Booking engines - Avoiding the quiet coach

[Failed Unit]

Do any of you know of a booking engine that will let you avoid the quiet coach. East Coasts has the options of no-preference and quiet coach. Surely an additional option should be provided "no quite coach". Couldn't find a way of avoid it on trainline-based engines either.

The reason I ask is that I have just booked a journey with the family. wanted a table so it is possible that the only one left is in the quiet coach but I have a feeling the children will make more noise then the walkmans, computers, mobile phones etc that people are trying to avoid.

But unfortunatly all I will be able to say to the annoyed passengers in this case is that I didn't choose this seat! I wasn't going to pay a premium for the tickets just because the booking engine isn't upto the job. The 10% discount is significant for 4 tickets.

 

[John @ home]

Do any of you know of a booking engine that will let you avoid the quiet coach.

Sorry, no.

I have just booked a journey with the family. wanted a table so it is possible that the only one left is in the quiet coach

Which coach were you allocated? On EC the quiet coach is B in Standard. My experience of more than 100 online bookings with GNER/NXEC/EC is that I have never requested the quiet coach and I have never been allocated seats in it. It seems the seats are allocated from the other end - coach E, F or G is common. These are close to the buffet car.

 

[Failed Unit]

Sorry, no.Which coach were you allocated? On EC the quiet coach is B in Standard. My experience of more than 100 online bookings with GNER/NXEC/EC is that I have never requested the quiet coach and I have never been allocated seats in it. It seems the seats are allocated from the other end - coach E, F or G is common. These are close to the buffet car.

I have been given coach B, and my experience is the same as yours that normally the reservations start from the buffer and work towards the quiet coach. Which is why I suspect in this case all table seats are gone except for the ones in the quiet coach. (My booking is for 1st August so hardly surprising to be honest if that is the case)

 

[wibble]

Within NRS, you you have to allocate a booking priority to each coach, e.g.:

Coach A - Priority 1 - Standard Class
Coach B - Priority 2 - Standard Class
Coach C - Priority 3 - Standard Class & Quiet Zone
Coach D - Priority 4 - Standard & First Class

Assuming you have no seating preference, seats will be booked from Coach A first until all seats are booked before it moves to Coach B and so on.

If someone requests a specific facility (e.g. Quiet Zone) the seat reservation will be in Coach C.

If someone requests a table seat, they may be given one in the Quiet Zone if no other table seats are available.

It is possible to amend the way the coaches fill, so you can only have a table seat in the Quiet Zone if you select Table and Quiet Zone when you book your ticket. Alternatively, your preference maybe completely ignored and you end up with whichever seat is available.

 

[philjo]

Whenever I book, I prefer to use the quiet coach.
My Dad prefers to sit at a table rather than an airline seat & prefers the quiet coach. If I am making bookings for him, I notice that it is almost impossible to get a seat at a table in the Quiet Coach if booking just 1 ticket. It may be that if the booking is for 3-4 people than these get priority for the tables.
Selecting backward facing, table, quiet coach for East coast booking engine for 1-2 people always seems to allocate seats in coach E/F. Take away the table preference, you get coach B.
I was having similar issues for bookings seats on a Pendolino - I had a choice of a View in coach C or a non-view seat in the quiet coach (despite asking for View and quiet coach!)

I think the system should perhaps offer you 3 choices depending on what is available & let you then select the one you want. After all, booking online for Eurostar you can select the exact coach & seat number.

 

[yorkie]

Next time, check the seat details and if they are in the quiet coach, go back and de-select the table option if you'd prefer to sit elsewhere. Once the tickets are in your basket, you can press 'Edit', it shows you the seats that you have booked and you can change them if required. A seating plan is available here: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/Documents/HST%20Mallard%20Seating
.pdf