Mini first class experience

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Right, here goes. First of all: Please don't think: You're really greedy This query is not so i can eat free food, it is purely because i have always wanted to have a Pendolino First Class experience, and a pendolino first class experience includes complementary snacks, right?

My trip to Scotland next week allows time me to pop between Edinburgh and Haymarket on a Pendolino. I have ALWAYS wanted to have a Pendolino first class experience, and this is my chance. Its a weekend. I know they do Goodie Boxes on weekends but:

Will I be allowed to have a goodie box (or any food at all) on this small journey???
Virgin do say on their website if you're travelling on what they call "just a quickie" you are entitled to a snack and drink, but is this too quick?

I hope not. Please dont think im silly/greedy!

Thanks!

 

[NSE]

I guess you'd be entitled to it. But you won't have time. It's like, what, 3/4 minutes? They won't bring it to you, so by the time you've found them you'll be getting off haha

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I guess you'd be entitled to it. But you won't have time. It's like, what, 3/4 minutes? They won't bring it to you, so by the time you've found them you'll be getting off haha

Ill board early hahaha

 

[NSE]

If I was you I'd save up for some advance tickets and make a small trip. Assuming you're starting in Edinburgh you might be able to pick up a cheap first class return to somewhere like Carlisle. You can enjoy your first class at speed then.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If I was you I'd save up for some advance tickets and make a small trip. Assuming you're starting in Edinburgh you might be able to pick up a cheap first class return to somewhere like Carlisle. You can enjoy your first class at speed then.

Not allowed to travel to Carlisle on my own (I'm 14)
Thanks for the idea though

 

[Huntergreed]

You may not be able to receive and consume a snack box in the 3-minute journey, however, you are easily able to get snacks from the VTEC first class lounge with VTWC ticket. You can board early and use the free wifi, and then enjoy a short hop to Haymarket. For a few extra pounds why not! In my previous experience, however, staff generally don't do a food and drinks round until the train has left Haymarket to save them going round twice! If you are able to go to Glasgow maybe take the train to Glasgow Central and try a longer, but still short, journey from Glasgow Central to Motherwell?

I would personally recommend saving up for a longer distance weekday first class trip so that, once you are old enough, you can get a much better service (including hot meals at certain times of the day) for a more substantial amount of travelling time

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

You may not be able to receive and consume a snack box in the 3-minute journey, however, you are easily able to get snacks from the VTEC first class lounge with VTWC ticket. You can board early and use the free wifi, and then enjoy a short hop to Haymarket. For a few extra pounds why not! In my previous experience, however, staff generally don't do a food and drinks round until the train has left Haymarket to save them going round twice! If you are able to go to Glasgow maybe take the train to Glasgow Central and try a longer, but still short, journey from Glasgow Central to Motherwell?

I would personally recommend saving up for a longer distance weekday first class trip so that, once you are old enough, you can get a much better service (including hot meals at certain times of the day) for a more substantial amount of travelling time

Thanks for the advice

 

[MidnightFlyer]

If you see them knocking about in Coach K before departure I would approach them and just explain what you've told us (first experience etc). Their First Class Hosts (or whatever they're officially titled) are by and large very pleasant so unless you catch them right in the middle of something you may have a chance of getting a snackbox to take with you.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If you see them knocking about in Coach K before departure I would approach them and just explain what you've told us (first experience etc). Their First Class Hosts (or whatever they're officially titled) are by and large very pleasant so unless you catch them right in the middle of something you may have a chance of getting a snackbox to take with you.

Ok thanks. I don't know what staff are like in Virgin, I'm not very confident speaking to staff on trains these days because I regularly travel in first class with CrossCountry and the staff are usually unpleasant. Not all. But most.

 

[NSE]

Just explain you've saved up to tick this off your list so to speak. I've only ever had good experiences with Virgin so I'd imagine they'd be accommodating.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just explain you've saved up to tick this off your list so to speak. I've only ever had good experiences with Virgin so I'd imagine they'd be accommodating.

Saved up? The ticket is £1.99
But thanks as always!

 

[NSE]

Saved up? The ticket is £1.99
But thanks as always!

Haha I thought it might have been part of a longer journey. Either way enjoy

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Haha I thought it might have been part of a longer journey. Either way enjoy

Oh actually it is kind of I'm coming up on VTEC.

