First Class Lounge at St. Pancras

[Johnny Lewis]

FYI - East Midlands Trains DO charge £5 entry fee to the First Class Lounge at St. Pancras International for passengers holding Advance Purchase tickets (after 4pm - the implication being that they are not admitted at all before 4pm).

Last time I used the Lounge here, I didn't have to pay, and I was under the impression that EMT had discountinued the charge for ALL First Class ticket holders at ALL their Lounges.

Ah well, £5 for an hour's wait and free tea/coffee/orange juice/wine - it's not so bad I suppose...

 

[Max]

I don't see an awful lot of point at St Pancras, there are so many nice places to wait anyway.

 

[EM2]

I don't see an awful lot of point at St Pancras, there are so many nice places to wait anyway.

Indeed. Two filter coffees and two croissants at Pret is only £4 and there's free wi-fi.

 

[bengolding]

Bizarrely, EMT also allow Standard customers entry into their Lounge for a £5 supplement. Weekely and monthly 'Lounge' season tickets are also available. Love to know how many of these they sell!

On the odd occasion I've used the Lounge during the evening peak, it has never been particularly busy. EMT First Advances are ridiculously epxensive during this period anyway, so it's a nice money making exercise for a £5 entry fee when cheaper customers with First Class tickets to Luton or Bedford can get in without a supplement.

 

[John @ home]

East Midlands Trains DO charge £5 entry fee to the First Class Lounge at St. Pancras International for passengers holding Advance Purchase tickets (after 4pm - the implication being that they are not admitted at all before 4pm).

No, that's not the implication.

All First Class ticket holders, including First Advance, can exclusively use our First Class Lounges. An exception is London St Pancras International where after 1600 First Advance ticket holders will have a charge of £5.

http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/yourjourney/Pages/firstclass.aspx?page=Lounges

Last time I used the First Class Lounge at St. Pancras (with a First Advance ticket with no charge prior to 1600), complimentary wine was served M-F from 1600. My guess is that this may be the reason for the charge.

 

[alloneword100]

Better not say exactly when I used it to avoid getting the person concerned into trouble, but when she realised that my train was leaving in about half an hour, she let me in for free on an AP ticket even though I was within the time when I should have paid. It was small but very nice, and yes wine was being served for free.

 

[Johnny Lewis]

Wiell I wasn't best pleased to read in the "First Class" brochure on the train that the £5 charge is applied between 4pm and 7pm only - and I arrived at the Lounge at around 6.50pm. So if I'd waited another 10 minutes, I presumably could have got in free.

I also have seen that free admission IS granted before 4pm, so I now know I was wrong to assume that entry is not permitted before this time.

Much as I love to knock Virgin, their Lounge policy is SOOO much easier - any First Class ticket holder travelling on a Virgin service may use the First Class Lounge either before or after their journey. Why can't the other TOCs (particularly East Coast) just do the same - it would make it so much simpler for stupid passengers (like myself) to understand. And as far as yesterday was concerned, it's not as if the Lounge was terribly busy anyway.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I doubt it's better than the Sir John Betjeman

 

[Sapphire Blue]

Two threads about first class lounges, so I'm choosing this one to ask my question.

As an ALR user with a reserved seat on any TOC's service, with which ones can I use the 1st lounge before and after my journey?

Are there any TOC's who will allow entry without the reservation?

 

[34D]

I doubt it's better than the Sir John Betjeman

Good point.

Re the EMT lounge, is it available for SET and FCC passengers too? I guess Eurostar passengers would be directed to the eurostar first class lounge.

 

[bengolding]

Good point.

Re the EMT lounge, is it available for SET and FCC passengers too? I guess Eurostar passengers would be directed to the eurostar first class lounge.

Eurostar has their own Business Lounge which I use whenever I travel Business Premier. I don't believe SET convey First Class on their services out of St Pancras. All FCC tickets to Luton Airport Parkway/Luton/Bedford are accepted in the EMT Lounge since only walk-on First Class tickets are available. I travelled on a First Off Peak Return to Luton Airport last week, which was accepted. A 'bargain' at only £20.50 since it was valid on the 'peak' 17:45 service!

 

[NSE]

I was there yesterday and the policy read free for all first class but advance pay £5 between 4:30 and 7:30ish (Peak hours) Due to my London Midland cock up I was way earlier and spent sn hour there and very plesant it was. Much quieter, smaller and out of the way compared to Virgin.

 

[34D]

Eurostar has their own Business Lounge which I use whenever I travel Business Premier. I don't believe SET convey First Class on their services out of St Pancras. All FCC tickets to Luton Airport Parkway/Luton/Bedford are accepted in the EMT Lounge since only walk-on First Class tickets are available. I travelled on a First Off Peak Return to Luton Airport last week, which was accepted. A 'bargain' at only £20.50 since it was valid on the 'peak' 17:45 service!

Doesn't (or didn't) a first class ticket on SET allow travel on javelin without paying a supplement?

 

[yorkie]

Doesn't (or didn't) a first class ticket on SET allow travel on javelin without paying a supplement?

Javelin is actually the name of the service between Stratford & St Pancras during the Olympics (I heard the plan is for High Speed services beyond Stratford to be withdrawn during the Olympics!)

Regarding travel on HS1 with First Class tickets that are routed not HS1 you have to ask...

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/high-speed-tickets/

Passengers holding a valid first class ticket may be entitled to travel on high speed services free of charge. Ask at your local station whether your ticket entitles you to use high speed services.