Avanti West Coast: Standard Premium

[pnepaul]

Yesterday 14th October I was on the 13.40 Euston to Manchester as far as Crewe, just 4 of us in Coach G, 3 in Coach H.
Today I was on the 9.09 Crewe to Edinburgh as far as Carlisle. I was alone in Coach G until Lancaster. Coach H was empty.

I looked at other Avanti trains and saw similar loadings. If this is general, makes you wonder how long it will last.

 

[voyagerdude220]

I looked at other Avanti trains and saw similar loadings. If this is general, makes you wonder how long it will last.

I also question if the "herding together" practice of First Class pax (particularly at weekends if only coach K is used) will have a very negative influence on the number of First Class ticket holders travelling in general.

 

[Wolfie]

I'm planning on using a first class all kind rover for a week next month and was wondering what accommodation people believe this allows me to use?

I assumed it would be first class with food and drink but Avanti Twitter team and a train manager I spoke to whilst they were doing a ticket check on a recent journey say it's standard premium.

They're explibation is that a firat class all line rover is a specialist first class ticket offering a discount, so standard premium is appropriate. I don't agree with having had food and drinks under Virgin using this type of ticket.

Pardon my being rude but that is utter cobblers. What next? A First Class advance ticket isn't valid in First because it's a discounted ticket?

 

[XAM2175]

Pardon my being rude but that is utter cobblers. What next? A First Class advance ticket isn't valid in First because it's a discounted ticket?

An All Line Rover, not an advance ticket. They're still wrong though.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

An All Line Rover, not an advance ticket. They're still wrong though.

He said what’s next, meaning restricting the service to those of ALRs may not be as far as they go, and they could go further and restrict the service to Advance tickets too

 

[Vespa]

I also question if the "herding together" practice of First Class pax (particularly at weekends if only coach K is used) will have a very negative influence on the number of First Class ticket holders travelling in general.

It had an effect on me, I usually travel first class if I can especially with an advance ticket with Virgin trains and later Avanti, since standards have fallen and prices have gone up, I have gone off first class and unlikely to return until standards and prices matches Virgin trains.

I would be more likely to travel standard or Standard Premium depending on price or LNWR, at the very least I won't be dissapointed.

 

[Wolfie]

An All Line Rover, not an advance ticket. They're still wrong though.

I know. I was being sarcastic about what they might come out with next...

 

[6Gman]

Further to my post #1239, I duly submitted a complaint via the Avanti website feedback form.

Today (a mere five days later) I have received an email apologising for the delay in dealing with it, and inviting me to drop my complaint in return for two first class return tickets anywhere on Avanti, valid 12 months.

The cynical me thinks they realise there is a real problem here; the hard-nosed me thinks that's a pretty hefty bribe for something not desperately important.

Has anyone found themselves in a similar situation?

I complained about the Euston scrum several years ago and was astonished to get a WCML 1st Class Return of my choosing.

Perhaps Avanti have inherited Virgin's Random Compensation Calculator!

 

[XAM2175]

I know. I was being sarcastic about what they might come out with next...

Sorry, I misread "what's next".

 

[Wolfie]

Sorry, I misread "what's next".

No worries. I think that we're in violent agreement...

 

[ValleyLines142]

Caught the 19:20 Euston to Wolverhampton on Monday evening, was an 11-carriage Pendolino. J and K were First Class, G and H were Standard Premium. Several people got on at both Euston and Watford Junction and assumed it was regular Standard Class, although you'd think the 2+1 tables would give it away.

Someone mentioned further upthread that the Pendolinos have been very warm. Well this one was roasting. I asked the TM to turn the aircon on (390135 was the unit).

 

[voyagerdude220]

I've just sold a customer a ticket for travel Preston to Penrith this evening- £20.90 Advance Standard Premium single- which was £1.10 cheaper than the Cheap Day single.
Of course the Journey Planner system insisted on booking a seat, despite the train already being en route towards Preston, so there's nothing stopping another person already having occupied the previously unreserved seat.
Am I right in thinking 11-car Pendolinos have Standard Premium in G/H/J at weekends?

 

[Bletchleyite]

This is yet another problem with the faux compulsory reservation nonsense. It really needs to stop.

 

[Nova1]

I've just sold a customer a ticket for travel Preston to Penrith this evening- £20.90 Advance Standard Premium single- which was £1.10 cheaper than the Cheap Day single.
Of course the Journey Planner system insisted on booking a seat, despite the train already being en route towards Preston, so there's nothing stopping another person already having occupied the previously unreserved seat.
Am I right in thinking 11-car Pendolinos have Standard Premium in G/H/J at weekends?

don't they have a handful of the "available if unoccupied" which are basically seats that can be reserved en route

 

[Mag_seven]

I was on a late evening southbound Avanti service last night. It was a 9 coach. Only coach K was "first" with H and J standard premium. Standard Premium was deserted and coach K was about half full. It looked as though one person from Coach K who having obviously consumed what they required in terms of complimentary items and seeing how empty and spacious coach J was decided to move into a bay of four in that coach.

