First Class obsession

[strange6]

There seems to be quite a few posts on these forums about First Class travel on the railways. Personally speaking, I think it's a bit of a rip-off on the whole and not worth the money; so I just wanted to ask my fellow posters what the attraction with it is? Status symbol perhaps?

 

[thefab444]

Personally I will only travel first class if it is cheaper or fairly equal in price to standard class, as sometimes happens with advance tickets. In that case it's worth it just for the extra legroom and more comfortable seat.

 

[Failed Unit]

There seems to be quite a few posts on these forums about First Class travel on the railways. Personally speaking, I think it's a bit of a rip-off on the whole and not worth the money; so I just wanted to ask my fellow posters what the attraction with it is? Status symbol perhaps?

More peaceful and comfortable. On some IC routes it can be cheaper than standard. I would never pay for 1st on operators such as South eastern.

 

[SS4]

To paraphrase Basil Fawlty it's to escape the riff-raff. For me personally it's personal space.

 

[trentside]

The majority of occasions I've used First class it has been because the First and Standard class fares are almost the same price. When I do use it, I enjoy the fact I've got more space and usually a much quieter travelling environment. Sometimes the complimentary food and drinks are also worthwhile - depends very much on the company.

 

[HST Power]

Depends on the TOC in my view. If you're going on a long journey, it's worthwhile. But from my hometown to London, no way. It's expensive enough, and only a thirty minute ride.

 

[185]

Makes for a rather good staff room where the passengers can't see staff with feet on the seats and tables and breaching numerous other railway bylaws.

Allegedly.

 

[Lad Brookes]

To paraphrase Basil Fawlty it's to escape the riff-raff. For me personally it's personal space.

Yesterday was blissful- Malvern Link to Paddington in first- had the whole of the quiet coach to myself until Oxford. Sat back in my favourite seat, spread out over a whole table, and got a book out.
Personal space? A whole damn carriage of it!

 

[sprinterguy]

There seems to be quite a few posts on these forums about First Class travel on the railways. Personally speaking, I think it's a bit of a rip-off on the whole and not worth the money; so I just wanted to ask my fellow posters what the attraction with it is? Status symbol perhaps?

A pleasanter ambience, a more comfortable seat, more peace and quiet and the opportunity to have food and drink brought to me while travelling.

Kick back in a comfortable chair and get cosy with a bottle of wine. Bliss.

 

[Essexman]

Quiet, more space, easier to work and hopefully decent food. Overall almsot always a more enjoyable journey, worth paying extra up to 50& extra for but rarely full first class fare on longer journeys.

 

[MCR247]

First class fares subsidise standard fares. Simples.

 

[Minilad]

First class fares subsidise standard fares. Simples.

Is that true or just an urban myth ?

 

[ainsworth74]

I only travel in first class on true IC operators (EC, EMT, VT and FGW mostly) because you do get a pretty good service in the form of complimentaries as well as the bigger seat and more room (but only if their are reasonably priced advances). Or on the non-IC operators (FCC, SWT and so on) if the first fare is nearly the same as the standard fare or if I know the service will be overcrowded (TPE out of Leeds/Manchester between 16:00-18:00) and can get a reasonable advance.

 

[jay jay]

Whenever possible I go First on IC journeys. I like to enjoy my train journeys without screaming kids, idiots "f"ing and blinding, the constant blaring out of music from people's iPod which should be personal to them, teenage girls talking like "oh my god and I was like, he was like" etc etc!

The list could go on but as someone bluntly put it earlier in the thread - to get away from the riff raff which generally is the great British public.

I just find going first it iliminates these issues 9 times out of 10!

 

[MCR247]

Is that true or just an urban myth ?

It would make sense wouldn't it?

 

[jaigee]

Whenever possible I go First on IC journeys. I like to enjoy my train journeys without screaming kids, idiots "f"ing and blinding, the constant blaring out of music from people's iPod which should be personal to them, teenage girls talking like "oh my god and I was like, he was like" etc etc!

Spot on jay jay.

 

[jay jay]

Spot on jay jay.

I just find it absolutely intolerable and now I'm lucky enough to be in a healthy financial position to do so, First Class is the only way to travel on long distance trains.

 

[SS4]

Whenever possible I go First on IC journeys. I like to enjoy my train journeys without screaming kids, idiots "f"ing and blinding, the constant blaring out of music from people's iPod which should be personal to them, teenage girls talking like "oh my god and I was like, he was like" etc etc!

The list could go on but as someone bluntly put it earlier in the thread - to get away from the riff raff which generally is the great British public.

I just find going first it iliminates these issues 9 times out of 10!

Spot on (although I'm someone as financially sound as you knows how to spell eliminates )

 

[jay jay]

Spot on (although I'm someone as financially sound as you knows how to spell eliminates )

Ha ha! Very true that

A tremendous example that money doesn't buy you a brain my friend! I learn something new every day!

 

[142094]

Normally only if is a couple of quid over the price of a standard advance - most times it works out better than buying a standard advance, cup of tea, sandwich and cake. Plus there are also those joyous occasions when the price of a 1st advance is less expensive than the standard one. I wouldn't think of buying a 1st class walk up ticket, unless I'd had a big win somewhere and wanted a treat.

 

[yorkie]

There seems to be quite a few posts on these forums about First Class travel on the railways. Personally speaking, I think it's a bit of a rip-off on the whole and not worth the money; so I just wanted to ask my fellow posters what the attraction with it is? Status symbol perhaps?

