Avanti's Hidden 1st Class Gems

[Butts]

Just got off a plane at Birmingham Airport and purchased a 1st Class Single from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley for the princely sum of £6.25 (with Railcard).

Had my breakfast in The Lounge which had a good assortment of Hot and Cold Drinks with snacks - far better than you would see in an LNER Lounge.

Once aboard the 1238 service with just 2 First Class Carriages along comes the steward with a tray of goodies - I had 2 Lily O'Brien chocolate bars. He then asked if I would like a drink to which I acquiesced. He was back shortly with not one but two Miniature Whisky's. When we left Birmingham New Street he offered me another but remarkably I declined.

I must have had north of £20 worth of goods to consume.

Are there any other trips where you could potentially get so much for so little outlay ?

Well done Avanti, literally and metaphorically a true 1st Class Service

 

[Iskra]

Holyhead to Bangor in First Class is great if you're on a rover as it overcomes the validity time restrictions that make leaving Holyhead a challenge, and I was (erroneously) offered a full breakfast (which I declined as I thought that was taking it too far) but settled for a coffee, orange juice and bacon sandwich.

I must say I did Glasgow to Preston earlier this year and while the ticket wasn't cheap, they were liberal with what they provided so I had a very nice time. Much better than LNER's stingy school dinners style-service.

 

[Polarbear]

Back when there were lounges at Wolverhampton and Coventry, I sometimes availed myself of a 1st class day return between Wolverhampton & Coventry. Of course, break of journey at New Street one way and International the other meant paying a visit to the respective lounges!

 

[AndyHA]

Can someone explain BHI to SAD please ?

 

[Lytham Local]

Can someone explain BHI to SAD please ?

BHI - Birmingham International
SAD - Sandwell & Dudley

 

[Dr Hoo]

All of these ‘treats’ are presumably funded by the DfT (aka ‘taxpayer’) along with the rest of Avanti’s costs?

 

[Bishopstone]

Good luck to anyone able to partake. We all love a bargain.

Sorry to be that party pooper, but where refreshments are being given-out – notably alcohol – I don’t think the fare, with or without railcard, should be less than the retail price of the goods concerned. In fact, it should be substantially more – you’re getting first class travel, as well.

I might as well make myself really unpopular and state my view that where there’s a catering offer including lounge access, a £25 floor should apply to first class fares, net of any railcard discount.

The railway is supported by the taxpayer, and the optics are important – I don’t mean the ones spirits are drawn from.

If the argument is there are loads of empty first-class seats to be filled at any price, then it sounds as though there is too much first-class provision.

 

[Butts]

Back when there were lounges at Wolverhampton and Coventry, I sometimes availed myself of a 1st class day return between Wolverhampton & Coventry. Of course, break of journey at New Street one way and International the other meant paying a visit to the respective lounges!

Been there got the T-Shirt !!

I've done an even cheekier one - single from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley which involved a change at Birmingham New Street and I utilised both the Birmingham 1st Class Lounges on the £6 odd journey.

 

[Butts]

Good luck to anyone able to partake. We all love a bargain.

Sorry to be that party pooper, but where refreshments are being given-out – notably alcohol – I don’t think the fare, with or without railcard, should be less than the retail price of the goods concerned. In fact, it should be substantially more – you’re getting first class travel, as well.

I might as well make myself really unpopular and state my view that where there’s a catering offer including lounge access, a £25 floor should apply to first class fares, net of any railcard discount.

The railway is supported by the taxpayer, and the optics are important – I don’t mean the ones spirits are drawn from.

If the argument is there are loads of empty first-class seats to be filled at any price, then it sounds as though there is too much first-class provision.

Correct

Seriously your last sentence has already come to fruition, you would have been in danger of a coronary if I and others relayed to you what used to happen in those days.

Unfortunately there are no optics onboard (what a good idea !!) just Miniature Bottles of Spirits.

Fear not, a lot of staff maintain parsimonious levels of "stock issue" that would gladden your heart. I was lucky today.

 

[Butts]

All of these ‘treats’ are presumably funded by the DfT (aka ‘taxpayer’) along with the rest of Avanti’s costs?

Ah - a pleasant tax rebate then !!

 

[Butts]

Holyhead to Bangor in First Class is great if you're on a rover as it overcomes the validity time restrictions that make leaving Holyhead a challenge, and I was (erroneously) offered a full breakfast (which I declined as I thought that was taking it too far) but settled for a coffee, orange juice and bacon sandwich.

