weekend first upgrade

[P156KWJ]

Hi,
I am intending to upgrade to First class on EMT on October 18th from Nottingham-London St Pancras on the 0730 ex Sheffield to London, and return on the 1755 ex St Pancras to Nottingham. I will be purchasing a super off-peak return (child) at a price of £25.35. I also want to pay the weekend first suppliment (£8 return) before the day of travel. Does this include a seat reservation on both trains? And also, if I decide not to travel on the 1755 back home, can I still use the WF suppliment on an alternate train (even if it doesn't guarantee me a seat) in First? And finally, the 0730 'The Robin Hood' is the breakfast train - I assume WF holders can still buy breakfast can't they?

Thanks in adavnce

 

[class 313]

I doubt you can get the breakfast on the Weekend.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The PDF timetable for saturday shows restaurant available on 0730 out of Nottingham (not the 0732 out of Sheffield)

 

[P156KWJ]

The PDF timetable for saturday shows restaurant available on 0730 out of Nottingham (not the 0732 out of Sheffield)

that's the one I'm getting, the 0730 starts at Sheffield and comes to Nottingham via Alfreton

I doubt you can get the breakfast on the Weekend.

hmm, doesn't seem to say on their website you can't

 

[hairyhandedfool]

The East Midlands section of the FRPP on first class upgrades says:

When issued in advance, Weekend First must include a free reserved seat. If the customer misses the reserved train(s) however, the supplement may be transferred to other services for the same journey on the same date at no extra charge, subject to accommodation being available.

Weekend first is listed as £6 each way.

It makes no mention of privilages available to ticket holders.

 

[Broken Viking]

Hail All!

Weekend first is listed as £6 each way.
It makes no mention of privilages available to ticket holders.

If SWT (EMT's parent company) are anything to go by, buying a First Class ticket'll get ye a seat in the First Class section as is obvious, but probabally nowt more than that! :roll:

Well...At a stretch, "complimentary" Tea, Coffee and Newspapers might be made available to ye, but I have my doubts that a meal would be included - Especially as it's a weekend run.

Incidentally...Where First class is concerned; Isn't there normally a difference in the level of service provided to those with upgraded Standard class tickets, as opposed to those who hold a full-price First class ticket? I've been tempted to buy Weekend First upgrades on VWC services before, but havn't really been able to tell if the upgrade itself would carry the benefits that I would imagine it should - Such as a complimentary meal, snacks, Tea/Coffee and unlimited "on-line" wi-fi. :?

Farewell...
>> Death <<

 

[jacknottm]

No at seat service provided on EMT on weekends.

Jack

 

[furryfeet]

no there is no difference.
once you have paid the weekend first supplement, then you are classed as a first class customer and hence will get on virgin trains free tea / coffee with biscuits and maybe a sandwhich and a piece of fruit.

there are no complimentary meals served at weekends - certainly on virgin.

 

[P156KWJ]

wasn't thinking complimentary, I was thinking meals full stop. I think the best thing for me to do would be ask the train manager and see if it's worth upgrading or not. If not, I might even go a different route just to get coverage. Might try Virgin, not travelled with VWC, only ever with VXC. will require going to Brummy though first...

 

[yorkie]

It was £6. Is it now £8? I always upgrade when doing St Pancras-Leeds, well worth it! especially to be next to the powercar.

They are very tight with drinks. You can't get hot chocolate free, but if you bring your own sachets (about 20p each) they will pour you hot water so you can make your own!

 

[class 313]

wasn't thinking complimentary, I was thinking meals full stop. I think the best thing for me to do would be ask the train manager and see if it's worth upgrading or not.

I don't think any cooked meal/sandwich type things are available during weekends.

 

[Polarbear]

When the MML was operated by Nat Ex, there was a silver service breakfast facility provided on around 4 southbound trains on Saturday morning. This was carried on from BR days.

Having sampled this a few years back, (on a meridian - it was booked a HST but I got bowled out by a last minute set swap), I have to say it was very good indeed!:grin:

If it's still available, I'd go for it. It's only available to 1 cl passengers. Whilst there used to be an inclusive ticket that included the breakfast, they'll usually take anyone else who is willing to pay the £10 (as it was then).

It's a full breakfast, siver service, with tea/coffee. Mind you don't end up with a sautee potato in your coffee, as happened to my mate when we went over a rough bit of track just south of Chesterfield>hock:

 

[djw1981]

Hail All! I've been tempted to buy Weekend First upgrades on VWC services before, but havn't really been able to tell if the upgrade itself would carry the benefits that I would imagine it should - Such as a complimentary meal, snacks, Tea/Coffee and unlimited "on-line" wi-fi. :?
>> Death <<

If going AP, then the VWC quota of FC fares (especially on BHM-GLC journeys) rarely sells out, so going FC can be cheaper than SC, and gets at seat (south of preston) or if you walk to the shop (north of Preston) service of unlimited drinks / biscuits, an meal box and a nice seat.

No wifi on the Voyagers last time I was on them, not seen any service announcement though. Tend to do point to point journeys so have not tried these AP tickets in an FC lounge. For wifi, I was glad that we were parked in next platform to an NX service, so used their wifi in the station til departure.

 

[P156KWJ]

It was £6. Is it now £8? I always upgrade when doing St Pancras-Leeds, well worth it! especially to be next to the powercar.

They are very tight with drinks. You can't get hot chocolate free, but if you bring your own sachets (about 20p each) they will pour you hot water so you can make your own!

No, £8 return if booked before 1700 previous day. Inc. Seat reservation too

Just checked again in the printed timetable, and they do indeed serve brekkie on certain saturday trains. looks like I'm going a lot earlier now anyway, I might just buy something else from the buffet. Their steak and onion baguettes are excellent! (rather dear at £4.65 though!) but I didn't care - I was so hungry, and they'd run out of Aberdeen angus burgers and sausage baguettes

 

[caughtonatrain]

Be extra careful if you're expecting the (usually excellent) EMT brekky at a Weekend... what the timetable says and what the train actually has are two separate things in my experience. I was sold a Saturday Morning Breakfast Inclusive ticket about 2 years ago (admittedly before the change from MML to EMT). On train, the conductor ( a very friendly chap called Theo, I recall!) rolled eyes heavenwards: "there is no breakfast service at a weekend, everybody knows this except those who sell the tickets and print the timetables!!"

Just a word of warning.

 

[yorkie]

No, £8 return if booked before 1700 previous day.

Oh dear. Since when? and what is the price on the day?