Virgin 1st Class

wonka

Ah well I did consider that, but found out it would add about 50 mins to journey time, which is 50 mins less time spent in bed!! (I'm going at 7am).

bunking_off

wonka wrote:

(I'm going at 7am).

...which explains the fare. Best price for travel at that time will be to get a Business Advance (either A or B, typically £60 single) for the outward fare, then value fare for the return. Whatever you do, don't accept a return fare as you'll be paying a premium on the return leg that mirrors the premium on the outbound - whether or not it's necessary. I regularly travel from Preston to London and £100 is the going rate, standard class outbound, 1st class return. I'm staggered at the number of people I see who'll buy standard returns on the train (going rate = £210) - it may be on expenses, but our lot would sack me if I was so wasteful of company money.

It's a bit late to be getting value tickets for this Friday, but on a cursory glance you shouldn't be paying more than £88 - Advance B out, saver return. With a bit more notice you could have got £56 (return in standard, Value C) or £72 (return 1st class, Value C).

In 1st, you get free tea/coffee, soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, and food that varies (according to time of day) from Full English, through pizza slices/quiche/ploughmans, through full silver service menu. Always worth the extra £10-20 on a Value ticket IMHO.

sockospice

Just so as you know, Monday to Friday you get an at seat service of complimentary food and drink (including alcoholic drinks after 11am) and on a weekend you get complimentary tea coffee and biscuits which you have to pick up from the on board shop. You'll find that there are many, many more value tickets available for first class on a weekend because there is no at seat service and no business travel.

Armbase

wonka wrote:

Yes I read about the boarding card offer in the MEN.

But it only applies to MCR -> London journies, not Warrington :-(

OK her eis my tip.

Go to the trainline.com and check your ticket.

Lets say you are goi ng from glasgow-york.
You may be quoted saver return £67.90, next cheapest £127 however, click on the singles may be cheaper. Singles are say £11 normal and £26 1st class.

So book your tickets. You cant change them, but when was the last time you missed a long distance train? So instead of £68 saver you get £22 cheap or £52 1st class. Now here is a trick I use if the time or return is not known.

Get 2 1st class tickets and a £11 single for 3 hours later. Same price as a saver, but you go 1st class. Free tea and coffe and a sandwich, laptop plug and better class of service. If your late, you still have a better backup than the saver.

Cheers
Bob

brad

I want to go to London from North Wales in mid March. A friend of mine gets the Mail so if I get the vouchers can I book any Virgin train or are there restrictions?

Before christmas if I booked in advance I could get First Class to London for £60 , however none of these tickets appear to be available any more!
I would be grateful for any suggestions how to get low cost first class fares?

fatboyonadiet

Full details here: http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/dailymail/default.aspx, it seems to be pretty much any train and time, seems to be availability at peak times too (might only be first class though).

Other suggestions for getting low fares, the saver tickets are normally released 3 or 4 weeks before the date of travel but can sometimes be just before 14 days. "singles often work out cheaper then 1 return. Try booking at the train station, sometimes cheaper and with better availability. HTH.

sarahluv

the low cost fares are on sale at the moment. i'd suggest trying booking through the actual virgin trains site rather than thetrainline. Also, make sure that you look at the single fares!

fatboyonadiet

sarahluv wrote:

the low cost fares are on sale at the moment. i'd suggest trying booking through the actual virgin trains site rather than thetrainline. Also, make sure that you look at the single fares!

I'm not too sure about that, I've found in the past if the trainline doesn't have it neither does Virgin, if the total cost is over £50 you do get 1% cashback from Quidco, the Virgin site is powered by thetrainline.

highguyuk

Generally talking, if you go to the train station and say you want to go between point A and point B for the cheapest way possible and your not bothered when you travel they CAN search the system and get you there. If you get the cashier that can be bothered of course.

Last Easter - 2 tickets from Stafford to Torquay £38 Return.

fatboyonadiet

highguyuk wrote:

If you get the cashier that can be bothered of course.

That's so true, remember when Midland Mainline were going to London from Manchester and they use to give a discount of £4 for 2 bookings, never knew this but one cashier told me, other cashiers would do it unless I queried it after that