Upgrading to 1st class

[davsarg]

Hi I'm going to be traveling from Edinburgh to Inverness next month (returning the following day) on an advance standard class ticket, which Ive already paid for and got. If I wanted to upgrade this to first class on the day how would I do this?

Thanks

 

[higthomas]

Hi I'm going to be traveling from Edinburgh to Inverness next month (returning the following day) on an advance standard class ticket, which Ive already paid for and got. If I wanted to upgrade this to first class on the day how would I do this?

Thanks

I think that you can do it either by going to the ticket office beforehand or on the train.

Bear in mind that it might be quite expensive, although it would help us specify how much if you answer these questions:

What days are you travelling on?
Exactly how much did each ticket cost?

 

[Deerfold]

Hi I'm going to be traveling from Edinburgh to Inverness next month (returning the following day) on an advance standard class ticket, which Ive already paid for and got. If I wanted to upgrade this to first class on the day how would I do this?

Thanks

You would go to the ticket office and pay the difference between your ticket and a full fare First Class ticket.

Unless it's a weekend in which case you may be able to get a Weekend First product - who are you travelling with?

 

[TEW]

You could upgrade at the ticket office prior to departure of the train on a weekday. The cost would be the difference between the fare paid for the Standard Advance and the appropriate walk up First Class ticket, plus a £10 change of journey fee.

 

[Romilly]

The East Coast website is clear that weekend-first upgrade is available on VT East Coast trains in conjunction with a standard class Advance ticket. For a journey wholly north of Stevenage, the upgrade one-way is £15 for the journey on the particular EC train (and any connecting EC train). And the weekend-first upgrade can only be bought on the train.

 

[davsarg]

Hi, to answer the questions above:

I have a single ticket from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh on a Friday with a change at Inverness - only the Edinburgh to Inverness section has first class seating.

Then I have another single ticket from Kyle of Lochalsh to Edinburgh the following day with changes in Inverness & Perth. Only the Inverness to Perth section has first class seating

I am the only one travelling.

Both outward and return tickets are Advance tickets and cost £15.70 each

Because they're advance tickets, both have compulsory seat reservations.

Hope that helps

 

[Deerfold]

The East Coast website is clear that weekend-first upgrade is available on VT East Coast trains in conjunction with a standard class Advance ticket. For a journey wholly north of Stevenage, the upgrade one-way is £15 for the journey on the particular EC train (and any connecting EC train). And the weekend-first upgrade can only be bought on the train.

I'm guessing the OP is on the 1208 or 1346. These aren't a VTEC train.

Scotrail advertise Weekend First as only being available on certain ticket types, not including Advance:

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/fares-and-tickets

On tickets where it is available it'd be £6 Edinburgh to Inverness.

 

[higthomas]

I'm guessing the OP is on the 1334. This isn't a VTEC train.

Scotrail advertise Weekend First as only being available on certain ticket types, not including Advance:

http://www.scotrail.co.uk/tickets/fares-and-tickets

On tickets where it is available it'd be £6 Edinburgh to Inverness.

In that case, then the OP is going to be looking at forking out quite a bit to upgrade to first class on the day, probably more than his original tickets.

Personally I would not recommend it, although saying that I have never been on a Scotrail service.

 

[kieron]

I have a single ticket from Edinburgh to Kyle of Lochalsh on a Friday with a change at Inverness - only the Edinburgh to Inverness section has first class seating.

No-one sets a price for first class tickets between Edinburgh and Kyle, so the exact cost may depend on who you see on the day. A standard class off-peak return is £81.30, so it will be quite a lot extra however it's done.

 

[Hadders]

If I remember correctly the Edinburgh-Inverness service is a class 170. First class is a compartment at the end of the train.

I'm not sure if it's 2+2 or 2+1 seating (I think it's 2+2. You get complimentary tea and coffee but that's it.

To be honest it's not really worth paying anything significant to upgrade to 1st on this route unless you're travelling on the Highland Chieftain.

