CrossCountry First Class

junglejames · 23 Jun 2011

Just checked the XC website, and they say complimentary meals are served in 1st class, along with a nice supply of hot drinks, biscuits and cakes, and that you have a dedicated 1st class host.
Id always though XC had a poor 1st class, so is this true? Also, is it the same on HSTs, as i didnt think they had any facilities for hot food?

RailUK Forums

sprinterguy · 23 Jun 2011

A friend of mine travelled first class with XC from Birmingham to Bournemouth yesterday, and by his report the first class offering continues to be absolutely awful: Reduced to complimentary tea and coffee and the trolley being pushed through from standard to allow first class passengers to purchase a wider range of drinks and snacks. He ended up with an incredibly lacklustre looking cheese sandwich apparently.

The bacon rolls in the morning are acceptable though. As long as you're only doing a journey of one hour or less.

(Let the anti-XC tirade undoubtedly begin

)

junglejames · 23 Jun 2011

sprinterguy said:
A friend of mine travelled first class with XC from Birmingham to Bournemouth yesterday, and by his report the first class offering continues to be absolutely awful: Reduced to complimentary tea and coffee and the trolley being pushed through from standard to allow first class passengers to purchase a wider range of drinks and snacks. He ended up with an incredibly lacklustre looking cheese sandwich apparently.

The bacon rolls in the morning are acceptable though. As long as you're only doing a journey of one hour or less.

(Let the anti-XC tirade undoubtedly begin )

So very different to what the website suggests. Was there even a 1st class host(ess)?

159220 · 23 Jun 2011

The times i have travelled 1st Class with Crosscountry i have had to get out of my seat, walk into the kitchen and stand over the employee as they brew me a cup of tea. I then have to ask for a packet of Burts and a Lasagna. The employees always seem embarased to having to provide the compliments that i have paid for. I then usually march them out into the carriage to offer everyone else a service that we have paid for. Of course, 4 times out of 5 its not the 1st class host, its the Guard hiding in the front...hence the embarasment! The only two times i have had a 1st Class host, the 1st lady was more of a school dinner lady, wobbled down the carriage to offer me a drink, but said that the compliments "were unavailable". The second time i had a host, once again, i had to walk up to the kitchen area...there he was, barefoot, eating a potateo bake. When i asked for a coffee, his reply "Oh i think your too late", as he gobbled into his bake, "Let me just call the trolley". He called the trolley "Arh yes sir, she can make you a coffee for £2 if you hurry to the other end of the train!" I said "£2

I am not going to hurry anywhere! I am going to sit down and enjoy my journey and you will bring it to me, for free!" He replied "Only 1st class is free sir" I replied "Why else do you think i am standing in the 1st class carriage!" At this point the host apologised unreservedly...i dont think i have ever been offered so many free compliments to obtain my forgiveness.

So yes...Crosscountry is awful, BUT, read what your entitled to on the website, march up to the kitchen, drag out the employee with their hands loaded with compliments and make sure they serve all. As i have never been surprised passangers will just sit there, when theres a free coffee and packet of Burts with just a lil effort!

Now this is shocking, on Virgin Trains and First Great Western....the employees have the ability to walk up and down 1st class carriages, carrying compliment, willingly giving them out to any passanger...in a nice, charming, customer friendly tone....shocking! Surely they should be dragged out by me like crosscountry hosts??

junglejames · 23 Jun 2011

I can see my ntended Dundee to Plymouth trip on a HST is going to be fun!!

sprinterguy · 23 Jun 2011

junglejames said:
I can see my ntended Dundee to Plymouth trip on a HST is going to be fun!!

Good grief, you're a brave soul for attempting all that on Crosscountry! Even if it is, presumably, on an HST!

MCR247 · 23 Jun 2011

On my FC ALR, in XC first class the host repeatedly offered drinks, but he never offered food, and there was no way of knowing that complimentary food was available, no menu, nothing. We had just eaten on the 390, so we weren't hungry, but if you didn't know that you could have food, you would have gone hungry!

