RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

[aylesbury2]

Hate to be captain obvious, but the people who live near BHI also live near Solihull. The stations are about ten minutes apart from each other, BHI is on the Cov Road, Solihull is just off the Warwick Road. Between the two are tens of thousands of potential customers who live an equal distance from each station.

Sorry, I'm not really familiar with the Midlands (i.e. Solihull) with the exception of Birmingham as I have relatives and sometimes have to commute there for other reasons. I was just thinking in terms of Airport users wanting to get as close as possible.

 

[Butts]

Who were you trying to PM? Ascot hasn't logged in for over 5 months or updated this guide in over a year.

What has happened to Ascot ? - I used to like his contributions.

Also why is there no Virgin 1st Class Lounge at Preston ? - they have gaudy Virgin paraphernalia all over the station but no facilities :cry:

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Sorry, I'm not really familiar with the Midlands (i.e. Solihull) with the exception of Birmingham as I have relatives and sometimes have to commute there for other reasons. I was just thinking in terms of Airport users wanting to get as close as possible.

I can see why you would think that. I just happen to believe that the majority of people who use BHI are people who live in south east/east Birmingham and Solihull. It's a very handy park and ride for London, hence the adverts.

For a point of reference, International is the red dot, Solihull is the blue dot. Most of the shaded area can probably be considered catchment for both stations for people who don't want to drive into the city centre to board a train at New Street or Moor Street. Dunno what the population of that whole area is but given a million people live within the city limits of Birmingham then we are probably talking a couple of hundred thousand?

 

[D6975]

I was PMing Ascot - didn't realise that he's been absent for so long.

I visited Padd FC lounge on my way home from Norwich - very nice. Afternoon tea menu I would guess (I was on the 15:00 ex Pad), cakes on offer. I had a very nice and large slice of sponge cake, a coffee, some fruit, biscuits, crisps and pretzels. Also picked up a can of fizz for the train.
The extra £10.10 I paid to make my NOR-BRI adv single FC was well worth it.

I'd already had tea, biscuits, crisps and orange juice on the train from Norwich to the street. It's one of those journeys where FC is a no-brainer.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Now in place at Glasgow Central in what sounds like the old empty half of the Travel Centre. Can't tell if it's only for the Games or permanent however:

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about...-first-class-treatment-ahead-of-games-1005047

Virgin Trains gives Glasgow First Class treatment ahead of Games​

Press Release • Jun 06, 2014 07:26 BST

Virgin Trains’ First Class passengers will be able to unwind before boarding a train from Glasgow in a new waiting facility due to open later this month.

Customers using the First Class Lounge will be entitled to complimentary drinks, snacks and newspapers and will be able to check up on their emails or browse the web using free wifi.

The development at Scotland’s busiest station has been welcomed by Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown MSP who said it offered business passengers “high quality facilities” ahead of the Commonwealth Games

The Lounge has been built within the existing Virgin Trains ticket hall next to the Gordon Street entrance of the station.

It is the latest improvement to the cross-border service operated by Virgin Trains which has seen a 144% increase in passenger numbers between Glasgow and London between 2008 and 2013.

With seating for up to 24 people at a time, the Lounge will offer an improved service for business passengers and is expected to drive further growth in this market. It will open from 7am to 7pm ensuring that passengers boarding the frequent services to London Euston or Birmingham have plenty of time to take advantage of the hospitality.

Virgin Trains has worked closely with Network Rail, which operates Glasgow Central, to ensure that a facility for its First Class passengers is in place during the Commonwealth Games.

 

[Butts]

Now in place at Glasgow Central in what sounds like the old empty half of the Travel Centre. Can't tell if it's only for the Games or permanent however:

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/about...-first-class-treatment-ahead-of-games-1005047

It's about time Glasgow Central had a Lounge - has anyone used it yet ?

Hopefully it's better than The East Coast "tea and biscuits" effort at Edinburgh Waverley

 

[TBY-Paul]

Have East Coast changed the restrictions for First Class lounge entry?

"Our First Class Lounges are open to customers who hold one of the following ticket types:
•Fully inter-available First Class Season Ticket (i.e. tickets not specific to one train company)
•Any First Class Anytime ticket valid for travel on the East Coast route
•Any East Coast First Class business packages
•Holders of East Coast First Advance tickets*

•Holders of East Coast First Class Reader Offer tickets*

•Holders of East Coast Rewards First Class tickets*
•Holders of East Coast Rewards One Day First Class Lounge Pass (no ticket required)

All access is subject to a minimum fare of £10 (except for Rewards tickets).

*For entry into the Lounge at King's Cross when travelling on a First Advance, Rewards or Reader Offer ticket, you must purchase a £5 supplement. This can be purchased on the day of travel at any East Coast Travel Centre, or at the time of booking your ticket online."
(taken from East Coast website)

My reading of that is, using a East Coast First Advance, I can use Darlington at no extra cost, but would pay a £5 supplement to use King's Cross. Would this be right?