Some people are obsessed, I agree. I'm not one of them. However I will go FC if it suits.

Example where FC is not worth it: A standard ticket is £10 a First ticket is £28. The train is an HST. I can get the individual Standard seat next to the TGS. My bike will be in the TGS, so I will be near it. The food offering is minimal as the train isn't a prime time train.

Example where FC is worth it: A standard ticket is £15 a First ticket is £28. The train is a 91+Mk4s. I can get an individual First Class seat next to the DVT. My bike will be in the DVT, so I will be near it. The train is likely to be busy in Standard Class.

In the case of the former, I think I'd be wasting £18. In the case of the latter, the £13 can be justified because of convenience, and the increased cost isn't huge.

If the train takes a long diversion, or is a 91 and I have my bike with me, or is going to be busy, or if the cheapest Std tickets are sold but but the cheapest FC tickets are available... these are all factors that may persuade me to upgrade.

 

[317666]

I only do if I'm travelling for a long distance AND it's at a cheap advance rate. If it was, say, Cambridge to Leeds or York then I would consider it, but not Cambridge to London or Peterborough.

 

[tbtc]

It would make sense wouldn't it?

Only if the seats were used roughly as much as each other.

However, as First Class on many routes is busy on weekday rush-hours but quieter at other times (hence the cheap advance fares for First Class tickets off-peak/ weekends) I'm not certain.

 

[Mojo]

Also depends on the additional cost of providing First class services. The cost of free teas and coffees is probably negligible, but staff wages for First class hosts must be quite considerable.

 

[All Line Rover]

I'm not "obsessed" about First Class travel - for example, I would never pay £17.25 (child) to travel First Class on the 21:07 from London to Liverpool when a £1.50 (or £3.50) Megatrain ticket is available.

The Standard Class Quiet Coach on that service can be very pleasant. I'd rather go and buy a £3 meal deal from Sainsbury's than pay £15 extra to travel First Class for a sandwich!

Generally, though, because I qualify for child tickets (and make good use of the Routeing Guide ) the difference in price between the two classes is minimal (in terms of the number of pounds, not the percentage increase).

I find that First Class travel makes train travel more appealing as a whole. (Quiet carriages, wide seats, plenty of legroom, clean toilets, tables of 4 to yourself, nice food, attentive service, peaceful First Class lounges, etc.)

When I go on my train trips, I wouldn't bother if I had to travel Standard Class. Travelling First Class makes the trips much more enjoyable.

Having said that, my local "First Class" operator is Virgin - not Southeastern or Southern! London Midland is the other First Class operator round here, and I almost never travel First Class with them! (Simply because Standard Class on 350/1's is good enough, and is almost identical to First Class).

 

[LE Greys]

I only do if I'm travelling for a long distance AND it's at a cheap advance rate. If it was, say, Cambridge to Leeds or York then I would consider it, but not Cambridge to London or Peterborough.

Agreed there, but it does not help that the seats in Networker first class are exactly the same as second (I still use second instead of standard) with just a little bit more space between them. Weekend First, which I've used a lot on longer journeys, is generally a very good deal. A comfortable seat and unlimited tea for a relatively small extra cost, although I clean forgot about it yestreday when coming back from Aberdeen, because I'm a clot.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

When I was working for my last two companies, before retirement occured, if we had a long distance train journey, rather than have to use short air journeys, our facilities department booked first-class tickets as a matter of course. It is better to arrive for a high-pressure business meeting having travelled in a degree of some comfort.

Remember the old TV rail advert....let the train take the strain. I am now retired and old enough to know the truth of this adage.

 

[snail]

Interesting experience yesterday on the TPE 16:15 ex Manchester Piccadilly. It was a combined Edinburgh/Windermere train, Picc was crammed as usual so I decided £6 for a Weekend First was worth it. The trolley guy asked to see my ticket, I said I wanted to upgrade so he explained that he couldn't serve me until the conductor had been through. Fairy nuff.

Got to Chorley, still no sign of conductor (or refreshments) so I got out and re-boarded in the now quiet Windermere portion. Nice relaxing journey, half of it in First for no extra charge. No complaints.

 

[furryfeet]

Quiet, more space, easier to work and hopefully decent food. Overall almsot always a more enjoyable journey, worth paying extra up to 50& extra for but rarely full first class fare on longer journeys.

agreed on the reasons why one travels in first.

Good point about the 50% extra - this is the norm on the continent, but since privatisation, one can be paying double or triple the 2nd class price !

Hence I only travel first when
a) the price in 1st is similar or less than 2nd ( e.g. apex)
b) the extra for first is considered value for money - which since the demise of WSMR, does not seem to happen.

p.s.
Whenever my sister or my wife have to travel by train, then I also look out for 1st class deals, since they both have permanent injuries which makes it highly desirable for them to travel in as comfortable an environment as possible. Roll on the day when the rules for a disabled railcard are eased to encompass a wider section of the populace, but that discussion is for another thread .....

 

[table38]

I like to enjoy my train journeys without screaming kids, idiots "f"ing and blinding, the constant blaring out of music from people's iPod which should be personal to them, teenage girls talking like "oh my god and I was like, he was like" etc etc!

I went First Class from Glasgow to Edinburgh a few weeks ago.

I went right up to FC in the second unit and had it all to myself until literally about 2 minutes before we set off when two girls got on and played inane "youtube" videos to each other on their phones all the way

I was secretly hoping they'd have standard tickets and get kicked out, but no such luck!