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CrossCountry First Class - Ticket or Pass?

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SickyNicky

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Travelling on a CrossCountry service today, the first class host asked me whether I held a ticket or a pass. He was only offering the sandwiches to ticket holders. Passholders (such as BritRail, I presume) were not being offered the menu, just tea and coffee. I had a normal walkup ticket, as it happens.

With the exception of PRIV holders I didn't think that any distinction was made between the two. Is it official policy that first class pass holders don't get the same service as ticket holders?
 
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Polarbear

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My one recent experience with Cross Country 1st class was that the host just asked what refreshments were required by each passenger. Certainly no reference made to ticket types etc.

I can't see what Cross Country would have to gain by restricting the complementary offer to pass holders? No other TOC does this & I think that if this the case, it should be set out clearly so that the paying public can make an informed choice.
 

Romilly

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I would have thought that Britrail counted as a ticket, and that "pass" meant a staff pass of a kind that allows free travel on XC.
 

Greenback

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I would have thought that Britrail counted as a ticket, and that "pass" meant a staff pass of a kind that allows free travel on XC.

I agree with this interpretation of what was meant by the word 'pass'.
 

Jonfun

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I think you misunderstand either what a pass is, or what BritRail is.

BritRail is a rover ticket similar to an All Line Rover but reserved for those living outside the UK, and would be allowed complimentary food provided it was correctly dated and valid for first class.

Those travelling on staff passes (eg Priv, certain types of XC passes) would indeed ordinarily not be entitled to the complimentary food offer, and this restriction is well publicised in the relevant document on the ATOC website and is consistent with most other TOCs policy on staff travelling in First.
 
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380gk

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Yeah they probably mean a duty pass or warrrant which allows staff from XC or other tocs to travel free.
 

Senex

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Those travelling on staff passes (eg Priv, certain types of XC passes) would indeed ordinarily not be entitled to the complimentary food offer, and this restriction is well publicised in the relevant document on the ATOC website and is consistent with most other TOCs policy on staff travelling in First.

Does it affect Privs, which surely count as a variety of ticket? Certainly pass-holders are barred on XC from all except tea, coffee, and (I think) water. On East Coast there is (was?) a provision for going along to the buffet counter and buying a voucher that would allow a pass-holder to partake of the full range of "complimentary" offers.
 

ChiefPlanner

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Those lucky enough to have free travel passes are expected to declare this - if not shown on checking - and not take anything bar non alcoholic drinks. (you may be kindly offered a biscuit) -

For a fiver on ECML you can purchase the "food offer" - but not on XC and WCML. (ditto some EMT services) .....fair enough really.
 

DarloRich

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Travelling on a CrossCountry service today, the first class host asked me whether I held a ticket or a pass. He was only offering the sandwiches to ticket holders. Passholders (such as BritRail, I presume) were not being offered the menu, just tea and coffee. I had a normal walkup ticket, as it happens.

With the exception of PRIV holders I didn't think that any distinction was made between the two. Is it official policy that first class pass holders don't get the same service as ticket holders?


They mean travel pass (as in a staff pass) rather than a Britrail pass. If you have a free travel pass you are not entitled to the complimentary refreshments
 

berneyarms

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I can happily assure you that a BritRail pass is a ticket.

Having enjoyed travelling using them for many years, and dined in first class across the network, it is absolutely a ticket.
 

SickyNicky

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I can happily assure you that a BritRail pass is a ticket.

Having enjoyed travelling using them for many years, and dined in first class across the network, it is absolutely a ticket.

Clearly it should be valid as a ticket. I was just a little concerned about the elderly American (or possibily Canadian) couple sitting opposite who told the host that they had passes, and were thus not offered the sandwiches.

Presumably that's because it's called a Britrail Pass, rather than a Britrail Ticket, so they didn't know otherwise. I never actually saw their "pass", so I can't be certain they they didn't have staff passes, but it seems unlikely.

Not that the sandwiches were anything to write home about. The rolls given to me on a TPE service later that day were much nicer.
 
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