When First Class service doesn't give you First Class service

M4RKM

hmm... i'm one of the sad !!!!!!!s (and i know that will be **'d out now!) that likes to read things, investigate, see what i'm getting etc etc before i click the book button..

i know reading is an old artform, and people nowadays expect everything to be in big flashing letters, if that were the case, the t&c's would have to be on the booking page.. ooooh but they are, but no one reads them!

Gavioli_UK

I frequently travel from Nottingham to London (and return) on a Saturday. A number of first class seats always have a card on them saying that these seats are available to second class ticket holders without charge. It is usually the carriage that is half first class and half second class.

dmg24

Gavioli_UK wrote: »

I frequently travel from Nottingham to London (and return) on a Saturday. A number of first class seats always have a card on them saying that these seats are available to second class ticket holders without charge. It is usually the carriage that is half first class and half second class.

They often seem to be empty too, as people daren't sit in them! x

meester

not sure what you expect. I catch a daily commuter service, the only difference between first class and normal is that first class is emptier and seats are often larger (depending on the type of train).

People pay for it in order to get some space.

At the weekend the trains are empty and you can have about twelve seats to yourself, I'm not sure why you'd pay for first class really. You certainly don't get any service as you would on a £8,000 London - Sydney first-class return airfare, you just get a seat on a train.

dmg24

meester wrote: »

not sure what you expect. I catch a daily commuter service, the only difference between first class and normal is that first class is emptier and seats are often larger (depending on the type of train).

People pay for it in order to get some space.

At the weekend the trains are empty and you can have about twelve seats to yourself, I'm not sure why you'd pay for first class really. You certainly don't get any service as you would on a £8,000 London - Sydney first-class return airfare, you just get a seat on a train.

The weekly service on the Nottingham - London route is definitely better than that! Usually you will get table service, free drinks and snacks (wine in the evening), newspapers etc.

Kez100

Weekend first has always been a reduced service and I suspect your ticket wasn't all that expensive either. You will say that's not the point but it is - that's why it is cheaper! We use weekend first for all our London break trips and the only difference on the Sunday is that you need to collect drinks from the buffet car and Friday the guy comes around with a trolley and 'our water' (which we use to dilute the wine we have brought with us!). On Sunday the cabin is the same, better leg room and luggage room, the drinks are the same and the buffet car is usually situated close to you. It *is* more of a treat - just try standard class on a busy Sunday!

Next you'll be moaning that First was full of riff raffs paying a £10 sunday supplement to impose on your treat.

I think a £10 goodwill voucher is more than adequate.