I must say I did Glasgow to Preston earlier this year and while the ticket wasn't cheap, they were liberal with what they provided so I had a very nice time. Much better than LNER's stingy school dinners style-service.

There is one half decent dodge on LNER - Edinburgh to Leuchars for around £10 or less with a Railcard (Advanced 1st) handy if you have a Daughter that lives in St Andrews.

Access to the LNER Lounge (for what it's worth) and "Full Service" onboard.

 

[WF4HA5HE]

There is one half decent dodge on LNER - Edinburgh to Leuchars for around £10 or less with a Railcard (Advanced 1st) handy if you have a Daughter that lives in St Andrews.

Access to the LNER Lounge (for what it's worth) and "Full Service" onboard.

Another good one is LNER first class between Inverness-Edinburgh and Perth-Edinburgh which you can get for £30 and £15 respectively with a Railcard.. Well worth it given the journey lengths. Mid week they offer the full cooked breakfast as well.

 

[Taunton]

If the argument is there are loads of empty first-class seats to be filled at any price, then it sounds as though there is too much first-class provision.

This has been the position on the railway as long as I can recall. I remember back in later BR days a significant presentation which looked quite formal and professional on how they managed financial assessments on revenue per coach. I wondered for quite a while how they justified first class provision which for much of the day ran back and forth as empty stock, until discovering this 'per coach' bit wasn't quite true, and the figures were taken for the whole formation, if not overall service group, and averaged across the different vehicles.

 

[Jimini]

I just wish they had something more interesting / filling on evening services over and above the cheese and mushroom thingy! The morning offering is far, far superior.

(The booze does take the edge off evening journeys though )

 

[Starmill]

If the argument is there are loads of empty first-class seats to be filled at any price, then it sounds as though there is too much first-class provision.

Avanti West Coast generally provide little First Class accommodation. Some trains only have 16 seats.

 

[Bishopstone]

This has been the position on the railway as long as I can recall. I remember back in later BR days a significant presentation which looked quite formal and professional on how they managed financial assessments on revenue per coach. I wondered for quite a while how they justified first class provision which for much of the day ran back and forth as empty stock, until discovering this 'per coach' bit wasn't quite true, and the figures were taken for the whole formation, if not overall service group, and averaged across the different vehicles.

Lower first-class occupancy percentage I can accept, because selling a luxury experience isn’t compatible with cramming people in.

But the price needs to be a premium one, because the objective of first-class must be a redistribution of resources on the railway from those who can and do pay more, to those who can’t. There is no point in FC (for the railway and taxpayer) unless it generates decent profit – hence I come back to the story of £6.25 fares with food and booze, that make no sense whatsoever, albeit I accept the OP encountered a generous host for this short hop, which isn’t the norm.

But as I said first time – good luck to anyone who finds these opportunities. It’s the job of the railway to close off nonsense fares, not the passenger.

 

[Kite159]

Just shows that the only drinks which should be given away in first class should be limited to soft drinks, water or hot drinks. If anybody wants booze they have to buy it.

Likewise, Avanti should simply introduce a "minimum" time restriction if you want access to lounges. Journey length under 30 minutes and access isn't allowed, to stop the free loaders on cheap first class tickets in the West Midlands corridor

 

[Starmill]

Ah - a pleasant tax rebate then !!

Worth pointing out that the little bags of crisps, small chocolate bars, 250ml cans of Pepsi Max and coffee from the machine you were eating and drinking would each cost Avanti West Coast only a few pence, probably under 10p each for some of it, as it's all bulk-bought and designed to be in tiny portion sizes. Only the booze costs more, but all together I'd be absolutely amazed if they'd spent over £6.25 on your food and drink. Obviously that doesn't account for your travel, and the costs of providing the train, lines and crews is far higher, but on that front plenty of the first class punters take almost no food or drink anyway, so your efforts to relieve Avanti of whatever the cheapest whisky their wholesalers could offer was only shifts the averages a whisker.

 

[Butts]

Lower first-class occupancy percentage I can accept, because selling a luxury experience isn’t compatible with cramming people in.

But the price needs to be a premium one, because the objective of first-class must be a redistribution of resources on the railway from those who can and do pay more, to those who can’t. There is no point in FC (for the railway and taxpayer) unless it generates decent profit – hence I come back to the story of £6.25 fares with food and booze, that make no sense whatsoever, albeit I accept the OP encountered a generous host for this short hop, which isn’t the norm.

But as I said first time – good luck to anyone who finds these opportunities. It’s the job of the railway to close off nonsense fares, not the passenger.