All Line Rover · 23 Jun 2011

159220 said:
The times i have travelled 1st Class with Crosscountry i have had to get out of my seat, walk into the kitchen and stand over the employee as they brew me a cup of tea. I then have to ask for a packet of Burts and a Lasagna. The employees always seem embarased to having to provide the compliments that i have paid for. I then usually march them out into the carriage to offer everyone else a service that we have paid for. Of course, 4 times out of 5 its not the 1st class host, its the Guard hiding in the front...hence the embarasment! The only two times i have had a 1st Class host, the 1st lady was more of a school dinner lady, wobbled down the carriage to offer me a drink, but said that the compliments "were unavailable". The second time i had a host, once again, i had to walk up to the kitchen area...there he was, barefoot, eating a potateo bake. When i asked for a coffee, his reply "Oh i think your too late", as he gobbled into his bake, "Let me just call the trolley". He called the trolley "Arh yes sir, she can make you a coffee for £2 if you hurry to the other end of the train!" I said "£2 I am not going to hurry anywhere! I am going to sit down and enjoy my journey and you will bring it to me, for free!" He replied "Only 1st class is free sir" I replied "Why else do you think i am standing in the 1st class carriage!" At this point the host apologised unreservedly...i dont think i have ever been offered so many free compliments to obtain my forgiveness.

So yes...Crosscountry is awful, BUT, read what your entitled to on the website, march up to the kitchen, drag out the employee with their hands loaded with compliments and make sure they serve all. As i have never been surprised passangers will just sit there, when theres a free coffee and packet of Burts with just a lil effort!

Now this is shocking, on Virgin Trains and First Great Western....the employees have the ability to walk up and down 1st class carriages, carrying compliment, willingly giving them out to any passanger...in a nice, charming, customer friendly tone....shocking! Surely they should be dragged out by me like crosscountry hosts??

I've never had an experience that was that bad, but I agree that the First Class hosts stay in their "compartment" too much and do not offer food willingly.

It's slightly more difficult for XC First Class hosts than VT First Class hosts, as there are more intermediate stops, but all the XC hosts have to do is serve drinks and biscuits! They should come out after almost every stop.

XC are also very stingy about food. The last time I traveled to Totnes a gentleman who was travelling from Durham to Plymouth (someone like that - a VERY long journey anyway) asked for a second sandwich after Birmingham, and was told that he couldn't have one because it is one per journey. He was on the train for half a day!

WestCoast · 23 Jun 2011

There's also a risk that the HST will be substituted with a double Voyager (or even a single one). That will be fun!

SS4 · 23 Jun 2011

I'd still state that, excluding their bacon cob, first class on XC is only worth it for the seat.

Ferret · 23 Jun 2011

MCR247 said:
On my FC ALR, in XC first class the host repeatedly offered drinks, but he never offered food, and there was no way of knowing that complimentary food was available, no menu, nothing. We had just eaten on the 390, so we weren't hungry, but if you didn't know that you could have food, you would have gone hungry!

Just out of interest, have any of you mentioned this kind of experience to Customer Relations?

ivanhoe · 23 Jun 2011

Just out of interest, how many of you actually paid the full fare, or were you on a cheaper advance ticket ? Was the ticket cheaper than say a standard saver ?

sonorguy · 23 Jun 2011

ivanhoe said:
Just out of interest, how many of you actually paid the full fare, or were you on a cheaper advance ticket ? Was the ticket cheaper than say a standard saver ?

Unless it states anywhere that if you're on an advance ticket you're entitled to only a lesser service the question is irrelevant....

MCR247 · 23 Jun 2011

Ferret said:
Just out of interest, have any of you mentioned this kind of experience to Customer Relations?

No I'm one of those people that will always think at the time 'I'll email them when I get home' but never bothers doing anything :oops:

:roll:

AlterEgo · 23 Jun 2011

Do they not even offer free Wi-Fi?

MCR247 · 23 Jun 2011

They don't have any, except one(?) which is testing it IIRC

All Line Rover · 23 Jun 2011

AlterEgo said:
Do they not even offer free Wi-Fi?