 

[stephens]

I also question if the "herding together" practice of First Class pax (particularly at weekends if only coach K is used) will have a very negative influence on the number of First Class ticket holders travelling in general.

Strange you should mention 'herding'. My wife experienced the same today from Glasgow to Preston. She referred it to being in a cattle truck.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Strange you should mention 'herding'. My wife experienced the same today from Glasgow to Preston. She referred it to being in a cattle truck.

I'd imagine this is a potential way to dissuade current First Class pax from continuing to buy First Class tickets.

 

[Deafdoggie]

I'd imagine this is a potential way to dissuade current First Class pax from continuing to buy First Class tickets.

Which would be a stupid business model. Even more so given how empty Standard Premium is. A business wants to sell as many of the dearest tickets as it can.

 

[Butts]

I was on a late evening southbound Avanti service last night. It was a 9 coach. Only coach K was "first" with H and J standard premium. Standard Premium was deserted and coach K was about half full. It looked as though one person from Coach K who having obviously consumed what they required in terms of complimentary items and seeing how empty and spacious coach J was decided to move into a bay of four in that coach.

Were you in 1st - I can't quite figure it out from your post ?

If so was the service a lot better with only one coach for the staff to look after with regard to provisions.

Has anyone experienced the "One Coach First" and has this resulted in almost on demand availability of food and drink ?

 

[142blue]

I've just sold a customer a ticket for travel Preston to Penrith this evening- £20.90 Advance Standard Premium single- which was £1.10 cheaper than the Cheap Day single.
Of course the Journey Planner system insisted on booking a seat, despite the train already being en route towards Preston, so there's nothing stopping another person already having occupied the previously unreserved seat.
Am I right in thinking 11-car Pendolinos have Standard Premium in G/H/J at weekends?

Yes coach K only at weekends although I read this was being discussed on certain trains if it could be changed

 

[Mag_seven]

Were you in 1st - I can't quite figure it out from your post ?

If so was the service a lot better with only one coach for the staff to look after with regard to provisions.

Has anyone experienced the "One Coach First" and has this resulted in almost on demand availability of food and drink ?

I was in coach "J" so I can't comment on what the service level was like suffice to say that when I looked in it was about half full.

 

[stevetay3]

Why was standard premium introduced in the first place, was this just a way to increase profits by Avanti. I always used to travel on 1st class advances when using Virgin Trains, but I would not pay the asking price for standard premium now, far to expensive just for a bit more leg room and a power socket and Avanti first class fares are way beyond my reach. I would hope the complementary refreshments have improved by a good bit given the asking price now.

 

[Mag_seven]

Could posters please stick to the topic of the actual arrangements for Avanti Standard Premium.

For suggestions etc as to how you would like it to operate then please see the following thread.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/how-could-avanti-west-coast-standard-premium-work-better.223614/

 

[Vespa]

How much is the upgrades from Liverpool to london v buying a standard premium before hand ?

 

[_toommm_]

How much is the upgrades from Liverpool to london v buying a standard premium before hand ?

£25 onboard:

Look up fares for any train journey in Britain

Full details of all British rail Single, Return & Season tickets and Travelcards. Built-in Season Ticket Calculator.

www.brfares.com

 

[Vespa]

£25 onboard:

Look up fares for any train journey in Britain

Full details of all British rail Single, Return & Season tickets and Travelcards. Built-in Season Ticket Calculator.

www.brfares.com

Thank you, a very interesting site.

 

[voyagerdude220]

This evening's 1S95 18:26 London Euston to Glasgow Central is being formed of 2x221 instead of the usual 390.

I wonder what would happen to anyone already holding a Standard Premium ticket, given it's either Standard Class or First Class on a Super Voyager?

 

[Bletchleyite]

I'd expect a refund of the difference and no upgrades sold, though I suppose that depends on the number of actual 1st passengers they need to accommodate.

 

[Hawkwood Junc]

Further to my post #1239, I duly submitted a complaint via the Avanti website feedback form.

Today (a mere five days later) I have received an email apologising for the delay in dealing with it, and inviting me to drop my complaint in return for two first class return tickets anywhere on Avanti, valid 12 months.

The cynical me thinks they realise there is a real problem here; the hard-nosed me thinks that's a pretty hefty bribe for something not desperately important.

Has anyone found themselves in a similar situation?

Yes, exactly the same for me. No first class catering on my service and I received the 2 1st class tickets. More than happy with that!

 

[92002]

This evening's 1S95 18:26 London Euston to Glasgow Central is being formed of 2x221 instead of the usual 390.

I wonder what would happen to anyone already holding a Standard Premium ticket, given it's either Standard Class or First Class on a Super Voyager?

There does't appear to be any decision made on these. Was on a similar train yesterday. The first train manager used one First as First and the other as Standard Premium. With all other coaches standard.

When the train managers changed over. The other said there was no First or Standard premium at all. All standard.

So cue some rather upset passengers who had paid lots of cash for First and those who had already paid to upgrade. Surely they can get their stories right at handover.

Guess the email box will be overloaded with many complaints.

You do get the impression that they make it up as they go along.