Staff abusing 1st class travel privileges

[MidnightFlyer]

A cup of tea, a wider seat and a shorter walk to/from the underground

Not even the Underground! Try getting to the H&C/Circle Hammersmith-bound platforms at Paddington, it's at Standard end!

You get the Lounge too at Paddington, and at Cardiff to if you're going that way!

 

[chuckles1066]

Not even the Underground! Try getting to the H&C/Circle Hammersmith-bound platforms at Paddington, it's at Standard end!

You get the Lounge too at Paddington, and at Cardiff to if you're going that way!

Ahhh, until you mentioned the lounge, I assumed it was all one big rip-off.

But now I know different.

 

[Barn]

Ahhh, until you mentioned the lounge, I assumed it was all one big rip-off.

But now I know different.

It's of course true that the tangible benefits of First are not worth the additional cost. That is plain, even to those with more money than sense. So there must be something 'extra' that makes people purchase it.

To my mind, people pay extra for First for a higher probability of peace and quiet and a sense of a little more refinement.

When rail staff do not realise this, and think it is simply due to a larger seat, you end up with the situations mentioned, where previous posters have failed to see what is wrong with staff laughing and joking in First off-shift. This emphasis on regulations and tangible benefits completely ignores the commercial realities.

 

[Firestarter]

Just got on a FCC service and two drivers got on, via separate doors on the front set of a 365. The one nearest FC went straight in to first,the other walked down and sat in standard!

Don't quote me but led to believe FCC TL drivers when on duty as part of their T&C can sit in First Class.

 

[alloneword100]

To my mind, people pay extra for First for a higher probability of peace and quiet and a sense of a little more refinement.

When rail staff do not realise this, and think it is simply due to a larger seat, you end up with the situations mentioned, where previous posters have failed to see what is wrong with staff laughing and joking in First off-shift. This emphasis on regulations and tangible benefits completely ignores the commercial realities.

Absolutely right. If other fare-paying passengers are ill-mannered enough to disrupt the generally calm atmosphere of first class I am annoyed at them. If staff are, I'm annoyed at both them and their employer, and less likely to pay the extra again. Having said that, I can only remember one occasion that it happened to me, several years ago; but I still remember that it was a Virgin Voyager...

 

[Nick O. Teen]

1) I personally don't think RPIs should be allowed in the back cabs. They are revenue only and might accidentally push one of the emergency stop buttons or push the Traction/Brake controller into emergency by accident.

2) I would have asked for his ID before my ticket was checked and if he did sit in 1st class after challenge as to why he was entitled to sit in there.

Well, as I said before, I know I'm not supposed to travel in 1st, and he was in uniform.

Should he ever be on one of my trains, I will reciprocate if necessary...

 

[Minilad]

It's of course true that the tangible benefits of First are not worth the additional cost. That is plain, even to those with more money than sense. So there must be something 'extra' that makes people purchase it.

To my mind, people pay extra for First for a higher probability of peace and quiet and a sense of a little more refinement.

When rail staff do not realise this, and think it is simply due to a larger seat, you end up with the situations mentioned, where previous posters have failed to see what is wrong with staff laughing and joking in First off-shift. This emphasis on regulations and tangible benefits completely ignores the commercial realities.

I think someone had their sense of humour button switched to off here.
I would think all frontline staff are aware why people sit in first class. But to suggest laughing and joking is something that only staff do in first is a bit much.
I would hazard a guess that a high proportion of people in first on full price anytime tickets are there at someone else's expense and if they were having to pay for the ticket themselves would probably go in standard

 

[47703 hermes]

As far as i can see, if staff are behaving in a resonable manner and moving from resereved seats and as long the public abide to the rules, I can't see the problem. If they don't move from reserved seats i can understand peoples anger. However if the public is being unresonable, staff have every right to make them move

 

[amcluesent]

>are there at someone else's expense<

I pay my FC out of taxed income.

I suspect part of the issue is FC rarely gets staff from the same company travelling together as it's so much cheaper by car for 3 or more. So there's not much chance of works banter and recounting of anecdotes. Off-shift crews are 3, 4 or more, so the volume rises as they have a laugh about the 'punters'.