Quick Virgin Weekend Upgrade Question

[voyagerdude220]

Hi all,

Just a quick question regarding Virgin Weekend First Upgrades (VWU).

I'm just in the middle of planning a day out on Super Voyagers (or more precisely the same Super Voyager for most of it :P ), and have noticed it to be alot cheaper by around £13 to upgrade to FC using Weekend First..

Is there any way of buying the Weekend First upgrade on top of a Standard advance single on the internet?

I know I can do it on the Super Voyager, but would prefer having it in advance if possible, so I don't have to mess about paying on the day. I'm not too bothered about the reservation, as it reverses twice en-route, although it would be nice to reserve a single seat incase it was surprisingly busy.

Thanks!

 

[scotsman]

You can buy an advance Weekend First online at virgintrains.co.uk - it works out at advance fare (if available) + £5, the same as onboard. However, if your train is unlikely to be busy - just sit in 1st Class! There is no obligation to purchase the upgrade before boarding, to ensure 1st Class is available

 

[voyagerdude220]

Thanks for that Scotsman.. I don't know why, but It won't offer me the upgrade with an Advance Standard single.

It'll let me do it on an off peak return etc though. (which is no use for me)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm just going to buy the tickets now, to reduce the risk of the cost going up between now & me deciding on how to book it.

I doubt it'll be busy in FC, but can always try to get a seat in coach D in the exceptionally unlikely case of FC being very full.

 

[Drimnagh Road]

While we're at it,

are you entitled to pay the £15 weekend upgrade with a sail rail ticket?

 

[voyagerdude220]

I don't know for sure, but I'd guess you can, as VT allow you to upgrade with Standard Advance tickets, whereas XC don't.

Hopefully someone else will confirm for sure.

 

[island]

Last time I got a Virgin weekend upgrade I wasn't asked for my existing ticket at all, so I'd say chances are good.

 

[AlterEgo]

With an Advance fare, you can only purchase the VWU on the train...

 

[island]

Untrue. I was issued one against an Advance ticket at Euston a month ago.

 

[AlterEgo]

You aren't supposed to really, because VWUs are subject to space being available in 1st Class. You can upgrade most Std tickets at the booking but not Advances because they're the cheapest fares. Naturally Virgin want the people who've paid more (i.e. with flexible tickets) to have first dibs on the upgrades....

But if you were sold one, good for you. Obviously had a generous ticket agent!

 

[voyagerdude220]

With an Advance fare, you can only purchase the VWU on the train...

Ah that would explain it AlterEgo- thanks.

I'm just used to buying Advance First tickets on weekdays, so rarely upgrade.

 

[mickey]

While we're at it,

are you entitled to pay the £15 weekend upgrade with a sail rail ticket?

No, as these tickets are not available for any first class journey. However, as stated it's pretty much up to the Virgin TM, so I expect that most of the time you'd get it anyway as there's always loads of seats left and they'll be happy to take your money.