First Class obsession

[rail-britain]

I tend to purchase Standard Class tickets for short journeys
For longer inter-city travel I always buy First Class
Typically this adds a larger reclinging seat, good window view, table for myself and no more than one other person, and light refreshments
Generally there is little difference when booking, between two First Class Advance Singles and Standard Saver Return

 

[scotsman]

I'll go first if the service is ok (free food etc.) and the difference in fares/upgrade is less than £5 or so

Tonight I tried to upgrade twice! First time, I was told it was full - second time, I was told there were 7 people booked into the 2 free seats... (stupid 170/3s)

 

[AlterEgo]

I will always travel first on any proper Intercity journey, given the chance.

I really enjoy rail travel - it's by far the most civilised way to travel accessible to the ordinary man. Perhaps I'm a snob, perhaps it's because my Railcard and my lack of fussiness about when I travel mean I get a great deal, but there's nothing like First Class.

Currently I'm trying out a variety of operators. I'm doing EC from London to Newcastle this month, and I'm still hoping to do the ATW Premier Service at some point.

I like to be able to catch up with things on the train, so free WiFi is a boon. Complimentary food is always welcome, as is the opportunity to sleep, or just to recline and watch the world go by (and overtake sweaty commuters packed into LM Desiros.... )

 

[Techniquest]

I read a few posts, but to be honest I've not really bothered to find out what fellow members think of First Class. I notice some people mention going FC if the fare's reasonable/there's a cheap Advance in it. These days that's almost the only way to do it, apart from Weekend First. Which never used to be do-able on a rover/ranger, I see they've changed that on FGW now.

If I can get a decent First Class deal, I'll definitely go for it. Depending on the TOC's offerings regarding complimentary items, it can be worthwhile. A good example of a TOC NOT offering much value to First Class passengers is NXEA, nothing complimentary to their FC passengers! That put me off paying the extra when I last used NXEA in September 2010 (wow, just realised that's ages ago!). I was happy enough with the comfort and relatively ease of finding plenty of space on the loco-hauled runs I was on anyway in Standard Class.

My favourite First Class trips are all way back in 2004 and 2005, when I would use complimentary Weekend First vouchers regulars, thanks to the FGW loyalty club that was running at the time (I forget the name of it at the moment, anyone remember it?), always looked forward to the vouchers coming in the mail! If it wasn't complimentary Weekend First, I would go First Class during the week fairly regularly (absolute minimum once a week) using the 1130 Swansea to Paddington HST, as it had the awesome Pullman dining service on it.

Even if I was alighting at Newport, I would often use it, indeed the one time I remember using it to Newport on the way to Hereford I rushed a delicious apple pie and custard just to take advantage of the service. Mixed grill was my regular meal, and I can't believe I've forgotten the name of it, but I used to always have a small bottle of Australian dry red wine with my meal. Overland I think it was, not sure if FGW still serve it on-board. Next time I get a chance, I'll have a look and get some. Absolutely loved it and it was an exclusive to FGW wine too, not buy-able in the shops, from what the crew told me once.

Mind you, one time I used it on my way to London for some sort of bash, no idea when or what I was going there for. This time, I got the large bottle of my favourite tipple. After the 3 hour or so journey to London, and in 2004/2005 I was making that journey 2 or 3 times every quarter just for the sheer hell of it, I was fairly tipsy! I was glad to alight at Paddington's platform 1 for some fresh air, that's for sure. After that, I felt perfectly sober all day randomly.

Anyway, as much as I'm loving this trip down Memory Lane, I'll be here all day at this rate. So to finish this off quickly, I must disagree with the OP, as I enjoy my First Class journeys when I can make them. Personal space and all that is great, but I think that when you only use it as a treat it's so much more special. These days I don't bother using it on FGW as I don't enjoy the leather seats they've got. Tried it once long distance last year, nothing like the same as it was when I used to use First Class regularly.

Final thought is that I loved walking straight past Standard Class carriages when I used to board the 1130 at Swansea and board one of the front carriages in First Class. It gives you that feeling of smugness you just can't get going Standard Class. So yeah, when I can afford it I will always go First Class!

 

[Captain Chaos]

Kinda depends for me really. If the journey is more than two hours then I might go 1st. Depends on how much 1st advances are and how much more they are compared to a PRIV. If it's over 4 hours then I will usually look at paying for 1st by default.

It also depends upon the TOC I am travelling with. If it's a local TOC then I won't bother, if it's an Intercity one then I will look into it. It doesn't bother me which way I go really. Travelling by train for me has always been about the experience and the enjoyment of travelling. If I find STD just as enjoyable as 1st then why bother? It's not just about freebies. It's about the quality and level of service, comfort of the seating area, ability to relax etc. If i find STD just as good then why pay more?

