Excellent pro-active innovation from Virgin Trains

[MKB]

Just received this email from VT regarding my non-changeable ticket for tomorrow:

Hi MKB,

We are getting in touch to let you know that the Virgin Trains service you are booked to travel on this weekend will be busier than usual. This is due to passengers travelling to and from Premier League fixtures.

In order to make your journey more comfortable, customers are now able to use one of the following alternative services.

Should you wish to change, your ticket will be valid with no amendments required, however your seat reservation will no longer be valid. If you do change, we suggest you use coaches U and F where you will find unreserved seating.

Thanks

Virgin Trains

The words "alternative services" are clickable and show that I can travel up to Liverpool after the match has started and/or return before the match has finished, without penalty.

This is no use to me, as I'll be at the football, but it's a great innovation to help balance demand.

 

[Merseysider]

That's a great idea. They've already got your money so it does them no harm to allow alternative travel, plus it's good PR.

 

[causton]

Very good! I have seen them tweet this sort of thing before and thought it was a bit innovative, but this is one step forward.

 

[yorkie]

This is very good.

If Virgin always did positive stuff like this, and didn't mistreat people e.g. those using Print @ Home tickets (as discussed in other threads) I'd be a big fan of them.

However, as it is, the good things they do only go some way towards making amends for the negative things they do.