Confusing information on status of ferry reservation with Sail Rail

[mjd300]

I have registered just to post this. There seems to be a lot of confusion about these SailRail Standy tickets (even the companies selling them could not give conclusive answers).

With these SailRail Standy tickets (the only type available other than the cheaper Advance ticksts), some people are saying this is a guaranteed ferry reservation. This seems not to be true. More importantly, Transport for Wales, Irish Ferries and Virgin do not seem to understand them at all (Transport for Wales are the creator of these tickets).

Irish Ferries told me today that these SailRail Standby Tickets are NOT a confirmed reservation on the ferry (so potentially if a lot of people booked regular tickets, there would not be space). I know that sounds ridiculous. Transport for Wales could not confirm this either way. Virgin (who also sell them) had no idea.

I'm not sure what is worse, that combined tickets are being sold that might not allow entry onto a (major) part of the journey, or that the organisations that created and sell them don't understand them (or have chosen to hide the true nature).

So it seems that these tickets are no good if you have a schedule. They also are being missold. I am looking to follow that part up as well.

 

[Haywain]

With these SailRail Standy tickets (the only type available other than the cheaper Advance ticksts), some people are saying this is a guaranteed ferry reservation. This seems not to be true. More importantly, Transport for Wales, Irish Ferries and Virgin do not seem to understand them at all (Transport for Wales are the creator of these tickets).

Irish Ferries told me today that these SailRail Standby Tickets are NOT a confirmed reservation on the ferry (so potentially if a lot of people booked regular tickets, there would not be space). I know that sounds ridiculous. Transport for Wales could not confirm this either way. Virgin (who also sell them) had no idea.

Sail Rail Standby tickets are not, in themselves, a guarantee of being able to board the ferry because a compulsory reservation is required for the ferry. If you have a Standby ticket without a reservation you can be turned away, but if you have a reservation coupon you definitely shouldn't be as it acts as the boarding control. Standby tickets are perhaps misnamed and should not be sold without the compulsory ferry reservation.

 

[danm14]

I have registered just to post this. There seems to be a lot of confusion about these SailRail Standy tickets (even the companies selling them could not give conclusive answers).

With these SailRail Standy tickets (the only type available other than the cheaper Advance ticksts), some people are saying this is a guaranteed ferry reservation. This seems not to be true. More importantly, Transport for Wales, Irish Ferries and Virgin do not seem to understand them at all (Transport for Wales are the creator of these tickets).

Irish Ferries told me today that these SailRail Standby Tickets are NOT a confirmed reservation on the ferry (so potentially if a lot of people booked regular tickets, there would not be space). I know that sounds ridiculous. Transport for Wales could not confirm this either way. Virgin (who also sell them) had no idea.

I'm not sure what is worse, that combined tickets are being sold that might not allow entry onto a (major) part of the journey, or that the organisations that created and sell them don't understand them (or have chosen to hide the true nature).

So it seems that these tickets are no good if you have a schedule. They also are being missold. I am looking to follow that part up as well.

I think you'll likely find that Irish Ferries are the ones giving incorrect information and/or not following the correct procedures. Once you have a ferry reservation, the only time you should be turned away is if the vessel isn't sailing.

Try asking Stena Line, you'll get a completely different (and correct) answer.

Irish Ferries and Stena Line are absolutely night and day when it comes to customer service, and I could be here all night with examples. I would never sail with Irish Ferries unless I desperately needed to.

 

[najaB]

In any case, bar mass flight disruption (e.g. another Iclandic ash cloud) the probability of being turned away because the ferry is full must be quite low.

 

[Ianno87]

If you have a Sailrail Stamdby ticket, is it possible to ring up in advance and reserve a space on the ferry?

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you have a Sailrail Stamdby ticket, is it possible to ring up in advance and reserve a space on the ferry?

Are they even issued without reservations? I thought they weren't despite their oddly-named ticket type.

 

[Ianno87]

Are they even issued without reservations? I thought they weren't despite their oddly-named ticket type.

Doing Sailrail in a few weeks' time (Irish Ferries, as Mr Seat 61 waxes lyrical about their Ship over the Stena competition)

The booking confirmation has, in the Reserved Seats Box for the ferry leg "No seat reserved with this ticket*"

With underneath...

*The passenger is free to sit in any unreserved seat for the class of travel specified on the ticket


Which is exactly what it says for the return leg, which is a Sailrail Advance Single!

You'd think if the place on the ferry weren't guaranteed, it would be spelt out clearly somewhere!

 

[mmh]

Doing Sailrail in a few weeks' time (Irish Ferries, as Mr Seat 61 waxes lyrical about their Ship over the Stena competition)

The booking confirmation has, in the Reserved Seats Box for the ferry leg "No seat reserved with this ticket*"

With underneath...

*The passenger is free to sit in any unreserved seat for the class of travel specified on the ticket


Which is exactly what it says for the return leg, which is a Sailrail Advance Single!

You'd think if the place on the ferry weren't guaranteed, it would be spelt out clearly somewhere!

It's a ferry, a reservation means you'll be allowed on a particular service, not that you have a reserved seat.

You board and find somewhere to sit. If you're travelling alone without others to save your place you may well end up somewhere else if you go to the toilet or a bar (and you'll want to move around unless you take some sleeping tablets)

Think of it as an enormous floating version of a shopping centre food court if you're on your own rather than a floating train.

 

[Ianno87]

It's a ferry, a reservation means you'll be allowed on a particular service, not that you have a reserved seat.

You board and find somewhere to sit. If you're travelling alone without others to save your place you may well end up somewhere else if you go to the toilet or a bar (and you'll want to move around unless you take some sleeping tablets)

Think of it as an enormous floating version of a shopping centre food court if you're on your own rather than a floating train.

Yes, I know how a ferry works. My point was the lack of apparent clarity from the confirmation as to whether a 'Standby' ticket guaranteed being on the ferry crossing stated on the itinerary.