All line rover queries.

[alchemy]

Hi, I'm planning a first class all line rover at the end of May/ beginning of June. Will seat reservations be necessary on evening peak services out of London particularly First Great Western, Virgin and East Coast?
Can I make reservations by telephone before buying the ALR as I live in this Scottish Islands or do I need to make them at a station?
How do staff either on the phone or at ticket offices view multiple seat reservations?
Are the first class lounges available to first class ALR ticket holders? And finally for the moment at least, can I use business class on Chiltern without paying a supplement?
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.

 

[RJ]

I'd personally recommend seat reservations at peak times. I travelled out of London Paddington on the 16:45 to Cardiff a few days ago and even after the Reading commuters got off, almost all of the seats were taken. Judging by the stampedes that take place at Euston when evening peak trains are called, I'd suggest it's probably a good idea to try and reserve a seat. That said, quite a few Virgin Trains services have three carriages in which none of the seats can be reserved so you stand a good chance of getting a seat if you turn up 15 minutes prior to departure.

I work in a ticket office and if you ever happened to find me, I'd issue as many seat reservations as you required upon seeing the rover. Honestly speaking, I wouldn't say you were likely to obtain reservations over the telephone prior to buying the rover. That said, you may be able to purchase the rover over the telephone, in which case I'd expect you would get the reservations you ask for.

You'd get access to all First Class lounges, but certainly not the business class section on Chiltern - everyone has to pay a supplement at the full price if they wish to make use of it.

 

[jkdd77]

You'd get access to all First Class lounges, but certainly not the business class section on Chiltern - everyone has to pay a supplement at the full price if they wish to make use of it.

I thought that it had been confirmed on another thread that first class ticket holders don't have to pay extra to access Chiltern's quasi-first class that is their 'Business Zone'?

 

[LexyBoy]

If you have a first class ALR you'd be very unlucky not to get a seat on any IC service.

For standard, reservations would be a very good idea for peak times and weekends, and for some busy "off peak" trains, e.g. to Cornwall or trains which are the first "off peak" service (especially Virgin).

Agree with RJ on obtaining reservations. Doing it with purchase would be easiest, otherwise try and find yourself a nice quiet booking office.

 

[RJ]

I thought that it had been confirmed on another thread that first class ticket holders don't have to pay extra to access Chiltern's quasi-first class that is their 'Business Zone'?

Apparently so - it's just not widely publicised it would seem.

My bad!

 

[barrykas]

I'm not too sure on Rovers and Rangers. First Class "interavailable" tickets (such as London - Birmingham or London - Manchester route Any Permitted) are certainly valid in the Business Zone without paying the supplement, but staff travel facilities aren't, which presumably would include such things as Gold status passes.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Having raised the query with the relevant people, the official line appears to be that you can use a First Class All Line Rover, BritRail Pass, non-UK InterRail pass, etc in the "Business Zone" without paying a supplement.