 

[amcluesent]

I do variations on PBO-KGX, PBO-AUD/SSD, PBO-LST and returns in FC every day. Why?

Virtually certainty of getting a seat on any service, minimal stress after working
I use the travel time as working time on laptop with decent size tables and minimal noise
Use of KGX lounge for business and at weekends
Comfort of FC seating doesn't leave me with backache
Flexibility in routing with 'any permitted' ticket for work commitments
Free wi-fi and the much derided 'complementaries' in EC
Leisure travel at weekends to Cambridge, London, etc. is pleasent and 'free'

 

[Sapphire Blue]

For me its the individual/airline type seats (where available).
I don't want to sit next to anyone or facing anyone.
Great Westerns seats of that type are, for me, the closest thing to perfection in railway seats.

 

[Yew]

I'm not "obsessed" about First Class travel - for example, I would never pay £17.25 (child) to travel First Class on the 21:07 from London to Liverpool when a £1.50 (or £3.50) Megatrain ticket is available.

What about if the megatrain ticket wasnt available, but you only had normal advances/tickets?

 

[The Snap]

If booking in advance and there are FC tickets available for a reasonable price I will buy them in the first instance. Similarly, at weekends if an upgrade is available I will upgrade. FC is just superior to SC, regardless of the service you get IMO. I'd rather pay the extra £15 or whatever and have a bit of peace and quiet sat in a bigger seat away from "the riff-raff", even if I don’t get any food or drink etc.

 

[HST Power]

I do variations on PBO-KGX
Virtually certainty of getting a seat on any service, minimal stress after working
I use the travel time as working time on laptop with decent size tables and minimal noise
Use of KGX lounge for business and at weekends
Comfort of FC seating doesn't leave me with backache
Flexibility in routing with 'any permitted' ticket for work commitments
Free wi-fi and the much derided 'complementaries' in EC
Leisure travel at weekends to Cambridge, London, etc. is pleasent and 'free'

Who do you go with on your PBO-KGX trip? East Coast or FCC?

If I was going with East Coast, I'd buy First Class. You get something to eat, the tables are bigger, it's more comfortable, fairly quiet and there's a better chance of working Wi-Fi.

FCC on the other hand don't offer much for a First ticket, other than a seat. I'd happily stand on a thirty to fifty minute journey. Sometimes I like standing, rather than having a seat and being crushed between the mother with pram on the left, and the man playing out his Ipod on volume fifty at the right. I probably sound a bit 'in my back yard' with that point, but I don't mean to.

East Coast, I'd buy First. FCC, no way. Which comes back to the point I first made in the thread and at the start of this post. In my view, it's all about who your going with, and the length of journey. If I'm travelling for more than an hour, I'd go First Class, get something to eat and make the most of whatever complimentary extras on offer. Now for me (and this will be different for many others) if I'm only going on a short trip, it simply isn't worth it to spend extra money if all your getting is a seat.

Furthermore, First Class doesn't even guarantee you a seat on trips with FCC.

 

[stut]

For longer trips, I'll upgrade if it appears to be worth it. For leisure, I appreciate the extra space, primarily (I'm over 6', and there's plenty operators whose Standard Class seats are a push just to fit my legs in!)

For work, I'll always try and get in First on longer trips, simply because there's space to get a laptop out and work which, again, there often isn't in a busy train in Standard. Half a day of working time is usually well worth the extra cost!

 

[90019]

Generally, I'm really not bothered about First Class.
I use the train so infrequently that it has never bothered me at all, and the main route I use doesn't even have it. I think the last time I used a service with First Class must have been at least 2 or 3 years ago.

I've used First Class once, when it was still NXEC, because an FC advance was £1 more than a Standard one.

When I was working for my last two companies, before retirement occured

You make it sound like retirement just suddenly happened one day with no warning

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

You make it sound like retirement just suddenly happened one day with no warning

I must confess that my construction of sentences does seemed to have deteriorated with the onset of old age. I was intending to make reference to the final two positions that I held before I retired in 2010.

 

[Minilad]

I only travel FC when my travel facilities allow, ie weekend on XC.
Occasionally I have been on trains with other TOCs and have been given permission to travel in FC but can't say it bothers me too much as long as I have a seat in Standard

 

[yorksrob]

Alas, my cirtumstances usually only allow me to travel in steerage. Fortunately, this is usually fine anyway - the various differences between GNER, NXEC and EC mentioned on this forum have largely passed me by.

That said, on some occasions I have had the pleasure of 1st. Of note were the Southern Region Mk 1 compartments - like a cocoon and sorely missed. (the £6.something return fare between Lymington and Brockenhurst was worth every penny).

