Free First class weekend upgrade for Virgin Anytime tickets ?

[class17]

The previous thread here is now closed, it goes back to 2012.

I plan to travel London to Preston this Sunday afternoon (5 March 2018).

I plan to purchase a Standard Off Peak Return.

Does anyone know if this will be valid in First Class on Sunday, without the need to purchase a First Upgrade?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The previous thread here is now closed, it goes back to 2012.

I plan to travel London to Preston this Sunday afternoon (5 March 2018).

I plan to purchase a Standard Off Peak Return.

Does anyone know if this will be valid in First Class on Sunday, without the need to purchase a First Upgrade?

Absolutely not. Why would it? Only Anytime tickets are upgraded on weekdays.

 

[AlterEgo]

I’m a bit confused. An Off Peak is not an Anytime fare.

Did you mean to say you were going to purchase an Anytime?

 

[Hadders]

You need an Anytime ticket to be able to use 1st Class on VTWC without further payment.

If you're using an Off Peak Return you'll need to pay the Weekend First Upgrade fee.

 

[class17]

I’m a bit confused. An Off Peak is not an Anytime fare.

Did you mean to say you were going to purchase an Anytime?

You need an Anytime ticket to be able to use 1st Class on VTWC without further payment.

If you're using an Off Peak Return you'll need to pay the Weekend First Upgrade fee.

Thanks, that's clarified the ticket types for me.

Having looked again, its obvious. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[class17]

Absolutely not. Why would it? Only Anytime tickets are upgraded on weekdays.

Thanks for your reply. In response to your question "Why would it?".

If, like me, you thought there are train specific tickets (Advances) and non train specific tickets (Day Returns, Peak tickets and Off-peak tickets that are valid on a range of trains), i.e. Day Returns, Peak and Off-Peak tickets etc. being a subsets of Anytime tickets, then that is why you would ask the question.

My normal rail travel is advances on long distance journeys and day returns on local journeys. Following the replies to my question, I am now fully aware of the distinction between an off-peak ticket and an anytime ticket and that my question was flawed by my ignorance of the fares structure.

 

[yorkie]

An Off Peak plus Weekend First upgrade will be considerably cheaper than an Anytime on this journey.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Thanks for your reply. In response to your question "Why would it?".

If, like me, you thought there are train specific tickets (Advances) and non train specific tickets (Day Returns, Peak tickets and Off-peak tickets that are valid on a range of trains), i.e. Day Returns, Peak and Off-Peak tickets etc. being a subsets of Anytime tickets, then that is why you would ask the question.

My normal rail travel is advances on long distance journeys and day returns on local journeys. Following the replies to my question, I am now fully aware of the distinction between an off-peak ticket and an anytime ticket and that my question was flawed by my ignorance of the fares structure.

OK! Have a nice journey.

 

[lyndhurst25]

I was wondering if anyone has had problems doing the free Virgin West Coast weekend upgrade with an Anytime Short ticket? All the the Anytime Returns that I used to use on the WCML in northern England have been changed to Anytime Short Returns. The wording of the Virgin offer predates the introduction of Anytime Short tickets, but I'd say that they are a subset of Anytime tickets and not a separate type.

 

[Merseysider]

No, but Virgin’s TM threw a tantrum when I presented an Anytime Return between Liverpool and Lancaster.

Apparently it wasn’t expensive enough to qualify

I put my headphones back in and he got the message

 

[bb21]

No, but Virgin’s TM threw a tantrum when I presented an Anytime Return between Liverpool and Lancaster.

Apparently it wasn’t expensive enough to qualify

I put my headphones back in and he got the message

You riff-raff need to get back to peasant class or I'll call BTP to have you locked away for three days.

 

[lyndhurst25]

No, but Virgin’s TM threw a tantrum when I presented an Anytime Return between Liverpool and Lancaster.

Apparently it wasn’t expensive enough to qualify

I put my headphones back in and he got the message

Liverpool to Lancaster is now an Anytime Short Return too, but I've just noticed what they've recently done to the Route on this ticket. Not pleased. I'll start a new thread...

Panic over: the unnecessary "via Preston" doesn't prevent the routes that I thought that it did.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Liverpool to Lancaster is now an Anytime Short Return too, but I've just noticed what they've recently done to the Route on this ticket. Not pleased. I'll start a new thread...

