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VTWC Anytime Upgrade

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221129

221129

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Hi all,

I was just wondering if VTWC are still running that offer where holders of Any time tickets can upgrade to First on the Weekends and Bank Holidays? Also does this include discounted Anytime Tickets?

Thanks in advance
 
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crehld

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221129

221129

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crehld said:
You can upgrade any ticket type to first class on Virgin Trains on weekends if you pay the appropriate upgrade fee (and provided there is space). Details here: https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/experience/first-class/weekend-travel

If you're talking about Anytime ticket holders qualifying for a free weekend first upgrade, then National Rail Enquiries advertises that offer as still standing: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/46557.aspx#Weekend_First
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Ideal, sounds great, thanks!
 
221129

221129

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Virgin on twitter are making a right mess of this but they are now claiming if I buy an Anytime today It wouldn't be valid for that offer? But the NRE link doesn't make a distinction that a ticket must already be held prior to the day of travel.
 
ForTheLoveOf

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221129 said:
Virgin on twitter are making a right mess of this but they are now claiming if I buy an Anytime today It wouldn't be valid for that offer? But the NRE link doesn't make a distinction that a ticket must already be held prior to the day of travel.
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If the statement of validity on NRE influences your purchasing decision then it becomes a binding term of the contract - see S50(1)(a) CRA.
 
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BluePenguin

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ForTheLoveOf said:
If the statement of validity on NRE influences your purchasing decision then it becomes a binding term of the contract - see S50(1)(a) CRA.
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Some Anytime tickets are valid for two days so simply buy a ticket to start on Friday to use on Saturday. That way you can skirt around the restriction. Or buy the £10 weekend upgrade
 
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Skie

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How about when you have an anytime but the first class off-peak ticket is actually cheaper? Like if you planned to come back on a peak train but got held up (or went for a few too many pre-train beers) and now end up on the off-peak service? Happens occasionally on Virgin. The excess guidance addles my brain. :)
 
ForTheLoveOf

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Skie said:
How about when you have an anytime but the first class off-peak ticket is actually cheaper? Like if you planned to come back on a peak train but got held up (or went for a few too many pre-train beers) and now end up on the off-peak service? Happens occasionally on Virgin. The excess guidance addles my brain. :)
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If you excess the ticket at the first opportunity (i.e. if boarding at a station when and where the ticket office is open, or on the train otherwise) then the following procedure applies, as quoted from the forum fares and ticketing guide:

For ONE portion (Outward or Return) of a Return ticket, the charge is the DIFFERENCE between the price already paid and the SUM of the appropriate Standard Single for one leg and the appropriate First Single for the other leg. If cheaper then the FULL difference between the Standard Return and the First Return (as if upgrading both legs) is charged.*
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Since a Standard Class Anytime ticket is likely to be worth considerably in excess of a First Class Off-Peak ticket (on VTWC-priced flows), the excess would likely be a zero fare excess. This does not mean that you can just walk on - if you do so without excessing beforehand (having had an opportunity to do so at your boarding station) then you can expect to have to pay for a brand new undiscounted First Anytime Single. Ouch!

Of course during the weekend (and BHs) those Anytimes are de facto valid in First, with no need for an excess.
 
Merseysider

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Skie said:
How about when you have an anytime but the first class off-peak ticket is actually cheaper? Like if you planned to come back on a peak train but got held up (or went for a few too many pre-train beers) and now end up on the off-peak service? Happens occasionally on Virgin. The excess guidance addles my brain. :)
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Then it’s a zero-fare excess.

A word of warning - on train staff may not be familiar with the “free” upgrade.

I actually took advantage of Virgin’s poorly advertised Anytime-free-upgrade offer not so long ago.

Their train manager was completely unaware of its existence and, in typical Virgin style, proceeded to argue with me for several minutes because he couldn’t be arsed looking it up himself and presumably wanted his £15 for the upgrade. When I finally got signal and could show the webpage, he slunk off without a word. Typical virgin.
 
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Skie

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Thanks both! May see if the Euston ticket office are worth their salt next time that situation arises then.
 
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ForTheLoveOf said:
If the statement of validity on NRE influences your purchasing decision then it becomes a binding term of the contract - see S50(1)(a) CRA.
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I wouldn’t be so sure. You would need to prove that information on NRE was “provided on behalf of the trader”, which is not straightforward. If the statement was on VT’s own website I would readily agree.
 
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I've used a Standard Anytime ticket in 1st Class a few times when travelling with VTWC at weekends. Never had an issue with acceptance or even had to argue.
 
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premier01

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ForTheLoveOf said:
If you excess the ticket at the first opportunity (i.e. if boarding at a station when and where the ticket office is open, or on the train otherwise) then the following procedure applies, as quoted from the forum fares and ticketing guide:



Since a Standard Class Anytime ticket is likely to be worth considerably in excess of a First Class Off-Peak ticket (on VTWC-priced flows), the excess would likely be a zero fare excess. This does not mean that you can just walk on - if you do so without excessing beforehand (having had an opportunity to do so at your boarding station) then you can expect to have to pay for a brand new undiscounted First Anytime Single. Ouch!

Of course during the weekend (and BHs) those Anytimes are de facto valid in First, with no need for an excess.
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This was discussed here-

https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ff-peak-first-zero-fare-excess-issues.157590/

I had a standard anytime single and had to get a later train. First off peak tickets were available but I had to pay over £ 60 excess having been refused zero excess.

The majority seem to think a zero excess was appropriate but it took 9 weeks for VT to respond! Because of this I was offered 2 first class anytime return tickets so was happy with that!

But that meant we have no idea how VT would have responded, consesnus seems to be that they would have refused comoensation.

My advice would be if you don't want to oay a lot don't risk it, though no harm trying at the station. I guess you could find the TM before taking your seat in 1st but my guess is they will say excess to Anytime quoting some rubnish about 'like for like'- be interesting to get some more data points on this subject.
 
ForTheLoveOf

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island said:
I wouldn’t be so sure. You would need to prove that information on NRE was “provided on behalf of the trader”, which is not straightforward. If the statement was on VT’s own website I would readily agree.
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I think we can pretty definitively say that, since tickets explicitly refer to nationalrail.co.uk for details of validity (whether in terms of linking to a restriction code, or explaining validity), as well as because NRE is linked several times in the NRCoT, it is clear that NRE is not just 'any old' site - it is a definitive source of information provided on behalf of the trader. TOCs can edit information about products etc. they offer, and it is owned/managed by the RDG, of which all TOCs are owning members.
 
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