And I do love the EMT HST 1st class. Very comfy. I've enjoyed a waiter served sandwich during the evening, although on weekends you're largely left to your own devices (apart from the buffet trolley coming every now and again). I've also enjoyed 1st on East Coast once which was lovely.

I think space is the main thing though, and preferably some extra comfort.

 

[chris89]

Im not bothered at all if their is an 'obsession'. To me if you can afford it go for it mind of frame.

I will go FC if the tickets are as close to Standard were possible or only slightly more, Next week will be using AXC 1st class (really just to get a seat, and that virgin single standard was 60& FC 100) To edinburgh.

But i will be able to experience VT's first class the 15th though from Glasgow since was a brillant £38

Chris

 

[Butts]

I agree with most of the comments already made with regard to the comfort,complimentary catering and general ambience.

I to am a "freeloader" and would never cough the anytime 1st Fare (couldn't afford it !!!)

If travelling from Edinburgh to Birmingham you can sometimes get a £60 advance single on the 1852 which I sometimes utilise. The problem is when booking in advance (a few weeks) you can often get a Flight for £25 each way so I would rather pay £50 return for the plane rather than £120 for 1st on the train - thats assuming you can get a £60 on the Birmingham - Edinburgh leg which are much rarer.

On my next trip I am really slumming it £1.50 megatrain special on the way down will probably fly back as £25 fares available.

XC do even cheaper 1st Class Advances on the Edinburgh to Brum route but the service and freebies are crap compared to Virgin and it takes a lot longer.

However while I am down in Brum I have booked a couple of £19 specials on the Wolverhampton- Euston in the recent sale.

Bit of a choker that I missed outward journey on a service with breakfast (if they were available at all)

Will be hitting the Lounge at Wolverhampton , hammering the onboard booze and nosh and on the return Lounge at Euston along with any fare provided on the return train. Will have to behave as my daughter is with me !!!

Incidentally when I fly from Edinburgh to Birmingham I do get the train from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley - 1st Class is Free on Virgin -no penalty fares no ticket checks and no barriers - I would pay if I ever saw the Guard or the TO was open at International. I once tried to pay at S&D but they werent interested - just said "forget it"

 

[premier01]

I agree with most of the comments already made with regard to the comfort,complimentary catering and general ambience.

I to am a "freeloader" and would never cough the anytime 1st Fare (couldn't afford it !!!)

If travelling from Edinburgh to Birmingham you can sometimes get a £60 advance single on the 1852 which I sometimes utilise. The problem is when booking in advance (a few weeks) you can often get a Flight for £25 each way so I would rather pay £50 return for the plane rather than £120 for 1st on the train - thats assuming you can get a £60 on the Birmingham - Edinburgh leg which are much rarer.

On my next trip I am really slumming it £1.50 megatrain special on the way down will probably fly back as £25 fares available.

XC do even cheaper 1st Class Advances on the Edinburgh to Brum route but the service and freebies are crap compared to Virgin and it takes a lot longer.

However while I am down in Brum I have booked a couple of £19 specials on the Wolverhampton- Euston in the recent sale.

Bit of a choker that I missed outward journey on a service with breakfast (if they were available at all)

Will be hitting the Lounge at Wolverhampton , hammering the onboard booze and nosh and on the return Lounge at Euston along with any fare provided on the return train. Will have to behave as my daughter is with me !!!

Incidentally when I fly from Edinburgh to Birmingham I do get the train from Birmingham International to Sandwell & Dudley - 1st Class is Free on Virgin -no penalty fares no ticket checks and no barriers - I would pay if I ever saw the Guard or the TO was open at International. I once tried to pay at S&D but they werent interested - just said "forget it"

I wouldn't be so sure-was travelling between New Street and Coventry last week-had a Sheffield to Leamington Spa SDS and wanted to upgrade in order to use the VT Coventry lounge wi-fi so sat in 1st at New Street-actually wanted the TM to come round so I could upgrade-as it was bought new FDS ticket and he did show just before Coventry-so could easily happen between on that journey

I have to say I thought that as we were pulling into Coventry and I had a £40 ticket covering the journey although for Standard only he would have said don't worry about it but he was a by the book TM I think-worked out good though as would have had to buy new ticket to get in the lounge at the station.

 

[33056]

My preference would be to travel First Class for most of the reasons that other people have already mentioned but, as an ex BR "priv" holder (std class), it just does not make financial sense to pay for something that would otherwise be mostly free - albeit in a different class.

Travelling abroad is a different matter, I will quite often shell out for a First Class Inter-Rail as I consider the extra cost well worth it when travelling around for a week or more.