Travelling in 1st on 2nd class FIP

[1dohg]

Yesterday, I was in Paris Nord's booking office attempting to purchase a single between Montparnasse and Bordeaux. There weren't any seats left in 2nd class for the train I wished to travel on however the staff were quite insistent that I was permitted to purchase a discounted ticket and travel in 1st class using my 2nd class FIP.

Reluctantly I accepted this and bought a 1st class fare. Upon boarding the train my ticket and FIP were inspected by the train crew and accepted without any comments on the class of travel.

Am I simply failing to understand the rules on this (given this is my first international rail trip using FIP), was it an oversight by the staff, or was it professional courtesy based on me being rail staff, similar to what is common between staff in Britain?

I visit the continent very frequently so it would be nice to know whether or not I can officially travel with a 1st class ticket in France!

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Yesterday, I was in Paris Nord's booking office attempting to purchase a single between Montparnasse and Bordeaux. There weren't any seats left in 2nd class for the train I wished to travel on however the staff were quite insistent that I was permitted to purchase a discounted ticket and travel in 1st class using my 2nd class FIP.

Reluctantly I accepted this and bought a 1st class fare. Upon boarding the train my ticket and FIP were inspected by the train crew and accepted without any comments on the class of travel.

Am I simply failing to understand the rules on this (given this is my first international rail trip using FIP), was it an oversight by the staff, or was it professional courtesy based on me being rail staff, similar to what is common between staff in Britain?

I visit the continent very frequently so it would be nice to know whether or not I can officially travel with a 1st class ticket in France!

Yes, completely in order. However, you have to pay the difference between the 2nd and 1st class full public fare (not discounted) as well as the 2nd class discounted fare.

 

[swr444]

Yes, completely in order. However, you have to pay the difference between the 2nd and 1st class full public fare (not discounted) as well as the 2nd class discounted fare.

I was able to do the same on the renfe AVE between Barcelona and Madrid

 

[185]

Many times they've nicely offered me 1st Class, and usually the fare has been fairly cheap.

You are permitted to have first class by paying the 2nd class fare plus the difference from second class up to first class fare, but not the first class (in this case, France, 75%) directly reduced fare.

That said, I think i've rarely been charged me the full, correct amount.

 

[CyrusWuff]

Many times they've nicely offered me 1st Class, and usually the fare has been fairly cheap.

You are permitted to have first class by paying the 2nd class fare plus the difference from second class up to first class fare, but not the first class (in this case, France, 75%) directly reduced fare.

That said, I think i've rarely been charged me the full, correct amount.

It's shocking how many Ticket Issuing Systems have unexplained "problems" when it comes to staff travel.