 

[Crossover]

The SR 170s I've had for First Class (EDB - GLQ) have been one compartment at each end of the unit with 2 +1 seating. You'll get a drink and biscuit if there's a catering crew on and a plug socket at he table. WiFi is free throughout the train. Unless the upgrade can be got for under a tenner at the most, it is unlikely to be worth it

 

[yorkie]

No-one sets a price for first class tickets between Edinburgh and Kyle, so the exact cost may depend on who you see on the day..

Indeed.

For the outward leg, the cost of a 1st class single from Edinburgh-Kyle is £65.70, if they were feeling generous, they might charge the difference between that and a walk-up standard single, ie £23.80. Some Train Companies would have a policy of offering this but I do not know what Scotrail's policy is.

A booking clerk may offer to sell this, but they may not. See the Guard on the train, as a Guard is less likely to want to refuse your money and may be more likely to show discretion if 1st is lightly loaded and/or if Standard is heavily loaded.

For the return leg, that's simply a case of weekend first as it's a Saturday.

 

[Deerfold]

For the return leg, that's simply a case of weekend first as it's a Saturday.

As already mentioned Scotrail's website does not advertise this as being available on Advances. Is this incorrect?

 

[Failed Unit]

As already mentioned Scotrail's website does not advertise this as being available on Advances. Is this incorrect?

That is correct. No upgrades on APs. The service northbound is often 2x 158s, if that is the case don't bother, it is the same seat and you can buy a lots of food from the trolley with the money you save. In fact on Scotrail 1st class is rarely worth it, but at least the seats are better. But if the train isn't busy stay in standard.

 

[yorkie]

As already mentioned Scotrail's website does not advertise this as being available on Advances. Is this incorrect?

Depends what you mean by "incorrect", but given 1st class is likely to be almost empty, I'd be surprised if the Guard declined to sell it.

I've never been refused a Weekend First upgrade when on an Advance with any TOC, as most Guards are more than happy to take your money! No Guarantees, but if you don't ask, you don't get!

 

[Deerfold]

Depends what you mean by "incorrect", but given 1st class is likely to be almost empty, I'd be surprised if the Guard declined to sell it.

I've never been refused a Weekend First upgrade when on an Advance with any TOC, as most Guards are more than happy to take your money! No Guarantees, but if you don't ask, you don't get!

But then most TOCs advertise Weekend First as being valid with Advances. It's surely only relevant if you've ben sold them on Scotrail - which you may have, but we're none the wiser.

 

[kkong]

Bear in mind that from "next month" (1st April) there will be a new ScotRail franchise operator and the rules regarding First Class upgrades may change.

Certainly First's existing "Advance" loyalty scheme (which offers, inter alia, free Weekend First upgrades to holders of most walk-up tickets) will cease to operate.

 

[yorkie]

But then most TOCs advertise Weekend First as being valid with Advances. It's surely only relevant if you've ben sold them on Scotrail - which you may have, but we're none the wiser.

As I said there are no guarantees, but I'd be very surprised if the OP was refused. Guards live in the real world and apply common sense far more often than some people think.

 

[Starmill]

But then most TOCs advertise Weekend First as being valid with Advances. It's surely only relevant if you've ben sold them on Scotrail - which you may have, but we're none the wiser.

You just ask the guard if you can upgrade to First and show them your ticket. If there's loads of room and you have cash, why would they say no?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Bear in mind that from "next month" (1st April) there will be a new ScotRail franchise operator and the rules regarding First Class upgrades may change.

I believe they will begin to sell First Class advances. I have always thought it odd that they don't currently, as they are essentially leaving their First open to people with XC, TPE, EC and WC First Advances on their '& Connections' part of the journey, which is going to earn them a lot less money! Their First Class walk-up fares are very reasonable, but still unlikely to fill it up surely?

 

[kkong]

Their First Class walk-up fares are very reasonable

That is debatable!

e.g. Aberdeen to Dundee (1h 10m):

SVR £29.80
SOR £36.00
FOR £73.90

 

[Starmill]

York to Derby is around the same time.
SVR £43.90
SOR £95.70
FOR £139.20

Or Birmingham to Bristol Parkway

SVR £53.50
SOR £106.60
FSR £134.30
FOR £239.00

I know some of these are a tad further. But the point is, yes, that's a relatively low price. Not that I'd pay it! The Montrose - Aberdeen fare in Standard seems really high to me too.