Free First Upgrade

[SephenWorceste]

I have an advance booked with Virgin for Birmingham to Euston. It is for the 10.50 departure on Tuesday. I purchased it through the Virgin iPhone app and only paid £7.50. Today I get an email offering a free upgrade to first class. The printed voucher assigns me a new seat. The email states it includes lounge access too.

I can say I was very surprised. I do not spend a great deal with the app as I tend to use my local travel centre where possible. A rather nice surprise. I have had free upgrades on planes but never on trains before. Are these upgrades very common?

Best wishes, Stephen.

 

[Merseysider]

In years of booking online I've never received such an upgrade before. It's either exclusive to the app, or something new Virgin are deploying with the aim of increasing regular 1st class patronage or improving customer opinion (I've heard they were the most complained about TOC over the last 12 months).

 

[SS4]

It's news to me. Still prefer Chiltern and LM though

 

[Tetchytyke]

I've never seen a free one, but a couple of times with VTWC I've been emailed a "special offer upgrade" for £15, on a weekday. I used the VTWC website not the app.

Last time I didn't bother (the upgrade is print at home, I was in Ireland and had no access to a printer immediately before travelling), the reservations were down and ended up sitting on the floor as far as Preston. That'll teach me

I wonder if they issue them when they know standard class is going to be extremely busy but first class is deserted?

 

[Camden]

Interesting. With the departure of the quiet coaches, and as an occasional user of First as and when I have the need for working space and quiet(ish) I'm not sure I like the idea of random upgrades.

People who specifically book First generally do so for a reason and thus are less likely to have the loudness, tinny headphones etc of a growing number of irritating passengers generally.

 

[trainophile]

I have an advance booked with Virgin for Birmingham to Euston. It is for the 10.50 departure on Tuesday. I purchased it through the Virgin iPhone app and only paid £7.50. Today I get an email offering a free upgrade to first class. The printed voucher assigns me a new seat. The email states it includes lounge access too.

I can say I was very surprised. I do not spend a great deal with the app as I tend to use my local travel centre where possible. A rather nice surprise. I have had free upgrades on planes but never on trains before. Are these upgrades very common?

Best wishes, Stephen.

I'm going to be on that very train tomorrow! Coach J. What coach have you been given?

 

[SephenWorceste]

I am in J too. Seat 33 for me.

Best wishes, Stephen.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
It seems that free upgrades are quite rare. I hope the train manager has seen them before. The voucher makes it clear that lounge access is included. It will be my first time in the new lounge.

Not sure I would by happy if I had paid for a full price ticket. From my perspective very nice for £7.50. I mix and match first and standard on Virgin. These day trips I try to do as cheap as possible.

Thank you, Stephen.

 

[trainophile]

If it's a Pendolino looks like we'll be back to back with you, as we're in 30 & 31!

Our tickets with railcards were £18.15, but that includes Hereford to BHM so not too bad.

Say hello if you see two pensioners wandering around - I have a red backpack and Andy's is blue. Promise to leave you in peace to enjoy your journey!

Edit to add: We have met in the lounge! Great to meet you Stephen, have a good time in London.

 

[breadfan]

I've had two free upgrades emailed to me this year. The first was around May for a ticket I had booked for my Mum (midweek Preston to Euston around midday ), so it was fantastic to surprise her with that

The most recent was for my girlfriend and I, Preston to Glasgow on the 1741 on a Thursday. We had booked well in advance, using our 2 Together card, and got tickets for £6.60 each. An absolute bargain! And then along comes the complimentary stuff.

My Sister got one sent recently too but didn't see the email in time (and doesn't have a printer).

Maybe we've been lucky this year

 

[gray1404]

for those of you that have had upgraes, have you booked online with the VT website? Or have you usd the app? Has it always been for strict point to point VT journeys etc?

I am wondering if there is a "code" to crack here.

 

[Tetchytyke]

My upgrades were booked directly with Virgin Trains (WC), one was an Advance ticket and one was one of the promotional fares they did in the summer.

In both cases first class was pretty empty but standard class appeared full, so I think that might be the motivation for Virgin.

 

[DaiGog]

I suspect the key thing here is that you don't spend a great deal via the app. It could be designed to make you come back a bit more often. Such initiatives are common in other industries to try and make occasional customers into more regular ones.

 

[Trainfan344]

I got a free upgrade for Friday from Stoke to Euston!

 

[breadfan]

for those of you that have had upgraes, have you booked online with the VT website? Or have you usd the app? Has it always been for strict point to point VT journeys etc?

I am wondering if there is a "code" to crack here.

Both my upgrades were from advance bookings online with VWC, never booked via the app. For the Glasgow run recently, both First and Standard were quiet.

 

[gray1404]

and I wonder if they target new/not very regular customers over those who book often...

 

[SephenWorceste]

I am glad these upgrades are reasonably available. I may get another in the future. I had no problems. In the lounge I was not asked to show my upgrade voucher. First was as busy as I have ever seen it on a Pendalino. Two people or more at a table for four.

It was lovely to chat to trainophile and her partner. I hope the rest of their trip went well. It sounded like fun. It is the first time I have knowingly met a forum member.

Best wishes, Stephen.

 

[trainophile]

I am glad these upgrades are reasonably available. I may get another in the future. I had no problems. In the lounge I was not asked to show my upgrade voucher. First was as busy as I have ever seen it on a Pendalino. Two people or more at a table for four.

It was lovely to chat to trainophile and her partner. I hope the rest of their trip went well. It sounded like fun. It is the first time I have knowingly met a forum member.

Best wishes, Stephen.

All the forum members that I have met have been delightful people . I hope you will consider going to a few get-togethers if you see any you like the idea of. We could do with more going on in the Midlands!

Enjoyed our brief whizz round London, went from Euston to Waterloo (good photography exhibition on the upper level), then walked to Embankment and took the Bakerloo Line to Paddington. Spent a very pleasant half hour in the GWR Lounge before boarding the 1415 Cardiff train. There were about eight people in coach L, so it was nice and peaceful . Popped into the Lounge at Cardiff while we waited for our Hereford train. Last trip of the year, here's to 2016's travels!

Apologies for dragging the thread off topic yet again , but wanted to acknowledge Stephen's post. I hope you managed to fit everything in, and weren't too tired by the time you got back so late!