 

[Deerfold]

Yes this was mentioned a while ago in this thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1776505&postcount=487

 

[TBY-Paul]

Yes this was mentioned a while ago in this thread:

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=1776505&postcount=487

Thanks Deerfold, I had a look at the first page, then used the search function, to find out for sure, but after spending time trying to find the information I needed without success, I thought I would just ask.

I remember when GNER changed the rules, and I was just having a look at the East Coast website to see how much it would cost the two of us seeing as we have a 30+ min wait at Darlington. Looks like it's going to be a better trip than I first thought
Pity I didn't find out sooner, I had a 90min stop-over at Edinburgh back in May :cry:

 

[theshillito]

As mentioned earlier in the thread, in a break from the norm, Virgin Trains has created a standard class lounge for Virgin Trains ticket holders. I thought it was an interesting idea but there were no good descriptions as to what the difference was to the rest of the station's waiting rooms.

So, you can click here for a few photos I took while I was there.

The main positive is the row of power sockets, which is no doubt super helpful while waiting for a train. Seats are comfier than the other waiting rooms, though how long that'll last I can't say.

The one thing that's missing, which I would've thought was important regardless as to whether you're first or standard class, is a departures board. You have to keep an ear out for announcements (no PA speaker in the lounge either) or use your phone to check departures/platform alterations. Not all London-bound trains use platform 5 after all.

Another thing worth mentioning is, when I was there, there was no staff member checking if tickets were Virgin Trains tickets, so anyone could just wander in. Whether this varies depending on the time of day, I don't know, but when I was there at 7pm on a Friday, it was just me and another person, who left shortly after I arrived (maybe I smelt bad?).

 

[iainbhx]

Another thing worth mentioning is, when I was there, there was no staff member checking if tickets were Virgin Trains tickets, so anyone could just wander in. Whether this varies depending on the time of day, I don't know, but when I was there at 7pm on a Friday, it was just me and another person, who left shortly after I arrived (maybe I smelt bad?).

I wandered in there the other day. They accepted my Spring Road-Crewe season

The power sockets were very useful. Other than that, it has little going for it.

 

[Bungle73]

The staff in the KGX FC Lounge are trying to relieve people of their Lounge Passes again. Went in there today and the staff member wanted to take off me, and only relented when I started protesting. Said she needed it for their "records", which is nonsense as it's supposed to last all day, and is my only proof of entitlement to use the Lounge.

I had enough of this a couple of years ago when an aggressive staff member insisted on taking one off me, and told me a pack of lies as to why. I put in a complaint then, and have complained today to their Facebook team.

 

[Deerfold]

The staff in the KGX FC Lounge are trying to relieve people of their Lounge Passes again. Went in there today and the staff member wanted to take off me, and only relented when I started protesting. Said she needed it for their "records", which is nonsense as it's supposed to last all day, and is my only proof of entitlement to use the Lounge.

I had enough of this a couple of years ago when an aggressive staff member insisted on taking one off me, and told me a pack of lies as to why. I put in a complaint then, and have complained today to their Facebook team.

Odd - they've always been very friendly to me, no matter how oddly dressed I've been or how long I've spent in there.

 

[Bungle73]

Odd - they've always been very friendly to me, no matter how oddly dressed I've been or how long I've spent in there.

I guess it depends on who is on duty. The other person I had trouble with, I've never seen in there again. Although I don't use it very often. Other times I've had no trouble.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The person who mans their FB page said they'd pass on my complaint to their customer relations dept., and this is what I got back from them:

Dear Mr West



Your details have been forwarded to me by our Social Media team regarding your recent incident at the London King’s Cross first Class lounge.



I am sorry that you had to protest to our staff member in order to retain your lounge day pass. The pass, as you well know, allows for multiple admittances to the lounge and should be retained for this purpose; I apologise that our staff member attempted to keep the pass.



I have forwarded the details of your complaint to the management of London King’s Cross station to have this issue addressed internally; I sincerely hope and expect that this is the last such incident you will experience at our First Class lounge.



Thank you once more for getting in to touch and allowing us the opportunity to address this matter; I hope you will continue to travel with East Coast.



Yours Sincerely



Derek Morgan

Customer Relations Advisor

East Coast

I think I will print this out, and produce if if I encounter the same problem again. I'm probably not going to be using the Lounge again until next year though.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Odd - they've always been very friendly to me, no matter how oddly dressed I've been or how long I've spent in there.

Is that not because you spend quite a lot of time in there from what I read on here?

 

[Deerfold]

Is that not because you spend quite a lot of time in there from what I read on here?

I pop in about once a week. It surprises me just how many different staff do seem to work there though.

 

[Butts]

Is that not because you spend quite a lot of time in there from what I read on here?

He's been in there with his holdall clearing all the stock out

 

[ATW Alex 101]

I'm sure we have all slipped a drink out or two!

