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Looking down on people paying to travel 1st class: Why?

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Iskra

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i don't believe I am. I simply point out my views based on my experiences. You and others don't like that you are challenged.

Well you’re deluded then.

I don’t care at all what random people on the internet think. I travel first class sometimes, which I pay to do with my own money, when I don’t get what I paid for I’ve never once complained (in relation to first class) and I’m usually just grateful to get to where I need to be and appreciate that the railway staff are doing the best they can. You don’t know me, or my personal circumstances so your broad brush fits of jealousy don’t bother me. It says far more about you than me. I’m just someone who’s honest enough to speak my mind when I see hypocrisy and take responsibility for my own choices.

I don’t think you’re a bad person, but you have a weird agenda against first class travellers and it’s not a good look.
 
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trainophile

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For the sake of balance, I along with a few others have just suffered two of the literally great unwashed in 1st from Malton to Leeds. They were dressed like rough sleepers and smelt to the point of nausea, leaving a noxious odour when they got off.

The woman never stopped talking at the top of her voice, addressing everyone in range. To be kind I would imagine she has some sort of mental problem, but they certainly detracted from the peaceful and pleasant ambience.

You may smirk :lol: .

Shame it’s one of the brand new TPE trains, no wonder they don’t stay clean for long.
 

Iskra

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For the sake of balance, I along with a few others have just suffered two of the literally great unwashed in 1st from Malton to Leeds. They were dressed like rough sleepers and smelt to the point of nausea, leaving a noxious odour when they got off.

The woman never stopped talking at the top of her voice, addressing everyone in range. To be kind I would imagine she has some sort of mental problem, but they certainly detracted from the peaceful and pleasant ambience.

You may smirk :lol: .

Shame it’s one of the brand new TPE trains, no wonder they don’t stay clean for long.

Yes, smelly people exist.
 

JetStream

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Back to the original question... no idea.

I've travelled in first class before, the first two occasions it was cheaper than standard; the third because it was a weekend and the upgrade was reasonable.

I think it's partly because we as a country still have a class based mentality, and the fact that on several journeys the difference in price can be quite minor, but if you've a family of 4+ it can become more cost prohibitive (incidentally, I've found that most passengers in first class tend to be solo travellers, or a pair/group who work together)

I do however think that the even split in coaches between first and standard is/was ridiculous though. Maybe one first class for every 4 standard?
 

Bletchleyite

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Yes, smelly people exist.

Unless it's because they're on their way home from a physical activity somewhere there isn't a shower facility (e.g. Parkrun or something, or doing a physically intensive job like building or something), there isn't really any excuse for this in any public setting at all. Have a wash!
 

Iskra

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Unless it's because they're on their way home from a physical activity somewhere there isn't a shower facility (e.g. Parkrun or something, or doing a physically intensive job like building or something), there isn't really any excuse for this in any public setting at all. Have a wash!

It’s unpleasant, I agree. But, believe it or not there are people in life that don’t have the privilege of access to washing and laundry facilities.
 

DarloRich

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Well you’re deluded then.

I don’t care at all what random people on the internet think. I travel first class sometimes, which I pay to do with my own money, when I don’t get what I paid for I’ve never once complained (in relation to first class) and I’m usually just grateful to get to where I need to be and appreciate that the railway staff are doing the best they can. You don’t know me, or my personal circumstances so your broad brush fits of jealousy don’t bother me. It says far more about you than me. I’m just someone who’s honest enough to speak my mind when I see hypocrisy and take responsibility for my own choices.

I don’t think you’re a bad person, but you have a weird agenda against first class travellers and it’s not a good look.

I think you might need to take a deep breath. I maintain: you seem unable to deal with being challenged or being confronted with a view different to your own and seem to take that challenge very personally.

You are right. I don't know you or care what you do. I simply offered my view on the topic based on my experiences. You don't seem to like that!


For the sake of balance, I along with a few others have just suffered two of the literally great unwashed in 1st from Malton to Leeds. They were dressed like rough sleepers and smelt to the point of nausea, leaving a noxious odour when they got off.

The woman never stopped talking at the top of her voice, addressing everyone in range. To be kind I would imagine she has some sort of mental problem, but they certainly detracted from the peaceful and pleasant ambience.

You may smirk :lol: .

Shame it’s one of the brand new TPE trains, no wonder they don’t stay clean for long.

I am not sure this post helps prove that first class users aren't snobby ;)
 

Bletchleyite

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It’s unpleasant, I agree. But, believe it or not there are people in life that don’t have the privilege of access to washing and laundry facilities.

Who also have the money to travel by train? In First Class, as noted above?

The set of people concerned are basically "homeless people", who other than when they are begging are not generally able to travel by train. Everyone who lives in some kind of accommodation has access to at least a sink.

The majority of people you encounter like that on public transport are the same people who think it's acceptable to go to the supermarket, or to drop off your kids at school, in pyjamas and slippers.
 

trainophile

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They had their tickets checked, so presumably kosher. Perhaps they were given them by someone who found they couldn’t use them.

I have every sympathy with people who lack the social skills and graces, especially if they have some sort of health problem be it physical or mental. The point of my post was to let you know that we are not always mollycoddled in 1st!
 

sprunt

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The majority of people you encounter like that on public transport are the same people who think it's acceptable to go to the supermarket, or to drop off your kids at school, in pyjamas and slippers.

