Standard Anytime Return on VTWC at the weekend

[Merseysider]

The section on NRE about free Virgin upgrades seems to have been removed.

 

[crehld]

The section on NRE about free Virgin upgrades seems to have been removed.

Just checked for myself and it's definitely still there:

On weekends and Bank Holidays, upgrading to First Class on Virgin Trains is free of charge if a Standard Class Anytime ticket is held.

 

[Merseysider]

Just checked for myself and it's definitely still there:

So it is; thank you. Found it

I was surprised that it isn't mentioned on the other Weekend First webpage.

 

[Merseysider]

Well, apparently there are different types of Anytime Return, according to the train manager on my 1124 Wigan - Lancaster 1154 VT.

Showed an Anytime Return from Birkenhead Central to Heysham Port whilst sitting in First.

"You know that's standard class?"

"Yep"

"You need a first class ticket"

"Nope, the upgrade is free if an Anytime Return is held"

"No"

"Yeah, look, it says so on the website" [reading relevant portion aloud]

"Yeah well not for local tickets. [unintelligible] it's a full price ticket"

"Pardon me?"

"Local tickets. You've got a local ticket"

"I'm sorry, I don't quite follow, what's the distinction?"

"Tickets like Preston to London, not some thirteen pound ticket."

"Right, I'll bear that in mind for the return journey" [remained in First]

Well apparently, my Merseyside house with a Cheshire postcode is now 'local' to a ferryport in Lancashire. Fancy that. Think I'll just pop down my 'local' pub in Skipton later for a pint.

Joke's on them though. Missed the twice-daily Harbour connection due to delay so an 88 minute claim will be sent in

 

[AlterEgo]

Staff making up rules as per usual. Railway's one of the worst industries for it. Ho hum.

 

[Merseysider]

I've had a conversation on Twitter with Virgin Trains; link here.

would an Anytime Return from WGN to LAN today be valid for the free upgrade to 1st?

On weekend services yes ^CB

Thanks. I assume this would apply to more expensive tickets too, like an Anytime Return from Birkenhead rather than Wigan?

That's correct. ^CB

Thanks very much

It's unfortunate that the Train Manager disagreed with me. Perhaps, if anyone from Virgin Trains were to read this, they could pass on a friendly reminder to the Train Manager involved earlier today. It's not worth a complaint, and it is a freebie after all, but it's still not a nice situation to be put in as a passenger.

 

[gray1404]

I think you sum up why I get frustrated as a passenger when customers run into such (and similar) situations that it's still not a nice situation to be put in as a passenger, moreover when you have done nothing wrong. I am glad you got to stay in first and I hope you had a good trip - to the IOM maybe?