Hi, I am travelling from Birmingham to Durham on Sunday 18th January, returning the next day (off peak). If I buy an off peak return (i) in advance (ii) on the day, is it possible to puchase a first class upgrade? Also, how much is it to purchase an off peak return at the station on the Sunday? This is on Cross Country trains most probably.
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Cross Country first class up grades + off peak returns
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If you buy the £102.90 "Off Peak Return", you can upgrade to first class on the CrossCountry service for £20.00 (single).
Buy the £102.90 before boarding from the ticket office/self service machine.
Buy the £20 upgrade ticket on board.
It's normally subject to space actually being available too. So a holder of a first class ticket will take priority, and you will be unable to upgrade if first class is full.
You can split tickets at, (but must travel via) York and save yourself £15.60.
Birmingham-York = £62.20
York-Darlington = £25.10
Total: £87.30
If you're getting the only direct train from Birmingham-Darlington on Sunday, (0903), then you can even stay on the same train, and still buy the first class upgrade.
Buy the £102.90 before boarding from the ticket office/self service machine.
Buy the £20 upgrade ticket on board.
It's normally subject to space actually being available too. So a holder of a first class ticket will take priority, and you will be unable to upgrade if first class is full.
You can split tickets at, (but must travel via) York and save yourself £15.60.
Birmingham-York = £62.20
York-Darlington = £25.10
Total: £87.30
If you're getting the only direct train from Birmingham-Darlington on Sunday, (0903), then you can even stay on the same train, and still buy the first class upgrade.
Last edited by a moderator:
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
If you're getting the only direct train from Birmingham-Darlington on Sunday, (0903), then you can even stay on the same train, and still buy the first class upgrade.
With split tickets would you not need to buy *two* Weekend First tickets?
Neil
£20 is the 'Weekend First' upgrade available on your outward journey on the Sunday.
Returning on the Monday will require an upgrade to a full 1st Class ticket. This is calculated, in this case, as the difference between between the fare paid (£102.90) and the appropriate 1st Class Return (1st Class Off Peak Return £258.70). A difference to pay of £155.80
That would give a total spend of:
£102.90 Original Standard Class Off Peak Return
£20.00 'Weekend First' upgrade on the outward journey
£155.80 Upgrade to 1st Class on the return journey
Total: £278.70
If you intend travelling after 0930 on the return journey then you'd be better off just buying the 1st Class Off Peak Return at £258.70. Or only upgrading on the Sunday journey and returning Standard Class.
Alternatives would be Advance Purchase if you can commit to specific trains, or splitting the tickets.
Based on current Advance Purchase availability (1.44am 06/01/2015) you can travel out from Birmingham for £93.10 on a 1st Class Advance Purchase on most direct trains between 0903 and 1930. The return journey can be had on the Monday for £65.10 1st Class Advance, but only on the 1149 and 1749. Other 1st Advance prices on the Monday range from £93.10 to £228.90.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OP is travelling to Durham, and there's an hourly direct service (twice hourly from 1203 to 1830 at xx03 and xx30) on Sunday 18th January.
Returning on the Monday will require an upgrade to a full 1st Class ticket. This is calculated, in this case, as the difference between between the fare paid (£102.90) and the appropriate 1st Class Return (1st Class Off Peak Return £258.70). A difference to pay of £155.80
That would give a total spend of:
£102.90 Original Standard Class Off Peak Return
£20.00 'Weekend First' upgrade on the outward journey
£155.80 Upgrade to 1st Class on the return journey
Total: £278.70
If you intend travelling after 0930 on the return journey then you'd be better off just buying the 1st Class Off Peak Return at £258.70. Or only upgrading on the Sunday journey and returning Standard Class.
Alternatives would be Advance Purchase if you can commit to specific trains, or splitting the tickets.
Based on current Advance Purchase availability (1.44am 06/01/2015) you can travel out from Birmingham for £93.10 on a 1st Class Advance Purchase on most direct trains between 0903 and 1930. The return journey can be had on the Monday for £65.10 1st Class Advance, but only on the 1149 and 1749. Other 1st Advance prices on the Monday range from £93.10 to £228.90.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If you're getting the only direct train from Birmingham-Darlington on Sunday, (0903), then you can even stay on the same train, and still buy the first class upgrade.
OP is travelling to Durham, and there's an hourly direct service (twice hourly from 1203 to 1830 at xx03 and xx30) on Sunday 18th January.
With split tickets would you not need to buy *two* Weekend First tickets?
Neil
I don't know about Cross Country but on FGW, Virgin and SWT I've only ever had to purchase one first class upgrade when using a combination of tickets.
Thanks to all who replied. This is a work related trip, and I can claim back second class fares, but not first, (neither can I personally pay the difference), but there is nothing stopping me personally purchasing an upgrade.
Just to make sure I have this correct: the cost of the off peak return is the same in advance or on the day, but the upgrade only applies to tickets bought on the day?
paul
Just to make sure I have this correct: the cost of the off peak return is the same in advance or on the day, but the upgrade only applies to tickets bought on the day?
paul
lj9090
Member
An "Advance" ticket is a specific ticket type, not necessarily one merely bought in advance of travel. It has much less flexibility than a walk up ticket ticket hence the price is often lower and isn't valid for upgrades.
The off peak return can be purchased in advance of travel but isn't an "Advance" ticket, so is still valid for the upgrade.
The off peak return can be purchased in advance of travel but isn't an "Advance" ticket, so is still valid for the upgrade.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Thanks to all who replied. This is a work related trip, and I can claim back second class fares, but not first, (neither can I personally pay the difference)
You probably could if you took the ticket, provided it isn't a print at home or something, to a ticket office and asked for an excess. But the weekend upgrade is likely to be cheaper.
Neil
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