RailUK Forums First Class Obsession?

[DarloRich]

By the way, not trying to have a go. Just an alternative view I am trying to articulate, possibly poorly!

I am more than happy to accept alternative views. If not how can we test our own views?

Perhaps privilege is the wrong word although i meant it in the sense of an advantage rather than a special right

Privilege: A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group
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Your meaning may have been to criticise the way they broadcast their "success", but that is not what you said:

"My view is that many of the posters here lack the maturity and emotional intelligence to understand that first class travel, especially discounted first class travel, is a privilege and not the norm. Because they travel first class on a regular basis they lack exposure to and fail to understand the realities of life for the majority of railway passengers in this country."

The above reads far more (to me at least) like a criticism of many (not some, but a large number - rather insulting, no?) on the forum who travel first class who you are declaring to be lacking in maturity and emotional intelligence. Perhaps your original post doesn't reflect what you meant. If it doesn't, then that is possibly why some of the feedback has been as it has in this thread.

I certainly do not mean to criticise choice or people exercising choice. We would live in a dull, bleak, utilitarian world without choice. I would like to be able to exercise the choice to travel in first class more often!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I certainly do not mean to criticise choice or people exercising choice. We would live in a dull, bleak, utilitarian world without choice. I would like to be able to exercise the choice to travel in first class more often!

On a personal basis, I now feel much relieved to read what you say....

 

[asylumxl]

Bit of a late comer to this thread, but I thought I'd share my 2 pence.

I wouldn't say this board as a whole is obsessed with first class, but there certainly is a small minority of people whom are. To an extent I can understand where DarloRich is coming from, though I'd have worded it differently.

I'm inclined to say that there are a few people who are rather obnoxious or act entitled on here and that their obsession with first class is a symptom of that.

 

[Crossover]

Not had chance to post until now, but please don't assume that having a railcard makes everything rosy. Some fares are still a rip off even with one and travel often still needs to be booked the three months in advance to have any chance of getting a sensible fare

2) First class is not a privilege? Of course it is! You are paying extra for the privilege of a better seat, a more pleasant environment, a different ambiance, free wifi, free refreshments, better service, more leg room, a better view, less crowds etc etc

Actually, I have, on occasion, paid less for a First Class ticket than the equivalent Standard Class tickets available at the time of purchase!

 

[cambsy]

I have only booked my first class advance tickets only week or two in advance, and only because were within reasonable price of standard advance, one was only £9.00 more than the standard advance price, I often like to have the flexibility of off peak tickets, I'm not a first class snob as quite happy in standard but just nice to go fist class sometimes but only if the price is reasonable, within £20.00 of off peak ticket price, would never pay full first class anytime ticket price.

 

[Starmill]

Paying extra for something doesn't make it a privelage anyway. It makes having money a privelage. So the people with the most money are the most out of touch. How now brown cow?

 

[Crossover]

Paying extra for something doesn't make it a privelage anyway. It makes having money a privelage. So the people with the most money are the most out of touch. How now brown cow?

What on earth are you on?! (I think I could do with some!)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Paying extra for something doesn't make it a privelage anyway. It makes having money a privelage. So the people with the most money are the most out of touch. How now brown cow?

Oh dear....that leaves me in a most invidious position......Using a play on the words of an old advertisement for a certain box of chocolates, I can come up with..."And all because the gentleman loves First Class"

And here was in my dotage I thinking that I was attempting to keep my finger on the pulse of a hundred and one things all at the same time, but it now appears that I have been wasting my time. How on earth did I manage to join this website in 2011, a year after I retired.

I suppose, now at the age of 70, I must write out, using my best Cross fountain pen on sheets of ruled hand-made paper.."There is no fool like an old fool"....then retire to the corner of my study to have my evening treat of Complan...:roll:

 

[Clip]

I'm going to have to buy Darlorich a return ticket in 1st class somewhere for Christmas......

 

[Kite159]

I'm going to have to buy Darlorich a return ticket in 1st class somewhere for Christmas......

Better make it for a TOC whose 1st class is worth paying extra for (whereas some it's just the increased chance to get a seat!)

 

[crehld]

I'm going to have to buy Darlorich a return ticket in 1st class somewhere for Christmas......

Make sure you spend a sufficient amount of money to ensure your kind gesture won't be interpreted as a cheap subsidized privilege

 

[trainophile]

I might have come across as snobby about First Class, by virtue of the fact that if it is available I prefer to use it. If this has incensed people I genuinely apologise, that was not the intention.

The vast majority of my rail travel is on ATW, Northern (Pacers), Merseyrail and the Hereford to Birmingham LM, none of which even offer 1st Class.

So, having reached senior railcard age without ever having travelled in 1st, my birthday treat was a day trip on VWC from Liverpool to London and back. I was in awe of how special I thought the experience would be! It was certainly different to what I was used to, although I was quite surprised that "ordinary people" (i.e. not MPs and business suits) made up the majority of my fellow travellers.

Since then, I regard 1st Class leisure travel as one of the hobbies we should apparently embrace in retirement. I don't drink, smoke, take holidays abroad, rarely eat out, so our indulgence is going somewhere for the pleasure of the journey, which is obviously enhanced by the more comfortable travel.

If that makes me emotionally illiterate, or whatever the phrase was, then so be it. There are worse sins.