having to stand for the rest of the trip. 
The 2nd time I did it, a lady kept trying to sit in the seat and then the Monk in front of me got involved motioning for her to sit in the seat.  The bus driver finally straightened it out but again it was uncomfortable as hell!!!
I never did it again.

Like if you only had 1 seat. Just show them your ticket stubs. Everyone is assigned seats!

Trust me, I showed them over and over!  It still wasn't worth the aggravation.

Thank you to everyone for their responses.  I really value your feedback. 

 

9 hours ago, Jack Scagnetti said:

I've done this before and it's a pain in the ass.  Somehow, someway they always stopped and more people got on(of course they wanted to sit in the other seat I had purchased).  It was just uncomfortable telling them "no I purchased 2 seats"  and then them having to stand for the rest of the trip. 

The 2nd time I did it, a lady kept trying to sit in the seat and then the Monk in front of me got involved motioning for her to sit in the seat.  The bus driver finally straightened it out but again it was uncomfortable as hell!!!

I never did it again.

 

15 minutes ago, Jack Scagnetti said:

Trust me, I showed them over and over!  It still wasn't worth the aggravation.

I'm kinda torn now on if I should even try.  Reading Jack's postings, makes me nervous in if it's a fight I can win, or should even fight.  I wouldn't want to purchase my two tickets, then be a deer in headlights once the staff tries to plant someone in the seat next to me, even though I can produce 2 tickets.

I've heard of this happening on US based airlines, but due to being a native - I have a somewhat decent chance of making a worthy objection.  Being a falang in LOS, I fear my grievance would fall on deaf ears and I'd be quickly dismissed due to being an outsider, regardless of being a paying customer. 

Bit of a similar side story, 

when I was travelling through china, I booked a sleeper bed on a train.

i woke up to find people sitting on the end of my bed. The cart contained 2 bunks which a family had purchased the other lower bed. I kept telling them to please get off my bed and they would stand up, then slowly sit back down as I was sleeping or off to the toilet. Their excuse was that there was lots of them so they needed the space. I found out that the two older family members had basic hard class seats in another cart and kids rode for free, so they only paid for a single bed which they all shared.

worst trip of my life because it made me out to be the bad guy for telling them off every every hour for the overnight trip.

On ‎27‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 13:11, Queef_Sniffer said:

Thank you to everyone for their responses.  I really value your feedback. 

 

 

I'm kinda torn now on if I should even try.  Reading Jack's postings, makes me nervous in if it's a fight I can win, or should even fight.  I wouldn't want to purchase my two tickets, then be a deer in headlights once the staff tries to plant someone in the seat next to me, even though I can produce 2 tickets.

I've heard of this happening on US based airlines, but due to being a native - I have a somewhat decent chance of making a worthy objection.  Being a falang in LOS, I fear my grievance would fall on deaf ears and I'd be quickly dismissed due to being an outsider, regardless of being a paying customer. 

I would suggest you take Bell bus.

Two bus tickets cost you two hundred something THB. You still need to pay for you transportation to the bus terminal in Bangkok. Arrive in Pattaya, you still need to pay the bahtbus to take you to your hotel. That may cost about the same as a Bell bus ticket (400 THB).

I have taken the morning and afternoon Bell bus from Bangkok to Pattaya numbers of time. It was always half full and I could sit anywhere I wanted. They have a van to come to pick you up. When you arrive in Pattaya, they have a van to take you to your hotel.

 

 

 

Edited March 31, 20188 yr by matrix123

From my experience, it depends on how full the bus is and what time you take it.  When I went to bkk from Pattaya during peak times ( around morning to early afternoon, the bus was pretty full.  When I was coming back to Pattaya from Ekkamai late in the evening, the bus had lots of empty seats.  My buddy and I choose seats in the very back, which was 4 seats across, and we had them all to ourselves

19 hours ago, matrix123 said:

I would suggest you take Bell bus.

Two bus tickets cost you two hundred something THB. You still need to pay for you transportation to the bus terminal in Bangkok. Arrive in Pattaya, you still need to pay the bahtbus to take you to your hotel. That may cost about the same as a Bell bus ticket (400 THB).

I have taken the morning and afternoon Bell bus from Bangkok to Pattaya numbers of time. It was always half full and I could sit anywhere I wanted. They have a van to come to pick you up. When you arrive in Pattaya, they have a van to take you to your hotel.

 

 

 

Thanks for your input Matrix.  I did have a question about this, do you know if the seating configuration is 2-2, or 2-1?  

I've looked online for a picture of "inside" the bus, but I can't seem to find one that seems credible.  I saw one that was a 2-1 config, but I think that was for a bus going to Hua Hin or a different destination.

If someone can chime in on what to expect, the interior of the bus on the Pattaya --> Bangkok route, I would consider it a viable option.  Thank you so much to everyone!

The seating configuration is 2-2.

Another option is the RRC bus from Swampy. They only stop at Pattaya.. So no question of people getting on mid way. The seats are 2-2 config , so you can buy 2 seats for yerself.They ticket counter is next to the Magic food court at swampy

 

25 minutes ago, matrix123 said:

The seating configuration is 2-2.

Thanks Matrix, I'll consider it as it looks like door to door service is a good deal for 400 baht.

21 minutes ago, wingnutv said:

Another option is the RRC bus from Swampy. They only stop at Pattaya.. So no question of people getting on mid way. The seats are 2-2 config , so you can buy 2 seats for yerself.They ticket counter is next to the Magic food court at swampy

 

Thanks for your input too wingnutv, but the service I need is from a hotel in Pattaya to another hotel in Bangkok.  

At the Pattaya bus station they sell one ticket for each seat and each ticket has the seat number on it. So each person on the bus will have a set seat and will have no need to sit in one of yours. Once the bus leaves the depot it doesn't stop until it reaches Bangkok so no one will need to stand while you lounge in your two seats. Just ask for two seats together. 

Bells is a good option have used them several times from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi. However door to door from Pattaya hotel to Bangkok hotel you could be looking at a 3 to 4 hour journey. 30 minutes for shuttle up to the North Pattaya bus station, 2 hour bus journey to their HQ at Bang Na. Then however long it takes to shuttle you through potentially heavy traffic to your Bangkok accommodation. This bus service only runs three times a day leaving North Pattaya bus station at 9am, 1pm and 5pm. Price is 370 Baht

OP, here is the schedule of Bell bus and the latest price. Last time (two months ago) I took Bell bus, it was only 370 but it seems they just raised the price?! If you take the mornng bus from Bangkok to Pattaya. Of course it is morning rush hour. It will take longer to Bell Bus terminal in Bangkok. If you take the afternoon (1:30) bus, it is not that bad. When you arrive in Pattaya, the time to you hotel depends on where you stay. If you stay close to the bus terminal like Holiday Inn, it may only take 10 or 15 minutes.

Edited April 1, 20188 yr by matrix123

I have taken the Pattaya<->Ekkamai bus multiple times in both directions. I have always had assigned seats. There were no random passenger pick ups and no standing passengers on any trip I was on. The pattaya->ekkamai direction only loaded passengers in pattaya, no stops for more. The ekkamai->pattaya direction, they stop one time at a designated bus stop (station?) at the edge for bangkok for additional passengers and those passengers have assigned seats. Based on that, I think buying 2 tickets should work.

I'm not sure why Jack's experience was so different. Are we even talking about the same bus route?

Of course you could stop being a tight arse and pay for a taxi and then you can have the whole back seat to your self !

From Ekamai just tell them what number seats you want.