Odd WMT pricing. First Class cheaper than Standard.

[tom73]

Image shows the 0534 London - Birmingham service operated by West Midlands Trains priced at £17 1st class (1 seat left at this price) or £20 standard class (8 seats left).

 

[roversfan2001]

Happens very often. The cheaper Standard tiers will have sold out. Also note that the 0534 isn't a VT service, it's operated by WMT under the LNR brand.

 

[Starmill]

First Class on those VT services costs more than Standard.

On West Midlands Trains, which is where the phenomenon in your screenshot is observed, this is very common. I think the main cause is that the cheap Standard Class Advances represent excellent value for money, with savings of as much as 90% over some of the competing operators. This means that these tickets fly out of availability quickly when they go on sale. First Class on West Midlands Trains has very low differentiation with Standard Class. On a susbset of their rolling stock, the 350/3, one could argue that Standard Class is actually more comfortable. Thus, demand for their First Class advances will be considerably lower, and initial sales much slower.

In circumstances where First Class is the cheaper option though, I can't think of any reason not to buy it. Even if you don't want to sit in First Class you can simply sit in Standard with that ticket.

 

[gray1404]

Last time I had a WMT 1st advance, as it was cheaper then the STD walk up or STD Advance (I was booking the night before and not making a return journey) first class got suddenly very busy at Crewe. 4 total strangers around the table for 4. I left and shared a standard coach with only 1 other person. Its amazing the amount of people who insist on cramping themselves in 1st just because they have a first class ticket.

I have experienced similar on GTR services and left full 1st to go to half empty STD.