No, although I've heard that they are (finally) introducing it.

AlterEgo · 23 Jun 2011

I'm astonished it's taken them this long to even trial Wi-Fi. It's standard on just about any other InterCity operator (not First TPE). Given the prices they charge, it's disappointing.

WestCoast · 23 Jun 2011

AlterEgo said:
I'm astonished it's taken them this long to even trial Wi-Fi. It's standard on just about any other InterCity operator (not First TPE). Given the prices they charge, it's disappointing.

Quite frankly, many things about XC are!

lyesbkz · 23 Jun 2011

I'd just like to throw in some positive feedback for once, the couple of times I've travelled with XC in 1st, as soon as I have sat down, the First Class Host(ess) has come over and, after having a look at my ticket, offered me the choice of food which matches the menu on the website.

Yes, it does feel like the sort of food one would be served in Economy on a shorthaul flight, but the point is the free food was there.

Although in only 2 experiences there's not much that could have gone wrong (some people may find this last point arguable with it being XC).

maddeningcrowds · 23 Jun 2011

Ferret said:
Just out of interest, have any of you mentioned this kind of experience to Customer Relations?

I did. They refunded my fare plus a bit extra.

junglejames · 23 Jun 2011

WestCoast said:
There's also a risk that the HST will be substituted with a double Voyager (or even a single one). That will be fun!

If a Voyager turns up on my service I will be letting it go without me, and finding another way of getting to Plymouth.

WestCoast · 23 Jun 2011

junglejames said:
If a Voyager turns up on my service I will be letting it go without me, and finding another way of getting to Plymouth.

Well, it happened to me a few weeks ago! Booked HST and the XC seat map showed a HST. What turned up? A 5-car (single) Super Voyager! :cry:

Hope you don't have an advance ticket...

First ScotRail · 23 Jun 2011

You wont get anything between Dundee and Edinburgh remember. From Edinburgh you may get first class host, may not. Last time I was with XC on HST 1st class the microwave was broke so only free tea/coffee/water and biscuits/crisps. Hot food is okay, not alot of it though. You're also not allowed in any first class lounges. Wi-Fi is being tested apparently and will be free to first class.

Mr Spock · 23 Jun 2011

I have frequently travelled in first on XC and have rarely had a problem with the hosts, most of them are helpful and offer drinks and food on a fairly regular basis.

DXC · 23 Jun 2011

There is only a designated first class host on the south coast runs as far south as RDG.

After that the Steward serving on the trolley in STD has to offer comp tea/coffee and if available biscuits.

Flamingo · 23 Jun 2011

AlterEgo said:
I'm astonished it's taken them this long to even trial Wi-Fi. It's standard on just about any other InterCity operator (not First TPE). Given the prices they charge, it's disappointing.

FGW don't have WiFi either.

WestCoast · 23 Jun 2011

Flamingo said:
FGW don't have WiFi either.

But you have that Volo TV thing, which I'm not saying is a substitute for decent Wi-Fi.

TEW · 23 Jun 2011

First ScotRail said:
Last time I was with XC on HST 1st class the microwave was broke so only free tea/coffee/water and biscuits/crisps.

Have they even connected up the microwaves yet? I know they hadn't when the HST's were first introduced after refurbishment.

BigVince76 · 24 Jun 2011

I use XC a lot in first class and although the service does vary depending on the staff it has never been really bad for me. The good hosts will do several runs with the trolley and will also make sure passengers joining just after a trolley run get offered refreshments.

My main complaint is there is one really stupid host working on HSTs south of brum who does not use her trolley but runs back and forth to the galley for everything, moaning and complaining about how busy this train is, even if it is only a quarter full! She works really hard but because she takes so long running about she often fails to get to everyone before reaching Bristol! I have unfortunately got this idiot several times of late so now when I see her I make sure I sit closer to the galley as I know she does not always get all the way through the two carriages to serve everyone. I wish XC would train there staff better!

CrossCountry First Class

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