NXEC - A First Class Company

[SqUaShIe P]

Hey y'all
Ive got a few train journeys to make over the next week or so, so i went onto the NXEC site to book my tickets (because the system is far better then that of the train line) and i was shocked to see that they wanted £73.50 for a journey i used to pay about £50 for. I remembered reading something about fare splitting, but on this occasions, that would have worked out to be slightly more, and then i was amazed to see that it was accually cheaper for me to go first class. Its only cheaper by £2, but thats a happy meal as far as im concerned (not that i still eat those). When i used to make this journey about a year ago, it was roughly £50 for standard and £150 for first class.
out of the 8 journeys i am to make, 7 of them are cheaper by first class.
The best first class saving i am to make is London Kings Cross to Peterborough. £30 standard, £23 first class

Does anyone know why its cheaper for a first class ticket over a standard one?

And im defintly going to travel with NXEC more often if its always going to be cheaper for me to travel first class

And Thanks

 

[Ben]

What joueney are you making?

 

[me123]

If these are Advance tickets, it's likely that the Standard Class quota has sold out before the First Class quota, therefore you can get cheaper First Class tickets than Standard Class. I imagine that this doesn't happen often! When people see it's cheaper, they will go for that option.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Beware i have seen many instances of NXEC advertising a far higher price for a few Advance Purchase singles on VT routes in particular, compared to what's actually available- i.e. displaying a completely different fare quota, despite being able to book a cheaper AP single on the Cross Country based trainline website.

 

[SqUaShIe P]

I shal take advantage of it now then, while i can.
And i will also check the prices on the train line too.
Trains are becomming well pricey! I can get 60 miles out of a fiver in my car... First class better be good!
Thank you both

 

[voyagerdude220]

First Class on NXEC is very comfortable, and the service is quite good.

However, you don't get any "freebies" foodwise, apart from biscuits to go with your complimentary tea/coffee etc.

Virgin Trains offers a superior, very high quality range of complimentary food and drink in First Class, as well as First Class lounges for all First Class passengers, not just those on open/season tickets. It isn't always more expensive than NXEC either, and even when it is, i still think the higher quality food makes up for it.

 

[Pumbaa]

Beware i have seen many instances of NXEC advertising a far higher price for a few Advance Purchase singles on VT routes in particular, compared to what's actually available- i.e. displaying a completely different fare quota, despite being able to book a cheaper AP single on the Cross Country based trainline website.

Yes - I've noticed that a few times. And in actual fact, when I was using NXEC whenever it was, they weren't displaying the cheapest XC fares either. I had to book using XCs site for those.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I wonder why NXEC charge higher prices..

Sounds suspicious to me!

I hope many people take this warning, and book elsewhere!

 

[me123]

XC and Virgin directly compete with NXEC on some routes; York-Scotland and Glasgow-London respectively. Perhaps they're trying to fill up their own trains for these services?

 

[voyagerdude220]

But surely wrongly/incorrectly advertising the price of a competitor's AP singles is breking some form of rule?

 

[me123]

Oh, of course.

I could well be completely wrong, though, and it could simply be that the system is broken. It's ATOS Origin, so I'd fully expect it!

 

[Techniquest]

I hope many people take this warning, and book elsewhere!

Trust me, I will be! Although in all fairness, NXEC sold me a Southern Advance fare from London to Bognor Regis in January that was cheaper with them than with the rest of them! On the flipside, I had to spend over a fiver to book the £2 ticket!

My tickets to/from Anglia for the GC HSTs will be cross-checked with those found via the GC site though, just to be sure they're selling me the correct fare!

 

[SqUaShIe P]

I wonder why NXEC charge higher prices..

Sounds suspicious to me!

I hope many people take this warning, and book elsewhere!

I reckon NXEC are making a bit of money on the top. They sell tickets through their own site, on behalf of the other companies, and carge the other companies abit on the top for the extra business, or just adds a bit for themselves, like a 'middle man'... Same thing that the train line does...
I do prefer the NXEC ticket booking form over the train line site, but if NXEC are over charging us, then im going to look elsewhere in future.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I do prefer the NXEC ticket booking form over the train line site, but if NXEC are over charging us, then im going to look elsewhere in future.

From my own experience, I have found prices on the website, over the phone and at the ticket office broadly similar. Internet savings can be quite paltry. As always, the best way to save money is to book early, be flexible with travel arrangements and be prepared to change trains. If travelling on the day of purchase, I would always check prices in stages, quite anally!

As for cheaper first class, wahey! Love being called "Sir" as my tea is poured into my cup!

 

[yorkie]

It's 10% commission on all tickets to the seller but ATOS origin provide the site, and I've no idea how much they get.

 

[martyn29]

i have still to try Virgin, so will hold my judgment till then!