First advance single VTWC excess to Standard single

[Altnabreac]

Is this possible?

A first class advance single ticket London - Glasgow for later today is held with a value of more than the £141.50 Off Peak Single. Can a zero excess be done?

 

[Haywain]

An Advance ticket can be changed to any other available ticket for the same origin and destination, so the answer is yes except that it will not be at zero cost as there is a £10 administration charge for all changes to Advance tickets (other than standard to first travelling on the same train, and that's not well known).

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

An Advance ticket can be changed to any other available ticket for the same origin and destination, so the answer is yes except that it will not be at zero cost as there is a £10 administration charge for all changes to Advance tickets (other than standard to first travelling on the same train, and that's not well known).

If the ticket had been purchased through TPE's then there would be no admin fee.

 

[Haywain]

If the ticket had been purchased through TPE's then there would be no admin fee.

Can online changes be done on the day of travel?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Can online changes be done on the day of travel?

Not as far as I'm aware (I believe all excesses must be sent out by post), so of course this is only a useful option if you change your plans a while before travel, or like me, enter a completely wrong travel day for an advance by not checking the date selector

 

[Haywain]

Not as far as I'm aware (I believe all excesses must be sent out by post), so of course this is only a useful option if you change your plans a while before travel, or like me, enter a completely wrong travel day for an advance by not checking the date selector

So not much help to the OP with a ticket for "later today".

 

[Altnabreac]

Thanks all, useful to know. As it turns out my wife's meeting only finished an hour before her train so she decided to wait an hour and get the benefit of First Class on the return journey.

 

[premier01]

An Advance ticket can be changed to any other available ticket for the same origin and destination, so the answer is yes except that it will not be at zero cost as there is a £10 administration charge for all changes to Advance tickets (other than standard to first travelling on the same train, and that's not well known).

I was charged £ 10 fee to change standard advance to 1st advance on exact same train.

I want to write in to Virgin to complain/request refund.

Is there any material I could quote from to support this?

 

[Haywain]

I was charged £ 10 fee to change standard advance to 1st advance on exact dame train.

I want to write in to Virgin to complain/request refund.

Is there any material I could quote from to support this?

I no longer have access to appropriate documents, but this Forum's Fares and Ticketing Guide includes the industry's internal Advance Fares FAQ, which says (crucial bits highlighted in bold):

Q: Can customers upgrade to First Class?

A: In most cases, yes. However;
1) Remember that changes to travel plans can only be done at a station before departure of the first booked train, so once on board, either the ticket is valid on that train, or it is not.
2) Where the customer joins the correct train and wishes to upgrade to First Class on board, or wishes to upgrade at a station beforehand between Standard and First Class on the correct train on which their Advance ticket has been reserved, this is not classed as a change of travel plans.
Weekdays: All TOCs allow upgrade to First Class in the above circumstances. As with other ticket types, charge the difference between the fare already paid and the appropriate First Single (dedicated or inter-available) fare for the journey. No £10 fee should be charged for doing this (except on XC trains)

This has been covered a number of times on previous threads, but as it doesn't happen too often many ticket offices are completely unaware of this.

 

[premier01]

I no longer have access to appropriate documents, but this Forum's Fares and Ticketing Guide includes the industry's internal Advance Fares FAQ, which says (crucial bits highlighted in bold):



This has been covered a number of times on previous threads, but as it doesn't happen too often many ticket offices are completely unaware of this.

Thanks- looks like what I have seen before...seems fairly clear.

 

[premier01]

So 8 weeks later after a lot of chasing, received response from VT. I have been refunded the £ 10 fee to excess standard advance to 1st advance on the same train.

Apologised for delay in responding and said they would refresh staff training at the station.

I very much doubt it will make much difference however.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

So 8 weeks later after a lot of chasing, received response from VT. I have been refunded the £ 10 fee to excess standard advance to 1st advance on the same train.

Apologised for delay in responding and said they would refresh staff training at the station.

I very much doubt it will make much difference however.

The only way of knowing is by trying it out again!

 

[yorkie]

I don't think Virgin HQ has much - if any - control over the actions of Euston ticket office, but it's worth a try...!