First Class Cheaper than Standard? What can I expect?

[E_Reeves]

Hi all,

Meaning to post this for a while, but a couple of weeks back I bought tickets for a return from a certain WCML station to Euston. VT on the way there and LNWR back. After I'd bought them I read the summary and was shocked to find I had bought first class tickets for the return. I went back onto the national rail search page, looked again and it had automatically chosen first class as it was cheaper! Any idea why this was? Certainly gave me a shock.

Also, what can I expect from LNWR 1st class? Nothing special I suppose.

Thanks

 

[absolutelymilk]

Was this an advance ticket?

 

[E_Reeves]

Yes. Bought it for next February

 

[Merseysider]

You’ll get a power socket

This fare oddity was often the case with London Midland (now LNWR) as their Standard and First class advances were very similar in price, so if one tier (price level) of Standard advance sold out, the next, more expensive tier would often be more expensive than the cheapest 1st advance on sale.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi all,

Meaning to post this for a while, but a couple of weeks back I bought tickets for a return from a certain WCML station to Euston. VT on the way there and LNWR back. After I'd bought them I read the summary and was shocked to find I had bought first class tickets for the return. I went back onto the national rail search page, looked again and it had automatically chosen first class as it was cheaper! Any idea why this was? Certainly gave me a shock.

Also, what can I expect from LNWR 1st class? Nothing special I suppose.

Thanks

Common to find this, as clearly the cheaper Standard Advance tickets have sold out (or not been loaded for some reason, maybe an error).

You can expect nothing from LNWR First Class, except a power socket and a less comfortable seat. Oh and curtains.

 

[E_Reeves]

Common to find this, as clearly the cheaper Standard Advance tickets have sold out (or not been loaded for some reason, maybe an error).

You can expect nothing from LNWR First Class, except a power socket and a less comfortable seat. Oh and curtains.

Less comfortable seat?

 

[E_Reeves]

Common to find this, as clearly the cheaper Standard Advance tickets have sold out (or not been loaded for some reason, maybe an error).

You can expect nothing from LNWR First Class, except a power socket and a less comfortable seat. Oh and curtains.

I bought them the day they were available on National rail, so probably an error

 

[AlterEgo]

Less comfortable seat?

Yes. The seats are less comfortable than the ones in standard. The exception to this is the 350/2 trains which have high density standard seating.

350/1 and /3 trains have nice standard seating with a curved back. The ones in First Class are dreadful by comparison.

 

[47271]

I've never kept a record, but I'd say that about one booking in 30 of mine comes up as cheaper by First than Standard.

The 2007 Euston-Liverpool used to be a particularly common one, although I haven't seen it for a while.

Through tickets involving Scotrail and other operators such as TPE and VTWC can also throw surprising First Class bargains that fly in the face of split ticketing.

I'm sure that I accidentally went First Class Birmingham to Euston for £8 on London Midland around a year ago, I just hadn't read the detail properly. It took about three hours in a grubby 350 with a 40 minute dwell in Northampton however, so as luxury bargains go it wasn't really the best.

 

[E_Reeves]

Plug sockets and ironing board seats? I might as well take an iron and my laundry to get my money's worth!

 

[DanNCL]

LM first might not be the best first class; ie no complimentary food, 2x2 seating etc. On the 350/1s and the 350/3s, it would only be better than standard if you like being in a less-busy part of the train, however compared to standard on the 350/2s it is much better

 

[MG11]

On some EMT services, First Class Advances seem to be treated as an entrance fee. You can upgrade for less than £15 on some Off Peaks. They can then make a profit by sellling meals and even cans of soft drinks. I guess all-inclusive FC operators will be different though.

 

[JetStream]

One of the last times I went to Euston on Virgin saw a 1st class return, be the cheapest option. I vaguely recall the outward portion was a couple of pounds cheaper than standard so I made sure to get my money's worth! (Although I'd forgotten it was first class on the way back and bought a sandwich in advance!)

 

[700007]

Yes I had this a while ago where there was a Southern service from Clapham Junction to Southampton Central and first class was cheaper by a pound

 

[Bletchleyite]

They are the same seats as on older Electrostars (which IMO are not as nice as the Grammer E3000s in standard). The benefit to you will be that it will be quieter and less crowded.

 

[12CSVT]

Had something similar on Caledonian Sleeper not long ago where a berth was cheaper than a seat