Why is it not acceptable to go to the supermarket in pyjamas and slippers? As long as you're clean, avoiding indecent exposure, and (arguably) not wearing anything with an offensive slogan on what business is it of anyone else's what you wear to do your shopping?
 

sprunt

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Ultimately if I want to go to the pub, I don’t see why work should pay for it.

I don't think it's unreasonable that if you're away from home at work's request, they should pay for you to occupy yourself in the evening. For their benefit, you're denied the entertainment options that you'd have at home so while I'm not saying they should pay for you to have ten pints, there should be a reasonable entertainment allowance in addition to the meal allowance.

I now know why it was cheap - got out of the car to needles and drug paraphernalia and as I walked across the car park to the hotel a rat ran in front of me!

To be fair, the rat could just as easily run across the car park of the Dorchester hotel, and given the location of Hyde Park just across the road I bet a lot of them do!

What lets Travelodges down is the plastic shower curtains. A better designed bathroom with a shower screen would be much more hygienic.

The one I stayed in recently had a ridiculous design on the bath, with the taps on the corner making it impossible to fully pull the shower curtain across resulting in the bathroom floor turning into a small pond. Their problem ultimately, but you'd think they'd want to avoid that.
 

sprunt

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The argument that First Class isn't a right is total bull too. First Class is a right - to those who've chosen to pay for First Class tickets.

The opportunity to pay for First Class tickets is not a right though. I think it's pretty clear that's what the poster you were responding to meant.
 

sprunt

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Do any TOCs still offer a reduced First Class service to those travelling on Advance tickets? A long time back (pre-National Express) I was denied access to the First Class lounge at Waverley before a journey to London because I had an Advance ticket.
 

Bletchleyite

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The one I stayed in recently had a ridiculous design on the bath, with the taps on the corner making it impossible to fully pull the shower curtain across resulting in the bathroom floor turning into a small pond. Their problem ultimately, but you'd think they'd want to avoid that.

Poorly designed bathrooms exist absolutely everywhere, though - including in houses. Bog too close to the wall so you can't sit straight, radiator where it burns your knees while sat there, leaky showers, poorly-fitted shower curtains, too low shower head, shower mixer fitted where you can't avoid whacking it with your backside, and so on and so on. It's just lazy design and there's no need for it.
 

trainophile

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I think we may be in danger of getting an off topic warning! :lol:

Shall we start a thread on General about badly designed bathrooms? From all my B&B travels I could have a field day!
 

al78

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Unless it's because they're on their way home from a physical activity somewhere there isn't a shower facility (e.g. Parkrun or something, or doing a physically intensive job like building or something), there isn't really any excuse for this in any public setting at all. Have a wash!

I may have been guilty once. I did a two day walk (a day and a half really) from Blair Atholl to Kingussie with an overnight camp, getting the sleeper both ways. I was slightly concerned that when I boarded at Kingussie I might be emitting body odour, since there are limited ways to wash yourself in the wild (there were no lochs en-route I could bathe in).
 

xotGD

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For the sake of balance, I along with a few others have just suffered two of the literally great unwashed in 1st from Malton to Leeds. They were dressed like rough sleepers and smelt to the point of nausea, leaving a noxious odour when they got off.

The woman never stopped talking at the top of her voice, addressing everyone in range. To be kind I would imagine she has some sort of mental problem, but they certainly detracted from the peaceful and pleasant ambience.

You may smirk :lol: .

Shame it’s one of the brand new TPE trains, no wonder they don’t stay clean for long.
First Class right behind the 68. Obnoxious and noxious. Probably a pair of cranks! ;)
 

trainophile

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I may have been guilty once. I did a two day walk (a day and a half really) from Blair Atholl to Kingussie with an overnight camp, getting the sleeper both ways. I was slightly concerned that when I boarded at Kingussie I might be emitting body odour, since there are limited ways to wash yourself in the wild (there were no lochs en-route I could bathe in).

Body wipes? I actually think half the problem today was their unwashed clothes. I've rarely seen adults dressed so scruffily, I feel sorry for them in a way.
 

Bletchleyite

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I may have been guilty once. I did a two day walk (a day and a half really) from Blair Atholl to Kingussie with an overnight camp, getting the sleeper both ways. I was slightly concerned that when I boarded at Kingussie I might be emitting body odour, since there are limited ways to wash yourself in the wild (there were no lochs en-route I could bathe in).

I've done similar to that too (it's a very good way of ensuring a double seat :D ) give or take the "shower in a can" as it were - but I don't think it's that we are talking about per-se, but rather people who have the facilities to maintain proper hygiene but don't.
 

Meerkat

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Have a clean t-shirt for the trip home, some wet wipes and a deodorant. Not really that tricky.

Just keep your boots on!!
 

radamfi

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Do any TOCs still offer a reduced First Class service to those travelling on Advance tickets? A long time back (pre-National Express) I was denied access to the First Class lounge at Waverley before a journey to London because I had an Advance ticket.

Weekend First passengers used to have to sit in certain coaches, meaning that at least one coach was reserved for full First Class tickets only.
 

sheff1

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Why is it not acceptable to go to the supermarket in pyjamas and slippers? As long as you're clean, avoiding indecent exposure, and (arguably) not wearing anything with an offensive slogan on what business is it of anyone else's what you wear to do your shopping?

Indeed but, in keeping with the title of this thread, it provides on opportunity for some people to look down on them.
 
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