Panic over: the unnecessary "via Preston" doesn't prevent the routes that I thought that it did.

What even vaguely reasonable routes from Liverpool to Lancaster don't pass through Preston?

 

[lyndhurst25]

What even vaguely reasonable routes from Liverpool to Lancaster don't pass through Preston?

I had it in my head that Liverpool-Wigan-Bolton-Blackburn-Hellifield-Lancaster and Liverpool-Manchester-Bolton-Blackburn-Hellifield-Lancaster were permitted, but they aren't according to the current Routeing Guide: I was thinking of another ticket entirely.

 

[route101]

No, but Virgin’s TM threw a tantrum when I presented an Anytime Return between Liverpool and Lancaster.

Apparently it wasn’t expensive enough to qualify

I put my headphones back in and he got the message

Back in 2004 me and my mate had a Preston to Glasgow Priv ticket £2 and we were able to use first class , on GNER they asked even if we wanted o go into first class .

 

[6Gman]

Back in 2004 me and my mate had a Preston to Glasgow Priv ticket £2 and we were able to use first class , on GNER they asked even if we wanted o go into first class .

This "free weekend upgrade if you're on an open/ anytime ticket" has always confused me.

Does a Priv anytime return qualify?

Does a (Safeguarded) Free Pass (i.e. dated box) qualify? It is, after all, the ultimate any train, any route ticket!

I've asked, but never got a clear answer.

 

[bb21]

Priv-rated Anytime Return, yes.

Boxes, I'm not so sure. My inclination is "no", reason being it is neither SOS or SOR.

Anytime Short Returns are an oddity, in that they were introduced after the rule came into force, and were partially converted from SORs, so your guess would be as good as mine.

 

[Elecman]

I’ve not had any problem with a Priv box, just asked the TM for the weekend first upgrade and been told not necessary to pay it.

 

[bb21]

I’ve not had any problem with a Priv box, just asked the TM for the weekend first upgrade and been told not necessary to pay it.

Yeah, but that is the usual unofficial "upgrade".

 

[All Line Rover]

I was wondering if anyone has had problems doing the free Virgin West Coast weekend upgrade with an Anytime Short ticket? All the the Anytime Returns that I used to use on the WCML in northern England have been changed to Anytime Short Returns.

No, other than with the handful of guards who have always been difficult about everything.

I also tend to find that first class lounge attendants have next to no knowledge of the free weekend upgrade, even for the most expensive London to XXX Anytime Return / SOR tickets.

 

[[.n]]

Sounds interesting, not realised this one before, will be going to Glasgow soon so may take advantage of this

 

[Wallsendmag]

I thought a Railcard discounted ticket didn't qualify.

 

[raveon]

Why do Virgin not promote or even publicise this anywhere? (or if they do it's very well buried). Even if they don't want to shout it from the rooftops, as a minimum, a clear list of T&Cs should be made available. As it stands, it appears to be a very grey area and just benefit a few 'in the know'.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Why do Virgin not promote or even publicise this anywhere? (or if they do it's very well buried). Even if they don't want to shout it from the rooftops, as a minimum, a clear list of T&Cs should be made available. As it stands, it appears to be a very grey area and just benefit a few 'in the know'.

Given West Coast Anytime fares it isn't exactly a bargain

 

[6Gman]

I’ve not had any problem with a Priv box, just asked the TM for the weekend first upgrade and been told not necessary to pay it.

You see, I'd be uncomfortable with that. As I am when staff decline to issue me with a ticket.

If I'm entitled, great. If I need to pay, then I'll pay. But I'd just like to know

 

[CyrusWuff]

I thought a Railcard discounted ticket didn't qualify.

It was clarified a few years ago that discounted tickets (be that Railcard or PRIV) do qualify, and that's stated in KnowledgeBase (for those who have access).

 

[Wallsendmag]

It was clarified a few years ago that discounted tickets (be that Railcard or PRIV) do qualify, and that's stated in KnowledgeBase (for those who have access).

It's been a while, only applied to tickets from here when VT had the XC franchise

 

[[.n]]

so is this published anywhere?

 

[lyndhurst25]

so is this published anywhere?

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46557.aspx

 

[philthetube]

for longer journeys it would be cheaper to pay off peak and weekend first for priv holders.EG London Preston of peak £23 peak £45 singles (approx rounded fares.)