Cross country weekend first costs

[Stargull]

Hoping someone can help with a query I thought would be straightforward, but which appears difficult to find definitive answers for.

Do Cross-country offer a weekend first upgrade? If so, how are costs determined? I can't find anything on their website.

 

[jfollows]

https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/xcu/ says that it exists.

https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=MAN&dest=RDG&expert=on&flow=1&multi=0&fare=0&rte=24&tkt=XCU says that it’s £17.50 Manchester-Reading, for example.

Use BRFARES for your journey and look for XCU for the fare.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Stargull. Yes, they are available, but prices vary. Which particular XC-served stations are you travelling between?

 

[Stargull]

Oxford to Leamington and Oxford to Manchester are common journeys for me. Looks like it's seriously good value, especially for the latter.

 

[alistairlees]

It’s good value and often empty compared to standard class at the weekends. And they ply you with food and drink.

 

[jfollows]

Oxford to Manchester is £15 per https://www.brfares.com/!faredetail?orig=OXF&dest=MAN&expert=on&flow=2&multi=0&fare=0&rte=24&tkt=XCU

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Whereas the much shorter Oxford to Leamington Spa is a tenner.

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

 

[winks]

Can this be purchased as a walk-on fare on XC? (At seat)

 

[jfollows]

Can this be purchased as a walk-on fare on XC? (At seat)

Yes, see https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ticket-types/tickets/xcu/ which says “On-board only”.

 

[winks]

Thanks you. Seems good value if you get hot drinks and sweets

 

[voyagerdude220]

Do Cross Country still deny you the option of buying the Weekend First Upgrade in conjunction with a Standard Advance Single?

 

[Watershed]

Do Cross Country still deny you the option of buying the Weekend First Upgrade in conjunction with a Standard Advance Single?

That is still the official policy and some TMs will only allow such passengers to upgrade on payment of the excess to first (which will be a horrendous sum in most cases, being the difference between the Anytime Standard & First Singles).

However most TMs are pragmatic and still sell the upgrade to Advance ticket holders.

 

[Merseysider]

There is also Seatfrog which is available to Advance ticket holders.

After factoring in Seatfrog's £3 greedy fee you can often get upgrades at around the same price as Weekend First would be, but with a guaranteed seat.

 

[Mainline421]

Thanks you. Seems good value if you get hot drinks and sweets

You get a sandwich as well if you ask