Virgin 1st Class Advanced Seat Reservations

[Butts]

When you book an Advanced 1st Class Ticket you always get a Seat Reservation as well.

Often the carriages are empty and I choose to sit in a different seat to that alocated - ie one with a table (especially on a Voyager)

I always check the overhead display to check the seat is not reserved for any part of my journey.

Sometimes on a Pendelino I even sit in a different carriage (as near to the kitchen as possible ie coach k - more "trolley stops".)

No Guard has ever questioned this and often they don't even look at the reservation chit.

I take it this practice is ok

 

[SS4]

I've done it on many occasions myself and not been mentioned. I get the impression the guard doesn't mind as long as you're in possession of the right class and right ticket although if a family or a group want the 4 seat table I'll move.

I usually move to get a better table or a better view, I have sometimes moved to different coaches but simply to make a phone call or if I fancy some entertainment since it's rude to do so in the quiet zone.

edit: The computer system doesn't let you choose a seat so I'd imagine they turn a blind eye

 

[Intermodal]

You are supposed to sit in your reserved seat, but in my experience no one minds. I had a guard on East Coast that threatened to excess anyone who was not sitting in their reserved seat to the full open fare, although I'm not sure how correct that is.

 

[MCR247]

Technically you should sit in the allocated seat, but I would be surprised if many (if any) would tell you to move if the seat was not reserved

 

[Deerfold]

You are supposed to sit in your reserved seat, but in my experience no one minds. I had a guard on East Coast that threatened to excess anyone who was not sitting in their reserved seat to the full open fare, although I'm not sure how correct that is.

So far as I know you must sit in your reserved seat if the guard asks you to. Presumably they'll help if someone won't move out of it too.

I usually sit in my reseved seat as I deliberately book my favourite type (table, forward, aisle since you ask). However if my wife is travelling at a similar time she'll sometimes have a reserved seat in another carriage or no reserved seat at all and we'll sit together in B or C. I've never been asked to return to my booked seat.

 

[Butts]

Thanks for that - I thought it wouldn't matter as long as you are not sitting in a reserved seat.

If you book 1st in a Voyager (with only 1 carriage) they always seem to put you in one of the "muppet seats" which are not as good as the table for 4-only 2 of them in the carriage so highly sought after

 

[Railjet]

I had a guard on East Coast that threatened to excess anyone who was not sitting in their reserved seat to the full open fare, although I'm not sure how correct that is.

Bring it on! What a to$$er. How jobsworth is that?

Can anyone give one good reason (apart from droning on about how rules are rules) why he should do that?

 

[SS4]

Plus sometimes there are just better seats, since I usually travel alone I get a two seat table when the four seat table opposite lies empty and unreserved. Not the fault of the computer because it doesn't know but I always take the four seat so I can stretch my legs

 

[crewmeal]

Everytime I book online I automatically get a seat allocation even though I don't want it. How do I book a ticket without having to have a seat?

 

[317666]

Sometimes I prefer to sit in a different seat to that reserved, for instance on a FGW HST, someone was sitting in my reserved seat in Coach G (first class quiet coach), with LOADS of stuff all over the table, and a noisy family at the table of four opposite. Stuff that, I thought, and moved to unreserved Coach F with a table of four to myself for the entire trip. Guard didn't care at all.

 

[ainsworth74]

How do I book a ticket without having to have a seat?

If your booking an advance ticket (the type of ticket not just booking in advance) then seat reservations are compulsory. However if your buying an open ticket (like anytime or off peak) then there should be an option somewhere when you book to not have a seat reservation.

 

[MCR247]

Just to add onto your post, but if you don't like your seat don't sit in crewmeal

 

[rail-britain]

edit: The computer system doesn't let you choose a seat so I'd imagine they turn a blind eye

I have always chosen my own seat
You can do this by booking at any manned station, giving them the coach and seat number
However sometimes your preference may already be reserved

Providing the passenger is sitting in an unreserved seat there is usually no issue
The issue may arise later in the journey if you sit in a part-reserved seat and need to vacate it, someone might now be sitting in your original seat!

Equally, once someone is my reserved seat and refused to move, "There are plenty of seats, sit somewhere else" and that was in First Class!
Sat behind them tapping on my laptop, tappity tap, tap, tap, tap, tappity tap