Eurostar Plus is becoming worse

[johncrossley]

That's what Standard Premium is for.

Which is not offered by Eurostar, LNER or GWR for example

 

[D6130]

Which is not offered by Eurostar, LNER or GWR for example

Eurostar Plus was known as Standard Premium until very recently.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Which is not offered by Eurostar, LNER or GWR for example

True - but it is a model that has been trialled successfully

 

[johncrossley]

True - but it is a model that has been trialled successfully

It would be good to see other operators than Avanti use it, but Avanti had a unique situation with a huge overprovision of First Class coaches on Pendolino trains that they had no hope of filling. Does Eurostar have good occupancy of 2+1 seats?

 

[AlastairFraser]

It would be good to see other operators than Avanti use it, but Avanti had a unique situation with a huge overprovision of First Class coaches on Pendolino trains that they had no hope of filling. Does Eurostar have good occupancy of 2+1 seats?

From reviews I've seen, E* doesn't have a particularly busy first class.

 

[jfollows]

Eurostar Plus was known as Standard Premium until very recently.

It was Standard Premier I believe. For what it matters. Probably when I last used it.
In the past I used Eurostar, including the connection from Wilmslow, but today I think I’d fly. Saint Pancras mess, uninspiring onboard service.
I’ve used all three classes over time, Business Premier I think it’s called, once, during the trip Eyjafjallajökull erupted and I had no problem getting home as booked.
But now, meh, maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I see no real benefit to me any more.

 

[AlastairFraser]

It was Standard Premier I believe. For what it matters. Probably when I last used it.
In the past I used Eurostar, including the connection from Wilmslow, but today I think I’d fly. Saint Pancras mess, uninspiring onboard service.
I’ve used all three classes over time, Business Premier I think it’s called once, during the trip Eyjafjallajökull erupted and I had no problem getting home as booked.
But now, meh, maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I see no real benefit to me any more.

Although you have to use Manchester Airport (unless you are heading for a destination served by Liverpool), Eurostar compares favourably in comparison, even on price if using an Interrail.

 

[wellhouse]

That's what Standard Premium is for.

Yeah but, no but....

In the old days of LNER, a First Class passenger had the options of light refreshments or a full restaurant car meal or just a coffee, paying accordingly.

Nowadays, with the exception of TFW and GWR Pullman Dining, a First Class passenger has the option only of the 'meal' offered as part of the package. They do not, for example, have the option of the full range of coffees offered for purchase at the shop to Standard passengers.

Posters here frequently express a preference for buying refreshments to take on board, but this is a less than ideal solution for those burdened with luggage/pushchairs/bikes, or those taking a longer journey who might wish to enjoy a hot meal an hour or so more after departure.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Yeah but, no but....

In the old days of LNER, a First Class passenger had the options of light refreshments or a full restaurant car meal or just a coffee, paying accordingly.

Nowadays, with the exception of TFW and GWR Pullman Dining, a First Class passenger has the option only of the 'meal' offered as part of the package. They do not, for example, have the option of the full range of coffees offered for purchase at the shop to Standard passengers.

Posters here frequently express a preference for buying refreshments to take on board, but this is a less than ideal solution for those burdened with luggage/pushchairs/bikes, or those taking a longer journey who might wish to enjoy a hot meal an hour or so more after departure.

Perhaps offering a full range of coffees onboard would be sensible, but a significantly expanded range of meals to offer would be madness. The amount of additional ingredients that you would need to purchase for the expansion would push prices up to the point that it would be unattractive, and much more would inevitably end being wasted.

 

[NCT]

With most Eurostar journeys being around the 2-hour mark I think the Plus offering is fine. It's a snack - it's a consistent snack-sized offering so you know what you are paying for and you can decide to not go for the Plus. Thinking about it, I almost always have pre or post 'top-ups'. There's nothing stopping you from going to the buffet bar and making additional purchases.

 

[STINT47]

Eurostar could offer two fares. One with catering and the other without.

