Free first class upgrade... or not

[Train Pilchard]

I believe they are an external security agency.

The problem is that people ask them 'railway questions' which they do not know the answer to, annoying people. We all know how passengers sometimes think 'bloke in high-viz jacket - he must know the answer' and these guys (through no fault of their own, crowd management is their job) can't provide the answers.

Had a closer look today and they seem to be Scotrail? Certainly have a Scotrail badge on and possible a logo on the high viz?

 

[alcockell]

Umm - so standard to first class upgrades don't stand for the whole journey? That's hardly fair on the passenger.... if I was travelling on that route - would I have to pay twice, just because I was going into another region?

 

[yorkie]

Umm - so standard to first class upgrades don't stand for the whole journey? That's hardly fair on the passenger.... if I was travelling on that route - would I have to pay twice, just because I was going into another region?

A Std to 1st excess fare would normally be for the entire journey (as discussed in Excessing to first Aberystwyth to Glasgow)

A guard using their discretion to allow a free upgrade to 1st class for any reason only applies while that guard is on the train.

A Weekend 1st Supplement usually applies to the portion of the journey with one particular TOC. There are (or were) some TOCs that have schemes that cover more than one TOC but these are rare now. I recall Barry Doe wrote an article on that.

 

[island]

Do you know what the cut off time is for this. Is it the same as the seat reservation deadline, which was about 2 hours before departure?

I've bought Virgin weekend first upgrades in advance several times, it's often cheaper to get an Off-Peak return + upgrades than two Advance 1st tickets. You still get seats reserved and have some flexibility if you need it as the upgrade is dated but isn't tied to the reserved train.

I don't think you need a reservation with a Virgin Weekend Upgrade, and I have purchased one at the Euston booking office 40 minutes before the (Glasgow) train I intended using. They can be purchased ahead of travel with walk-up tickets.