I’ve never understood people who travel in pairs, book both lower bunks, and then complain that passengers from the upper bunks disturb them. Buying a ticket in advance is not always possible—sometimes a business trip comes up urgently, or there’s a need to travel for family reasons. Here’s one story from my life.

I was urgently sent on a business trip. A couple had reserved the remaining three spots in the compartment. When I entered, they gave me a disapproving look and told me that I had to put my suitcase and backpack only on the upper bunk, and that I wasn’t allowed to sit at the table. Well, I thought, let’s see how this goes. I didn’t want to argue, but making their trip “enjoyable” was definitely one of my plans.

For the next hour, I made a great effort to lift my suitcase onto the third bunk. The suitcase wasn’t too heavy; I just found it amusing. My backpack contained the things I needed, so about once an hour, I would start rummaging—taking the backpack down, putting it back up. By the way, the man in the compartment was nearly two meters tall but didn’t offer to help even once.

When dinner was served, knowing they wouldn’t let me sit on the lower bunk, I sat on my upper bunk, dangling my legs and swinging them around as I ate. Naturally, I didn’t respond to their remarks. I figured, I’m on my bunk, I’ll do what I want. Oh, how it annoyed them! And I kept running for tea, then frequently going to the restroom. And I always jumped down to the floor!

So, be decent. If you behave rudely, be prepared for someone to disturb your peace!

Have you ever had similar stories with fellow travelers? Have you had conflicts with them for any reason? Share in the comments!