I'd personally go for without as a trip to Brussels is only two hours and i wasn't impressed with the offering. Those who enjoy the catering can chose to pay a bit extra.

Alternatively go down the DB route where the first class host cones round after departure and takes any orders from the restursnt car.

 

[NCT]

Eurostar could offer two fares. One with catering and the other without.

I'd personally go for without as a trip to Brussels is only two hours and i wasn't impressed with the offering. Those who enjoy the catering can chose to pay a bit extra.

Alternatively go down the DB route where the first class host cones round after departure and takes any orders from the restursnt car.

I think that unnecessarily complicates matters. Loadings have always been good whenever I've taken Plus (I don't know about Premier so can't comment) so it seems to be a good business model. RENFE have different levels of meal plans in their First Class offering. It gets chaotic when passengers swap seats between them as hosts work off seating plans. As most Eurostar runs are only 2 hours there isn't a lot of time. You need a one-size-fits-all approach so you can go through all passengers relatively quickly. A DB-style restaurant car would take up too much capacity and be a complete overkill for most Eurostar journeys.

 

[Trainbike46]

It was Standard Premier I believe. For what it matters. Probably when I last used it.
In the past I used Eurostar, including the connection from Wilmslow, but today I think I’d fly. Saint Pancras mess, uninspiring onboard service.

St Pancras's border formalities are a lot better now than a few years ago, the extra border booths, and new ePassport gates, really speed up the process. Just don't go through the border too early to limit how much time you're in the 'lounge'

 

[zero]

If there is going to be a shop with hot food to purchase anyway, why not just offer 1st class one or two free items from the shop, or alternatively a spending allowance. This could be served at seat, maybe even plated with proper cutlery if it was determined that passengers want that.

Some low-cost airlines offer catering vouchers in advance for cheaper than it would be to buy directly during the flight. The former semi-LCC Airberlin had a business class cabin where you could pick a selection of items from the trolley free, before they offered them for sale to the economy passengers.

 

[williamn]

It was Standard Premier I believe. For what it matters. Probably when I last used it.
In the past I used Eurostar, including the connection from Wilmslow, but today I think I’d fly. Saint Pancras mess, uninspiring onboard service.
I’ve used all three classes over time, Business Premier I think it’s called, once, during the trip Eyjafjallajökull erupted and I had no problem getting home as booked.
But now, meh, maybe familiarity breeds contempt but I see no real benefit to me any more.

I tale Eurostar 2-3 times a year and can't say I've ever found St Pancras to be a mess - I'm usually through all formalities in 15/20 mins.

The problem with Plus is when it's at a meal time - it's not enough to serve as a proper breakfast/lunch/dinner. As a bonus mini meal outside of these times its fine. At breakfast time it's particularly poor value when you can just buy the same items from the buffet.

 

[ivanhoe]

I tend to use Eurostar Plus when I have a First Class Interrail Pass.( one advantage of being old). If I had to pay full fare, I’d probably sit in Standard. As I invariably go for the 11.04, Ive probably had a bacon cob on EMR from Loughborough first and if I’m heading South via Lille,I’d rather eat on the Marseille train. Over a period of three years, Ive not noticed any improvement or deterioration in what is offered. My expectations are not high, anyway.

 

[Failed Unit]

If there is going to be a shop with hot food to purchase anyway, why not just offer 1st class one or two free items from the shop, or alternatively a spending allowance. This could be served at seat, maybe even plated with proper cutlery if it was determined that passengers want that.

Some low-cost airlines offer catering vouchers in advance for cheaper than it would be to buy directly during the flight. The former semi-LCC Airberlin had a business class cabin where you could pick a selection of items from the trolley free, before they offered them for sale to the economy passengers.

GNER used to work like this for people that didn’t want to use the restaurant.

 

[Ritchie333]

I have to admit that if I'm travelling on the outbound Eurostar, I've tended to "pie up" with a Full English breakfast at the Barrel Vault, St Pancras, which is about £8.50.

 

[Mikey C]

I don't know if the prices reflect this, but the breakfast offering is pretty meagre when compared to the "dinner" offering later in the day, which while not large does look like a meal. Especially if you are on a very early train, and hence won't have eaten beforehand.