 

[Butts]

I'm sure we have all slipped a drink out or two!

Yes, but he clears the whole shebang out (having used his "John Bull" pass to gain fraudulent access )

 

[Deerfold]

He's been in there with his holdall clearing all the stock out

I'm quite shocked by that accusation.

Yes, but he clears the whole shebang out (having used his "John Bull" pass to gain fraudulent access )

I haven't and wouldn't try it but they do look quite copyable (given how closely they're checked - though maybe that's dropped over time as I've become more familiar.

Unfortunately I won't have enough points to get another one straight away so I've just under a month of regular access left (I knew I shouldn't have treated my wife to First Class to Scotland ).

 

[Butts]

I'm quite shocked by that accusation.



I haven't and wouldn't try it but they do look quite copyable (given how closely they're checked - though maybe that's dropped over time as I've become more familiar.

Unfortunately I won't have enough points to get another one straight away so I've just under a month of regular access left (I knew I shouldn't have treated my wife to First Class to Scotland ).

I'd have left her in "cattle" and chucked her the odd scrap from your freebies (perhaps that's why I am Divorced )

 

[Deerfold]

[/B][/B]

I'd have left her in "cattle" and chucked her the odd scrap from your freebies (perhaps that's why I am Divorced )

She doesn't like it there (not when there's not much between the prices anyway) - she's bought me a 1st class ticket for the week after next so I can sit with her .

 

[Butts]

As I had some time to kill on Tuesday between my flight from Edinburgh arriving at BHX and my Train to S&D departing, I coughed £7.20 for the 1st Class fare enabling Lounge Entry at Birmingham International.

Lounge well stocked with Walkers Crisps, Tunnocks Teacakes and various other assorted biscuits in packets. No sign of any fruit :cry:

The fridge was full of Coke and various fruit juices and the Coffee Machine operational.

This place knocks spots off East Coasts Edinburgh Lounge ( unless it has changed markedly since my last visit)

 

[MidnightFlyer]

A new First Class Lounge has been built at Kettering. From EMT:

In addition, a new First Class Lounge has now opened on Platform 2/3 at Kettering station representing a £30,000 investment. The new lounge will be open from 05.45 to 18.30 every weekday and will offer complimentary drinks and snacks to First Class passengers. WiFi is now available free of charge throughout Kettering station, including in the new First Class Lounge.

https://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.u...vestment-for-East-Midlands-Trains-Passengers/

 

[Merseysider]

The NRE page for Coventry is stating:

Tickets Accepted
Virgin Business, First Open or Advance First tickets. You can only enter the lounge on the travel date shown on your ticket.

Does this mean a 1st VT Only single COV - BHI would or would not be accepted?

 

[scotsman]

The NRE page for Coventry is stating:

Tickets Accepted
Virgin Business, First Open or Advance First tickets. You can only enter the lounge on the travel date shown on your ticket.

Does this mean a 1st VT Only single COV - BHI would or would not be accepted?

If it falls in to one of the ticket types above...

 

[Merseysider]

If it falls in to one of the ticket types above...

I have no idea what "Virgin Business" means...

 

[Deerfold]

I have no idea what "Virgin Business" means...

It seems to be a subset of Virgin Advance Fares,

e.g. http://www.brfares.com/#faredetail?orig=MLM&dest=MIA&rte=452&tkt=BHO

Presumably "First Open" should say "First Anytime"

 

[extendedpaul]

It's about time Glasgow Central had a Lounge - has anyone used it yet ?

We spent a very pleasant 45 minutes in the Glasgow lounge last Friday afternoon.Very quiet - only three or four other users between 4.30 and 5.15pm. The main drawback is no toilet facility which the hostess explained was due to Network Rail constraints. Most visitor comments complained about that.

Croissants, butter and jam, chocolates, biscuits, yoghurts and fruit, crisps and nuts, cans of soft drinks and juice, bottles of water and a coffee machine with drinks much better than on the train. Newspapers and IT facilities.

We ate too much really as I struggled to finish the "chicken kiev pie" served within 10 minutes of the 17.30 departure from Glasgow.

 

[Butts]

It's about time Glasgow Central had a Lounge - has anyone used it yet ?

We spent a very pleasant 45 minutes in the Glasgow lounge last Friday afternoon.Very quiet - only three or four other users between 4.30 and 5.15pm. The main drawback is no toilet facility which the hostess explained was due to Network Rail constraints. Most visitor comments complained about that.

Croissants, butter and jam, chocolates, biscuits, yoghurts and fruit, crisps and nuts, cans of soft drinks and juice, bottles of water and a coffee machine with drinks much better than on the train. Newspapers and IT facilities.

We ate too much really as I struggled to finish the "chicken kiev pie" served within 10 minutes of the 17.30 departure from Glasgow.

Blimey that sounds like a generous offering - more than at Virgins other Lounges I have been in - almost a "Continental Breakfast"