No first class seats but paid for them

[suzanneparis]

We booked first class from Leicester to Bournemouth via Birmingham.

But there were no first class seats between Leicester and B'ham.

When I checked yesterday I think (??) it was cheaper to get a single second class from Leicester to B'ham and then first class from B'ham to Bournemouth.

(Two together card used for the journey.)

Is this right?

 

[ainsworth74]

Do you mean you weren't able to get a seat (i.e. there was first class on the train but it was full) or that the train didn't even have a first class section? Which company were your travelling with?

 

[reb0118]

Was there meant to be 1st Class available between Leicester & Birmingham? If so then you are entitled to the difference in fares for that leg back.

If not, then the through fare should take that into consideration - however we all know that there is no rhyme nor reason to rail ticket policy so you will have to chalk this down to experience. At least you know that for the future.

Post up the exact train(s) used and some bod will tell you if it has advertised 1st Class or not.

 

[greatkingrat]

As far as I know all trains between Leicester and Birmingham have first class seats.

EDIT: According to the OP's earlier thread, she was on the 1148 from Leicester which is a XC service that does have first class accomodation advertised.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If she means "no seats were available as people were sitting in them" that is tough luck, just as in Standard. The only way of guaranteeing a seat in any class is to make a reservation.

 

[ainsworth74]

Though a letter to Customer Services might yield a goodwill gesture though unless there were seat reservations that could't be honoured I suspect such gesture might well be unlikely. In same cases, however, it would definitely be worth writing in as some TOCs (like VTEC) run a Seat Guarantee scheme which will give you compensation if you booked a seat and it isn't available.

 

[Haywain]

Though a letter to Customer Services might yield a goodwill gesture though unless there were seat reservations that could't be honoured I suspect such gesture might well be unlikely. In same cases, however, it would definitely be worth writing in as some TOCs (like VTEC) run a Seat Guarantee scheme which will give you compensation if you booked a seat and it isn't available.

If you booked a seat and it isn't available, and an alternative seat cannot be found.

 

[yorkie]

We booked first class from Leicester to Bournemouth via Birmingham.

You booked seats or you simply purchased a ticket?

But there were no first class seats between Leicester and B'ham.

No first class seats provided, or no unoccupied first class seats available?

When I checked yesterday I think (??) it was cheaper to get a single second class from Leicester to B'ham and then first class from B'ham to Bournemouth.

(Two together card used for the journey.)

Is this right?

Not at Anytime Single rates, but I suspect we don't have enough information to answer your question.

 

[ainsworth74]

If you booked a seat and it isn't available, and an alternative seat cannot be found.

Forgive my concision, I provided the link so that anyone interested could find the full details...

 

[6Gman]

Where are you Suzanne?

We need you to explain what you mean by "no First Class seats between Leicester and Birmingham" ...

 

[bengolding]

All XC Turbostars from Leicester to Birmingham have a small 1st Class compartment with 9 seats (and power sockets which aren't available in Standard). The xx48s to Birmingham are reservable as they originate from Stansted Airport. The xx18s to Birmingham start at Leicester and are non-reservable, but these services always offer the cheaper First Advance fares.

 

[Starmill]

Unless they've hired one, there aren't any XC trains that don't have First Class, so I dunno what might have happened there apart from the conclusion that a few people have come to, which is that there just weren't any seats (or, unhappily, that you couldn't find First Class?).

I can only say that maybe CrossCountry (and Virgin Trains East Coast) don't value their First Class customers as much as Thameslink do:

I have a First Class ticket but there's no seats left
If you have a First Class ticket but there are no First Class seats available on your train, you can claim a refund of the difference between the first class and the standard class ticket for the relevant part of your journey.

www.thameslinkrailway.com/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/trains-faqs/#l

Shame you weren't travelling with them!

 

[bb21]

Of course all trains on the Leicester-Birmingham run have First Class sections.

If they were so busy all seats were taken then just speak to Customer Service. They will give you something.

 

[Haywain]

I can only say that maybe CrossCountry (and Virgin Trains East Coast) don't value their First Class customers as much as Thameslink do:

www.thameslinkrailway.com/contact-us/frequently-asked-questions/trains-faqs/#l

Shame you weren't travelling with them!

I'm not sure what Virgin Trains East Coast have to do with this matter, but Thameslink are simply echoing what is in the Conditions of Carriage. I don't think they will give partial refunds just because the available first class accommodation was full.

 

[Starmill]

I'm not sure what Virgin Trains East Coast have to do with this matter, but Thameslink are simply echoing what is in the Conditions of Carriage. I don't think they will give partial refunds just because the available first class accommodation was full.

The question suggests that this is exactly what they will do:

I have a First Class ticket but there's no seats left

I wouldn't exclude the possibility that they have made a mistake there, but it seems relatively unambiguous to me?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Nothing stopping a TOC offering better terms than the NRCoC require...

 

[Phil.]

If she means "no seats were available as people were sitting in them" that is tough luck, just as in Standard. The only way of guaranteeing a seat in any class is to make a reservation.

Paying extra to travel in comfort and (probably) away from screaming kids etc but not having a seat? That's not tough look it's a poor show. There's something inherently wrong when a person buys a booked a month in advance ticket in standard for little money and gets a guaranteed seat yet someone buying a highly expensive first class ticket for the same journey the day before is not guaranteed a seat.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Paying extra to travel in comfort and (probably) away from screaming kids etc but not having a seat? That's not tough look it's a poor show. There's something inherently wrong when a person buys a booked a month in advance ticket in standard for little money and gets a guaranteed seat yet someone buying a highly expensive first class ticket for the same journey the day before is not guaranteed a seat.

There is only one way to guarantee a seat - a seat reservation. If available at all, they are available first come first served to all passengers. The only way to guarantee a seat for a walk-up passenger is compulsory reservations.

They could offer to refund to Standard fare if no First Class seats are available, but that's still not a guarantee.