Also when you are having to check in at 5:45 for the 6:40 train from Amsterdam to London, not getting the actual breakfast until after Brussels (so well past 9) feels very late. The small packet of nuts and coffee between Amsterdam and Brussels felt a bit inadequate.

 

[williamn]

I don't know if the prices reflect this, but the breakfast offering is pretty meagre when compared to the "dinner" offering later in the day, which while not large does look like a meal. Especially if you are on a very early train, and hence won't have eaten beforehand.

Also when you are having to check in at 5:45 for the 6:40 train from Amsterdam to London, not getting the actual breakfast until after Brussels (so well past 9) feels very late. The small packet of nuts and coffee between Amsterdam and Brussels felt a bit inadequate.

Surely they could find something more breakfast appropriate than nuts?!

The breakfast offering is why I never upgrade in the morning. Lunch and dinner make it slightly more worthwhile.

 

[doc7austin]

Also when you are having to check in at 5:45 for the 6:40 train from Amsterdam to London, not getting the actual breakfast until after Brussels (so well past 9) feels very late. The small packet of nuts and coffee between Amsterdam and Brussels felt a bit inadequate.

Also I've heard that even Eurostar Premier customers do not receive any meals between Amsterdam and Brussels - just some nuts.
I think that Eurostar has decided to save costs by not having to deal with food logistics between Amsterdam and Brussels.

 

[NCT]

What do Thalys do? Surely the supply chain could be integrated?

 

[MicroLithium]

What do Thalys do? Surely the supply chain could be integrated?

Thalys/Eurostar Red don’t do free food at all in Plus, as far as I know

 

[Mikey C]

Also I've heard that even Eurostar Premier customers do not receive any meals between Amsterdam and Brussels - just some nuts.
I think that Eurostar has decided to save costs by not having to deal with food logistics between Amsterdam and Brussels.

If they want to compete properly on the Amsterdam to London route properly in the premium seats, surely that has to be reviewed. It's not as if Amsterdam to Brussels is a short add on, with the slow speed on part of the route it's nearly half the route time.

 

[NCT]

If they want to compete properly on the Amsterdam to London route properly in the premium seats, surely that has to be reviewed. It's not as if Amsterdam to Brussels is a short add on, with the slow speed on part of the route it's nearly half the route time.

I'd hope that once London - Amsterdam ramps up to 1tp2h (the December 2025 planned 5tpd is only a couple of services short of 1tp2h, the economics of providing full Plus and Premium food offering will have improved.

 

[doc7austin]

I think that Eurostar runs its food logistics hubs both in London, Paris, and Brussels. Between those cities a full meal service (esp. in Premier) can be provided.
Amsterdam is simply an outstation. There is no infrastructure in place for providing foods. There is no way to cater an early-morning departure out of Amsterdam. Hence, the catering delivery happens after Brussels.

 

[rvdborgt]

I think that Eurostar runs its food logistics hubs both in London, Paris, and Brussels. Between those cities a full meal service (esp. in Premier) can be provided.
Amsterdam is simply an outstation. There is no infrastructure in place for providing foods. There is no way to cater an early-morning departure out of Amsterdam. Hence, the catering delivery happens after Brussels.

I can understand that, but IMO they should really mention that when booking, before you pay.

 

[doc7austin]

I can understand that, but IMO they should really mention that when booking, before you pay.

As a journey is always starting/ending a London, Eurostar can always ensure that each passenger (even those ones from/to Amsterdam) do receive its Plus or Premier meals.
It is just the case that Eurostar won't hand out a second meal between Brussels and Amsterdam.

 

[STINT47]

Would customers really want two meals even if they were offered?

 

[rvdborgt]

As a journey is always starting/ending a London, Eurostar can always ensure that each passenger (even those ones from/to Amsterdam) do receive its Plus or Premier meals.

Of course they can, but I'm sure passengers from Amsterdam don't expect having to wait 2.5 hours until breakfast service starts.