Seating "reserved but not allocated"

[trainophile]

My ATW Advance tickets from Hereford to Chester that I book online now don't issue a seat reservation number, but state that "seating has been reserved" or words to that effect.

How enforceable would this be if I board a full train? I think they are on dodgy ground with this wording.

 

[yorkie]

If you board a train that is full and you can't find a seat, seek the guard for advice. Chances are someone will have a bag on a seat somewhere on the train, or a seat may become available at the next station, etc...

 

[Greenback]

I'm assuming that message is only the booking website trainfanatic, and that it doesn't appear on the tickets. Or have you had the tickets with that message?

 

[yorkie]

That's the message when you book using WebTIS.

The reservation coupon will say something like Coach * Seat ***.

I agree it's not clear.

 

[trainophile]

Yes that's what it says on the coupon, Coach * Seats (why plural?) ***.

I've just noticed that both the ticket and the coupon have my surname printed in the orange strip at the bottom. Never spotted that before. Not sure what the point is as there's no compulsion to carry ID when travelling.

 

[moonrakerz]

I use SWT Advance tickets a fair bit and I never get a seat reservation.

Their website says:
"They are only valid on your booked train(s)."

Whereas FGW say:
"The tickets come with an automatic seat reservation"

The ATW site refers you to the National Rail site which says:
"Tickets are valid ONLY on the date and train service(s) shown on the ticket(s).
Where applicable, you must travel in the Class and reserved seat(s) shown on the ticket(s)." Hedging their bets ??

 

[ainsworth74]

I use SWT Advance tickets a fair bit and I never get a seat reservation.

They did away with seat reservations a while ago, instead a passenger is just booked onto a specific train.

At least I think is SWT, might have been another of the southern operators I tend to get them mixed up

 

[MCR247]

It is South West Trains, although SN don't do them either

 

[Pumbaa]

Yes that's what it says on the coupon, Coach * Seats (why plural?) ***..

Because the fields have 1 and 3 fields respectively;

Coach A
Seat 41A

For example.

 

[MikeWh]

Yes that's what it says on the coupon, Coach * Seats (why plural?) ***.

I've just noticed that both the ticket and the coupon have my surname printed in the orange strip at the bottom. Never spotted that before. Not sure what the point is as there's no compulsion to carry ID when travelling.

Because the fields have 1 and 3 fields respectively;

Coach A
Seat 41A

For example.

I think it is the plural word seats rather than the number of asterisks that is being queried. The answer is laziness on the part of the software developers. You only get one reservation coupon per group booking so it will often list more than one seat.

 

[Flamingo]

My ATW Advance tickets from Hereford to Chester that I book online now don't issue a seat reservation number, but state that "seating has been reserved" or words to that effect.

How enforceable would this be if I board a full train? I think they are on dodgy ground with this wording.

Arriva have stoped using seat reservations now they are German owned...




They put a towel on the seat instead



I'll get my coat...

 

[wintonian]

Arriva have stoped using seat reservations now they are German owned...




They put a towel on the seat instead



I'll get my coat...

Thank you, I've just sprayed coffee all over my keyboard. :-x

[hunts for virtual brick to throw]

 

[trainophile]

Thank you Flamingo, great start to my day!

 

[Flamingo]

Eye thank ewe

 

[HORNIMANS]

If I remember correctly you can claim 5% of you fare back if seat is not honoured, certainly worth putting in a complaint..

 

[mathmo]

If I remember correctly you can claim 5% of you fare back if seat is not honoured, certainly worth putting in a complaint..

No, you can claim back the fee paid for the seat reservation: which is, now East Coast scrapped theirs, zero on all TOCs. (See Condition of Carriage 41.)