Have you been reading Caledonian Sleeper Marketing Blurb ?

No Luxury Experience would serve Grouse Whisky

 

[Butts]

Just shows that the only drinks which should be given away in first class should be limited to soft drinks, water or hot drinks. If anybody wants booze they have to buy it.

Likewise, Avanti should simply introduce a "minimum" time restriction if you want access to lounges. Journey length under 30 minutes and access isn't allowed, to stop the free loaders on cheap first class tickets in the West Midlands corridor

Killjoy.....

 

[Butts]

Worth pointing out that the little bags of crisps, small chocolate bars, 250ml cans of Pepsi Max and coffee from the machine you were eating and drinking would each cost Avanti West Coast only a few pence, probably under 10p each for some of it, as it's all bulk-bought and designed to be in tiny portion sizes. Only the booze costs more, but all together I'd be absolutely amazed if they'd spent over £6.25 on your food and drink. Obviously that doesn't account for your travel, and the costs of providing the train, lines and crews is far higher, but on that front plenty of the first class punters take almost no food or drink anyway, so your efforts to relieve Avanti of whatever the cheapest whisky their wholesalers could offer was only shifts the averages a whisker.

As I'd flown into Birmingham from Glasgow it was nice to get complimentary sustenance in the Lounge and on the Train for my journey from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley .

If I'd bought at the Airport either end or on the plane or at the Railway Station or onboard the Train the value of what I consumed would have been around £20.

However if it hadn't been gratis I would probably have just had a coffee and a kit-kat.

Your correct valuations at cost of most of the complimentary items can assuage @Bishopstone about the cost to the tax payer not being too heinous.

 

[Taunton]

I suspect the numbers who would handle things in this way are infinitesimal, and thus not worth bothering about controlling. If it became an issue it would be addressed. The fact it is discussed here as some oddball event is a bit of a pointer. In fact the post has done some good advertising to the audience here of what is available with a mainstream first class ticket!

There are lots of things on the railway not worth bothering to control at the individual level. It averages out.

 

[AndyHA]

Can someone explain BHI to SAD please ?

Thank you

 

[peteb]

Just got off a plane at Birmingham Airport and purchased a 1st Class Single from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley for the princely sum of £6.25 (with Railcard).

Had my breakfast in The Lounge which had a good assortment of Hot and Cold Drinks with snacks - far better than you would see in an LNER Lounge.

Once aboard the 1238 service with just 2 First Class Carriages along comes the steward with a tray of goodies - I had 2 Lily O'Brien chocolate bars. He then asked if I would like a drink to which I acquiesced. He was back shortly with not one but two Miniature Whisky's. When we left Birmingham New Street he offered me another but remarkably I declined.

I must have had north of £20 worth of goods to consume.

Are there any other trips where you could potentially get so much for so little outlay ?

Well done Avanti, literally and metaphorically a true 1st Class Service

You did well! It's been my experience that the stewards don't serve after Birmingham International on Wolverhampton bound trains, and vice versa heading to London. Maybe I was unlucky!

 

[Butts]

You did well! It's been my experience that the stewards don't serve after Birmingham International on Wolverhampton bound trains, and vice versa heading to London. Maybe I was unlucky!

This Train was heading to Blackpool North so perhaps that made the difference ?

There was only one and a half carriages of 1st Class. When I got on at Birmingham International he came through with a tray with snacks on and took orders for drinks.

He checked my ticket so knew I was only going to Sandwell & Dudley.

 

[peteb]

This Train was heading to Blackpool North so perhaps that made the difference ?

There was only one and a half carriages of 1st Class. When I got on at Birmingham International he came through with a tray with snacks on and took orders for drinks.

He checked my ticket so knew I was only going to Sandwell & Dudley.

Ah yes, several longer distance trains now run via Birmingham eg: from Glasgow and Lancaster. Personally I can't see a huge end-to-end demand for a much slower service, unless they price it more competitively perhaps?

 

[voyagerdude220]

He checked my ticket so knew I was only going to Sandwell & Dudley.

Have Avanti started getting the catering staff in First Class to check tickets?

 

[Butts]

Have Avanti started getting the catering staff in First Class to check tickets?

He said something about he thought the Train Manager was coming, but they didn't materialise.

 

[Bungle965]

Have Avanti started getting the catering staff in First Class to check tickets?

I have had mine checked twice recently! Only on the weekend however.

 

[voyagerdude220]

He said something about he thought the Train Manager was coming, but they didn't materialise.

How strange.