Advance Train Tickets

alistairstubbs

Thank you every one for your responses. Today out of the blue I received the below email from Virgin Trains.


"I have just looked through our responses to you. I am extremely sorry for the way your query has been dealt with and looking through I realise we have failed to address your concerns each time. The Virgin Train service is your specific train and you do need to board this. However as you are now aware, you can indeed travel on an earlier service in order to make it on time for your Virgin connection. The service at 10:18 is simply a suggested service.

Thank you for your patience. I hope you have a lovely journey."


I had emailed them several times before I posted here but had always had the same response that I had to travel on the train specified. I was not expecting to here from them again and was just going to travel on the earlier train.


Thanks again for all the help

cookie365

You would probably have got a quicker response from Virgin if you'd tweeted them rather than emailed.

Asking questions of train/bus/etc companies is pretty much all I use Twitter for

yorkie2

I am glad to hear the correct info was eventually provided.

cookie365 wrote: »

You would probably have got a quicker response from Virgin if you'd tweeted them rather than emailed.

agreed, though not always a correct answer first time.

cookie365 wrote: »

Asking questions of train/bus/etc companies is pretty much all I use Twitter for

Interestingly some rail staff try to argue that their own colleagues who do Twitter are not trained to answer questions and suggest therefore their answers shouldn't be relied upon (example)!

I don't see it that way personally, though there is a huge problem regarding lack of adequate fares & ticketing training in the industry generally.

David147

If you do not have your PI number then do not book tickets using the card - you would need the PIN to collect them.

It would be much safer to buy a ticket at the time, paying cash.

You do not say where you are going after London Victoria - is it somewhere in or near London or somewhere far away?

If your final destination is in or near London then there is no point booking in advance anyway. It would not be any cheaper.

If it is somewhere far away (e.g. Exeter or York) then booking in advance would be cheaper, but you cannot do that using a card without a PIN.

You do not need to book in advance for any train in Britain - advance booking just is cheaper and ensures that you have a reserved seat, while buying a ticket just before travelling costs more and you could end up standing if all the seats are taken.

yorkie2

David147 wrote: »

If you do not have your PI number then do not book tickets using the card - you would need the PIN to collect them.

Utter rubbish.

David147 wrote: »

It would be much safer to buy a ticket at the time, paying cash.

You do not say where you are going after London Victoria - is it somewhere in or near London or somewhere far away?

If your final destination is in or near London then there is no point booking in advance anyway. It would not be any cheaper.

A through Advance fare from origin to the final destination is cheaper.

David147 wrote: »

If it is somewhere far away (e.g. Exeter or York) then booking in advance would be cheaper, but you cannot do that using a card without a PIN.

You are talking gibberish.

David147 wrote: »

You do not need to book in advance for any train in Britain - advance booking just is cheaper and ensures that you have a reserved seat, while buying a ticket just before travelling costs more and you could end up standing if all the seats are taken.

Contradicting yourself.

You are a spammer.

geerex

Silly question:

Is a passenger entitled to sit in 1st class of the (unreserved) connecting service if they have a 1st class advance? If so, do they take priority over full fare 1st class passengers when there aren't enough 1st class seats?

dzug1

Yes to sitting there no to priority.

Voyager2002

whitesatin wrote: »

I have a similar situation with a return trip to Glasgow. I have purchased advance first class (very reasonable, as it happens). The trip from my local station to Euston is shown when I book but I don't think it shows on the ticket. That part can't be reserved so maybe won't be first class. Not worried about that, as long as I can get a slightly earlier train to ensure I get to Euston on time (it is a Sunday). Otherwise, it will be too tight, given my hip problem. The return is from Glasgow to Milton Keynes by Virgin then Southern trains to my local destination. There is only 15 minutes between arrival and departure at MK so I am a bit concerned that I will not make it as I am not sure how big MK station is. If I can only travel on Southern trains, as per the booking, I will have to wait an hour. I wouldn't want to risk getting on another train as I might end up having to pay more. That leg of the journey is non reserved but I still think I need to travel on Southern. It is all a bit confusing and the margins between trains are not really realistic. I suppose it is what I need to expect if I want cheap travel.

Milton Keynes station is reasonably small, so fifteen minutes should be adequate if your train arrives on time. If it is delayed, ask the train manager what to do: under those circumstances you would probably be allowed to take any train (rather than just a Southern train) from MK to your final destination. You might need to have your ticket stamped or endorsed to allow you to do this.

yorkie2

geerex wrote: »

Silly question:

Is a passenger entitled to sit in 1st class of the (unreserved) connecting service if they have a 1st class advance? If so, do they take priority over full fare 1st class passengers when there aren't enough 1st class seats?

A first class ticket is valid in first class accommodation, and entitles you to sit in a 1st class seat if a 1st class seat is available.

If there are no 1st class seats available, you may prefer to sit in Standard class if there are Standard class seats available, rather than remain in 1st class standing up, but that's your choice.

geerex

yorkie2 wrote: »

A first class ticket is valid in first class accommodation, and entitles you to sit in a 1st class seat if a 1st class seat is available.

If there are no 1st class seats available, you may prefer to sit in Standard class if there are Standard class seats available, rather than remain in 1st class standing up, but that's your choice.

Absolutely, but what if the connecting service has no 1st class but is supposed to, are you entitled to a (partial) refund of the non 1st class part of your journey?