First Class declassified. Am I entitled to compensation with ALR?

[MrJeeves]

It's a little bit academic really because if all that happens is no food/drink at all, Avanti usually won't part with so much as 1p.

They'll throw you a 25% off voucher, and if you continue throwing a stink you might get 50% like I did. I'd be surprised if they go much further than that without trying to plead your case to the Rail Ombudsman.

 

[redreni]

But on Avanti take away the catering and you have standard premium. So is that declassification by default? (Genuine question!)

Some (most?) passengers who buy a first class ticket do so specifically in order to be accommodated separately from passengers with standard class tickets.

The well-paid individuals I deal with who are among the few still to get first class rail travel on expenses certainly seem to regard this as crucial. I don't think it would matter all that much if the seats and level of service were exactly the same in both classes, as long as the more price-conscious had been priced out of the first class carriage.

It follows that if you allow all and sundry into the first class carriage, they will ask for a rebate whether you feed and water them or not.

 

[Watershed]

Agreed.

Declassification is a minimum of the difference between the price of the ticket held and the walk up standard class fare as per NRCoT (my emphasis):



(Note that in many cases this will result in no refund due whatsoever for ALR holders!)

Avanti have been fair here by deciding to compensate as per my suggestion - the pro rated difference between the equivalent standard class ALR. Further, contrary to the standard delay repay/season ticket protocol - that despite its go-anywhere nature they have assumed the ALR was used only on one journey that day, and not treated as a return (which would have halved the difference due).

That's a strict reading of the minimum entitlement clause under the NRCoT, but there is a strong case to be made that it must be purposively interpreted - it would clearly be absurd for a customer to be entitled to nothing at all when downgraded. The intention behind the clause is clearly to use equivalent first and standard class fares.

That's aside from the fact that consumer law would generally dictate an appropriate price reduction (i.e. partial refund).

Suffice it to say, Avanti offering measly discount codes comes nowhere close to meeting their legal obligations. Of course, you may well have to push them to get what you're owed.

 

[Essexman]

Response from C2C to my suggestion that they educate staff about All Line Rover validity after I was initially refused entry before 9am.
Oh dear.

'I can confirm that as per the Senior Rover terms and conditions, the ticket is valid Mondays to Fridays only, excluding bank holidays and travel time restrictions apply. The £10 rover is only valid for use after 09:30 and is not valid on any trains travelling within the London Travelcard area (Zones 1-6) between 1600-1859. The £7 rover is only valid for use after 09:30.'

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@Essexman. That reply's for a completely different product!

Didn't you have a (senior railcard discounted) 7 day £604.70 1st class All Line Rail Rover?

And not a (c2c local network) one day £10/£7 c2c Senior Rover!