Excessing class in one-direction on TOC-specific ticket

[MKB]

Last night I went from Stafford to Liverpool standard class at 18:24 and returned first class this morning at 06:05. I was happy to have a Virgin-only ticket, but needed to allow for catching a later train should I run late.

Buying from the VT website, I combined an Standard Half Off-Peak VT-only Return (SVH) for £9.80 with a First VT-only Anytime Single for £22.00, a total of £31.80.

However, I wondered how much it would have cost to excess a Standard VT-only Anytime Return (£23.50) to first class on the return. Stafford ticket office told me £20-ish, but I can't see how they worked this out.

I also couldn't see how to buy this ticket on Virgin's website. I saw it on the London Midland one.

 

[bb21]

First Class Anytime Return VT-Only is £44, so the excess is about right.

Change of class, whether for one or both legs, is always full difference.

 

[barrykas]

However, I wondered how much it would have cost to excess a Standard VT-only Anytime Return (£23.50) to first class on the return. Stafford ticket office told me £20-ish, but I can't see how they worked this out.

Under the new Excess rules that came into force last September (that nobody got told about!), the way it SHOULD be worked out is as follows:

Return tickets - change of class in one direction
The difference between the price already paid and the sum of the appropriate Standard Single for one leg and the appropriate First Single for the other leg. If cheaper, charge the difference up to the appropriate First Return for the journey (as if upgrading for both directions).

So in this example, we have:

Original Ticket: Standard Anytime Return - £23.50

Off-Peak Single for outward leg: £18.50
First Class Anytime Single for return leg: £22.00
Total: £40.50

Excess: £40.50 - £23.50 = £17.00

HTH,

Barry

 

[bb21]

I know there was a thread discussing this new procedure lately but I haven't got time to read it all. Is it correct to say that change of class excess is now possible for one leg only, although not at half difference, if cheaper than the full excess?