 

[Hadders]

Not sure it'll help but remember that with VTWC you can use a Standard Class Anytime Ticket in First Class at weekends for free.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not sure it'll help but remember that with VTWC you can use a Standard Class Anytime Ticket in First Class at weekends for free.

Sorry, I don't understand. You can buy a Standard ticket and use it in First?

 

[telstarbox]

Anytime tickets aren't cheap!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

But can you do it?

 

[roversfan2001]

This only applies to Anytime tickets, not Anytime Day tickets; I'd be surprised if an Edinburgh to Haymarket ticket isn't a Day ticket.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

 

[Hadders]

This only applies to Anytime tickets, not Anytime Day tickets; I'd be surprised if an Edinburgh to Haymarket ticket isn't a Day ticket.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

I'm pretty sure I've seen confirmation that Anytime Day tickets are allowed although I can't find it at the moment.

 

[yorkie]

This only applies to Anytime tickets, not Anytime Day tickets; I'd be surprised if an Edinburgh to Haymarket ticket isn't a Day ticket.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

Anytime Day tickets are Anytime fares and thus do qualify for the offer.

A few weeks ago a Virgin Trains TM disagreed with this, and requested BTP boot out a passenger holding such a ticket. The TM was given words of advice and the customer was compensated and assured that all Anytime fares are included.

 

[yorkie]

Saved up? The ticket is £1.99
But thanks as always!

If the ticket ended in 99p this was a mistake; fares should be rounded to the nearest 5p.

 

[roversfan2001]

Anytime Day tickets are Anytime fares and thus do qualify for the offer.

A few weeks ago a Virgin Trains TM disagreed with this, and requested BTP boot out a passenger holding such a ticket. The TM was given words of advice and the customer was compensated and assured that all Anytime fares are included.

I'll be sure to make use of this in future then, I always thought it meant Anytime open fares and I believe I have been told by Virgin Trains Twitter that that is the case, it was a fair while ago though so I may be wrong.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

 

[tsr]

If the ticket ended in 99p this was a mistake; fares should be rounded to the nearest 5p.

I wonder if it could have been a special promotional fare.

 

[yorkie]

For a perhaps limited time, under 16s can enjoy a first class experience in the London area for well under £1, on one of the nicest 1st class environments in the country. I know of two forum members who regularly take advantage of this.

As for what the staff will think of a teenager asking for a snack box for a journey between Waverley and Haymarket, I really wouldn't like to predict the outcome!

 

[Starmill]

We know for certain now that this applies to "Anytime tickets" and that this does include (for example) an Anytime Day Return. And for bonus points, you get one if you select the anytime return option on the VT website.

 

[roversfan2001]

We know for certain now that this applies to "Anytime tickets" and that this does include (for example) an Anytime Day Return.

Is there any documentation to prove this? NRE doesn't make any direct reference to Anytime Day tickets.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk

 

[yorkie]

If you are wrongly charged, you can get a refund and your own documentation in the form of a letter from VT.

Maybe some people with such letters will share them (more likely via email than on the public forum).

NRE does state that Anytime fares include Anytime Day fares (see my link in earlier post).

 

[bb21]

I'll be sure to make use of this in future then, I always thought it meant Anytime open fares and I believe I have been told by Virgin Trains Twitter that that is the case, it was a fair while ago though so I may be wrong.

This is what the offer was always intended for.

But on this forum we are good at spotting loopholes, as you should well know by now.

Over time somehow it would appear no one at Virgin still have a clue what the offer is all about, so now this is a bit messed up and apparently valid with Day tickets (which on a literal reading of the current terms I have to agree).

 

[yorkie]

Originally it was valid on "Standard Open" (SOS/SOR) fares but fares of that name were abolished around 2008.

They then changed it to "Anytime" fares, which is the name of both a type of fare and also a category of fare, including Anytime Day fares.

If this is a "loophole" then any good value fare offer is a loophole (e.g. buying weekend 1st upgrades instead of full price 1st class fares)

 

[roversfan2001]

I have DMed VTWC about it, no response as of yet. I will share the response so anyone interested in this offer can see a definitive clarification on the forum.

Sent from my HTC Desire 530 using Tapatalk