First Class Advance fares not showing

[NXEA!]

Hello, I'm trying to book a return from Southend Victoria to East Midlands Parkway going out on the 22nd of July and returning on the 24th using my 16-25 railcard, and its coming up with advance singles in Standard Class, but none for First class, could anybody shed some light? Thanks.

 

[SS4]

St Pancras to East Midlands Parkway is showing First Advances as is Southend to Liverpool Street although the STD price being the same and the type off peak makes me think NRE is lying.

If I were to guess I'd say that 1st isn't offered on the first leg of your journey (assuming you're changing in London of course)

 

[bnm]

No First Class Advance fares for that flow.

 

[bb21]

This may sound daft but is 1st Advance offered on this flow? I don't have Avantix to hand so can't check.

Edit: bnm a step ahead of me again!

 

[causton]

I swear the 16-25 railcard doesn't give a discount for first class tickets? Then again a quick test in Avantix shows that the first class fares still show up for a random journey discounted with the railcard, so I don't know if I misread something somewhere.

 

[bb21]

I swear the 16-25 railcard doesn't give a discount for first class tickets? Then again a quick test in Avantix shows that the first class fares still show up for a random journey discounted with the railcard, so I don't know if I misread something somewhere.

Certain TOC's offer the standard discount on 1st Advances to Y-P holders, and EMT is one of them.

Walk-on fares in 1st are not Y-P discountable iirc.

 

[NXEA!]

St Pancras to East Midlands Parkway is showing First Advances as is Southend to Liverpool Street although the STD price being the same and the type off peak makes me think NRE is lying.

If I were to guess I'd say that 1st isn't offered on the first leg of your journey (assuming you're changing in London of course)

Thanks for your replys, all of you. No, the NXEA service from Southend to London will be a 321, so it will have First Class. And also I've booked from Southend Victoria to Plymouth before advance First Class with a railcard discount. And yes I am changing in London. So does EMT offer advance firsts with a railcard discount or not? I'm confused.

 

[bb21]

Thanks for your replys, all of you. No, the NXEA service from Southend to London will be a 321, so it will have First Class. And also I've booked from Southend Victoria to Plymouth before advance First Class with a railcard discount. And yes I am changing in London. So does EMT offer advance firsts with a railcard discount or not? I'm confused.

EMT is one of the few that offer Y-P discounts with 1st Advances. Not all TOC's do though mind.

 

[NXEA!]

EMT is one of the few that offer Y-P discounts with 1st Advances. Not all TOC's do though mind.

Ahh ok, thanks for that. So how do I access these discounted fares as they aren't showing up on the website? Or do NXEA not offer them anymore and so they aren't showing?

 

[bb21]

Ahh ok, thanks for that. So how do I access these discounted fares as they aren't showing up on the website? Or do NXEA not offer them anymore and so they aren't showing?

I think the problem, as bnm has already pointed out, is that there is no 1st Advance fare being offered for this flow, discounted or otherwise, as the only first class fare offered are walk-on fares, rather than them not showing up on the booking engines. If you book separately to/from London then both legs are available.

 

[NXEA!]

I think the problem, as bnm has already pointed out, is that there is no 1st Advance fare being offered for this flow, discounted or otherwise, as the only first class fare offered are walk-on fares, rather than them not showing up on the booking engines. If you book separately to/from London then both legs are available.

Ok then, thanks very much mate.

 

[bb21]

Do you need to travel first class for any particular reason? Do you want to travel first class on the 321's as well? We can always look at alternative offerings if they're cheaper.

 

[NXEA!]

Do you need to travel first class for any particular reason? Do you want to travel first class on the 321's as well? We can always look at alternative offerings if they're cheaper.

Only so I can enjoy the extra space and comfier seating in First Class, plus its not as busy as Standard. And its alright, but thanks for the offer.

 

[MichaelAMW]

Hello from an EMT-based person - Nottingham (Beeston), in fact.

To a good approximation*, via-London Advance tickets priced by EMT are standard-class only. Already been pointed out above, seems just to be their policy, as far as I can tell. First only available within their route, i.e. only as far as London (or not that far).

* - just in case there's an exception I've missed...

 

[Yew]

Seems a bit unfair some toc's not allowing the discount on first class tickets for YP cards, But yes for other cards...

 

[bb21]

Can you poor students afford to travel first class?
You would be better off spending it on CD's and stuff yourself with junk food so you don't fall asleep in the lecture theatre.

 

[wibble]

Seems a bit unfair some toc's not allowing the discount on first class tickets for YP cards, But yes for other cards...

16-25 Railcard discounts are available on all First Class Advance tickets, regardless of TOC.

 

[Yew]

Can you poor students afford to travel first class?
You would be better off spending it on CD's and stuff yourself with junk food so you don't fall asleep in the lecture theatre.

When I went to london, the return (through advances) was £29 and the first was £34, When you take into account That If I had bought three cups of coffee that i got for free (@ 1.60 each iirc, thats £4.80)

Only problem was the overhead rack had a terrible rattle in the first calss carriage on the meridian home.


With regards the Hst Vs Meridian, a HST feels like First class, Due to the low backed seats, and relaxed ride. Whereas a meridian feels like Buissness Class, Harder more private seats and a more no-nonsense ride

 

[bb21]

When I went to london, the return (through advances) was £29 and the first was £34, When you take into account That If I had bought three cups of coffee that i got for free (@ 1.60 each iirc, thats £4.80)

Only problem was the overhead rack had a terrible rattle in the first calss carriage on the meridian home.


With regards the Hst Vs Meridian, a HST feels like First class, Due to the low backed seats, and relaxed ride. Whereas a meridian feels like Buissness Class, Harder more private seats and a more no-nonsense ride

Yes I have observed that during less busy times EMT seems to do rather good first class AP's, on many occasions cheaper than the standard AP on the same train.

I would not pay anything more than £3-4 extra to go in first on a Meridian, whereas on a HST, I would be prepared to spend more for the luxury.