LNER reservation challenges - different coaches available on the same train

[FalkirkBairn]

I have a split ticket from Falkirk Grahamston to Inverness on the direct 1707 LNER train with my split being at Stirling. Train departs on 23rd June

My seat reservations are for different seats for the two legs.

When I try to change the reservations using the LNER website or app, I get an error message along the lines of 'This hasn't worked. Please try again'.

However, one thing I notice is that my ticket from Falkirk to Stirling only has five coaches (ABGHK) that I can reserve a seat on, whereas the Stirling to Inverness reservation is on a train with eight coaches available (ABGHJKLM).

Any clues as to how to resolve this - i.e. to get my seat reservations for the same seats all the way through?

Thanks

 

[Steddenm]

Try sending LNER a tweet if you can. They usually sort things out quite quickly there.

 

[FalkirkBairn]

It was worth a try but sadly they weren't able to help. Apparently when you buy the last tickets at a particular Advance fare level then the system won't let you change reservations

 

[Wallsendmag]

It was worth a try but sadly they weren't able to help. Apparently when you buy the last tickets at a particular Advance fare level then the system won't let you change reservations

Yes thats correct you have to release the product to change the reservation so changing the seat could theoretically take you into the next price bracket if someone else grabs it.

 

[Deerfold]

Yes thats correct you have to release the product to change the reservation so changing the seat could theoretically take you into the next price bracket if someone else grabs it.

I'm not sure how this stops the website staff helping to issue a new reservation.

 

[ainsworth74]

I'm not sure how far in advance you can use it to make reservations but LNER do allow you to make reservations without buying a ticket:

Make a seat reservation for our trains | LNER

If you're traveling with LNER make sure you have a seat reservation with your ticket for a comfortable journey. Make one here if your ticket or pass doesn't already have one.

www.lner.co.uk

Obviously not perfect as it would be better to change the reservations on your ticket changed to help release seats but if all else fails you could try that a month or so out from departure and see if you can make yourself a reservation from Falkirk to Inverness. I just did a test and it worked happily for a random weekday in mid April.

 

[Haywain]

one thing I notice is that my ticket from Falkirk to Stirling only has five coaches (ABGHK) that I can reserve a seat on, whereas the Stirling to Inverness reservation is on a train with eight coaches available (ABGHJKLM).

This is because Falkirk Grahamston has a short platform, so seats are only offered in the coaches that are directly accessible from the platform.

 

[alistairlees]

This is because Falkirk Grahamston has a short platform, so seats are only offered in the coaches that are directly accessible from the platform.

Coach J (not offered for reservation) is between coaches H and K (both offered for reservation), though?

 

[Haywain]

Coach J (not offered for reservation) is between coaches H and K (both offered for reservation), though?

I'm not familiar with all the ins and outs, but I'm pretty sure the short platform is why L and M are not offered.

 

[FalkirkBairn]

That's a really good spot. I've been in coach M trying to run down the train to find a door on the platform before! Had forgotten all about that...

I will try the reservation without a ticket route closer to the time. Thanks to all

 

[Adam Williams]

I note with some interest that when I enter "0" as my booking reference on LNER's site to get a seat reservation, it has no way of knowing what ticket type I hold and then proceeds to make me a reservation as if I held an Anytime Single.

I'm fairly interested as to whether this then gives the customer a wider range of seats than they otherwise would have been entitled to at booking-time (perhaps via a third-party retailer), as my understanding of S3/RARS2 is that TOCs can set-up specific seats to only be accessible to holders of certain ticket type tiers.

 

[43094]

I believe Haywain is correct regarding L&M.

Unsure why it wouldn’t offer J though.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I note with some interest that when I enter "0" as my booking reference on LNER's site to get a seat reservation, it has no way of knowing what ticket type I hold and then proceeds to make me a reservation as if I held an Anytime Single.

I'm fairly interested as to whether this then gives the customer a wider range of seats than they otherwise would have been entitled to at booking-time (perhaps via a third-party retailer), as my understanding of S3/RARS2 is that TOCs can set-up specific seats to only be accessible to holders of certain ticket type tiers.

Basically no

 

[DanNCL]

LNER have for a long time only offered reservations in carriages that will be platformed at both the boarding and alighting stations of your journey. Falkirk Grahamston isn’t the only station this applies at, it’s also used at Sunderland, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley and a few others I can’t remember.

Whilst it’s a good idea, I can’t help wondering if it could potentially result in advances being removed from sale prematurely for some journeys should all the seats in the coaches platformed at the relevant stations be reserved (some by passengers making other journeys not involving short platforms), but other seats in the same class of accommodation remain available on the train?

 

[Adam Williams]

Basically no

Because I'm incorrect, or because LNER don't (currently) reserve specific seats for specific ticket types?

 

[Haywain]

Whilst it’s a good idea, I can’t help wondering if it could potentially result in advances being removed from sale prematurely for some journeys should all the seats in the coaches platformed at the relevant stations be reserved (some by passengers making other journeys not involving short platforms), but other seats in the same class of accommodation remain available on the train?

Experience suggests it's only a challenge when none of the 1st class coaches will be platformed at a station, so no first class tickets are offered. There are very few such stations though.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Because I'm incorrect, or because LNER don't (currently) reserve specific seats for specific ticket types?

The latter

 

[kkong]

I'm not familiar with all the ins and outs, but I'm pretty sure the short platform is why L and M are not offered.

Are you sure this is correct?

On northbound LNER services at Inverkeithing, only the front door of coach K (i.e. the standard class end of the coach) is opened, with coaches L and M off the rear of the platform.

I have definitely reserved tickets in coach L northbound from Inverkeithing (more than once) and had to walk through both sections of coach K to get to my seat.

 

[Haywain]

Are you sure this is correct?

Yes, had it confirmed by the reservations team. J is also off the platform which is why it is not offered at Falkirk. K is offered to allow the purchase of 1st class tickets in spite of being off the platform, while minimising the ‘walk through’.

 

[kkong]

Yes, had it confirmed by the reservations team. J is also off the platform which is why it is not offered at Falkirk. K is offered to allow the purchase of 1st class tickets in spite of being off the platform, while minimising the ‘walk through’.

Doesn't explain why seats in L can be reserved northbound from Inverkeithing, despite it being off the platform (as it is at Falkirk Grahamston).

 

[Master29]

LNER have for a long time only offered reservations in carriages that will be platformed at both the boarding and alighting stations of your journey. Falkirk Grahamston isn’t the only station this applies at, it’s also used at Sunderland, Skipton, Keighley, Shipley and a few others I can’t remember.

Whilst it’s a good idea, I can’t help wondering if it could potentially result in advances being removed from sale prematurely for some journeys should all the seats in the coaches platformed at the relevant stations be reserved (some by passengers making other journeys not involving short platforms), but other seats in the same class of accommodation remain available on the train?

As an aside I often wonder if GWR do the same thing as they put out announcements about coaches being non platformed.

 

[DanNCL]

Experience suggests it's only a challenge when none of the 1st class coaches will be platformed at a station, so no first class tickets are offered. There are very few such stations though.

Shipley is the example that instantly comes to mind. Local door operation on the early morning ex-Skipton because of the use of Mark 4s on that diagram.

Doesn't explain why seats in L can be reserved northbound from Inverkeithing, despite it being off the platform (as it is at Falkirk Grahamston).

Basically an allowance has to be made to allow first class tickets to be sold to/from stations where only standard class is platformed. It may well be the case that at some stations coach K alone isn’t sufficient for 1st class, especially with half the carriage being standard class.