FGW Lounge and Advance Tickets

[googolplex]

I've had a look on the National Rail and FGW websites, but am still not 100% sure whether Advance First class tickets are valid in the FGW lounge at Paddington.
I notice it doesn't say they aren't - but I'd rather know 100% than risk being turned away.
Also - is it likely to be open on a Saturday?

 

[Techniquest]

Paddington's one is open on a Saturday, although I do not recall the times.

I used the First Class lounge a couple of times in 2005 on the Advance fares of the day, so I can't see why it would have changed.

 

[asylumxl]

Where is it?

I've never used it. Never had time to find it.

 

[F Great Eastern]

It's fairly simple with FGW - If you have a first class ticket you can go in the first class lounge, whether it's advance or not, which is how it should be.

 

[googolplex]

Excellent - depending on how the travel arrangements go I'll try to make use of it.
@asylumxl - it's halfway up Platform 1 apparently.

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Pumbaa]

I can't remember I'm afraid. The only ones I know definately are not are NXEC Advance.

 

[attics26]

NXEC Advance give u the chance to waste TEN pounds for the honour of visiting their lounges - they vary in facilities but in ours its alot for a coffee/tea and bikkie and if its very early a paper!

 

[F Great Eastern]

You should see what there is in Liverpool Street, a desk, water machine, sachets of tea and no hot water that work last time I was in there! Not a patch on the Paddington one.

 

[moonrakerz]

Never had a problem myself, on a full-fare or an advance ticket - usually the latter now !

 

[bengolding]

Have you been in the NXEC broom cupboard-style First Lounge at Wakefield Westgate? Definitely the worst of the lot. When I used it last week, it was simply a case of walking into the Lounge. No staff to check tickets unlike Doncaster, which has video entry access.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Have you been in the NXEC broom cupboard-style First Lounge at Wakefield Westgate? Definitely the worst of the lot. When I used it last week, it was simply a case of walking into the Lounge. No staff to check tickets unlike Doncaster, which has video entry access.

Same at Liverpool Street, just a free for all, it's right next to the normal lounge, no staff or ticket checking, just walk in and realise how poor it is.

 

[rick9525]

The previous stand in one at Euston was very good and quiet mainly as it was very hard to find behind the ticket office. It was kept very clean and had a range of cold and hot drinks and many types of biccies and other goddies and it could be used with an advance ticket.

 

[rail-britain]

Sadly I didn't have much time to visit First Class Lounges on my recent 1ALR

However, I did have two hours between St Pancras and Euston, which I spent at VT Euston
I made several other visits between connections at Euston, but each was less than 30 minutes
Passengers with Advance tickets were being proactively refused entry and I myself had my ALR questioned once!
On one Saturday though a family group was allowed entry with Advance tickets, but that was 15 minutes before it closed and it was quiet anyway

East Midlands wanted £5 for use of their First Class lounges

 

[ChrisTheRef]

Passengers with Advance tickets were being proactively refused entry and I myself had my ALR questioned once!

That's odd. Virgin's site states "To get in, just show your valid Virgin Business, First Open or Advance First ticket. You can only enter the lounge on the travel date shown on your ticket."

 

[rail-britain]

I suspect the family had STANDARD Advance tickets, rather than First Class
The staff were quite accomodating given how quite it was

 

[glynn80]

I suspect the family had STANDARD Advance tickets, rather than First Class
The staff were quite accomodating given how quite it was

So you were complaining that First Class Lounge staff were refusing Standard Class Advance tickets? :roll:

 

[rail-britain]

So you were complaining that First Class Lounge staff were refusing Standard Class Advance tickets?

Not a complaint, just an observation
I know some First Class ticket holders get uppity as such things
Given how quiet the lounge was and it was near to closing, more than welcome to keep the staff busy!

 

[Flyboy]

NXEC Advance give u the chance to waste TEN pounds for the honour of visiting their lounges.......

My girlfriend bought a First Class Advance ticket from Doncaster to Ipswich and was denied access to the lounge at Doncaster as it was an Advance ticket. Surely First Class is First Class, regardless of when it was purchased.

As attics said, NXEC wanted an additional £10, thank God they're losing the franchise!