Food offering on TransPennine Express First Class NCL - LIV

[Willie Bee]

My wife and I are traveling to Liverpool tomorrow morning, from Newcastle on TPE leaving at 08:38.

Although we are booked on normal 'second class' I see on my phone there is the ability, through Seatfrog of bidding to travel first class. The current price is £11 / person.

Just wondering whether it is worth it or not.

Last year we travelled from Doncaster to Manchester on TPE, in first class, but we were not offered anything .. food or drink.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Looking at TPE's website, it states catering is available on the Newcastle route at weekends from 09:00-18:30. I'm assuming you won't be offered any food therefore- but if you are, the weekend First Class food is very basic- breakfast options are porridge, a croissant or a snack box (containing a granola bar, a fruit snack and a "Nakd Bar.")

First Class Express Plus Menu | First TransPennine Express

Travel First Class with us for spacious seats, power sockets and complimentary drinks. View our menu

www.tpexpress.co.uk

 

[800001]

Bare in mind the first class food is not served by a dedicated host, they also do the standard class trolley.

On a recent journey Darlington to Manchester there was nothing offered to myself, the host appeared back in the first class coach just as we arrived into Manchester.

And on the return, I was offered something as soon as departing Manchester, then just went to do standard class trolley, and didn’t appear back in first class until near Northallerton.

 

[Willie Bee]

OP here .. thank you for your replies.

I don't think I'll bother with first class tomoorow, but we are actually coming back via Carlisle, which I see has a much better offering. If the price is the same on Seatfrog next Wednesday evening (£11 extra per person) the total for the two of us, would still be less than what we paid going TO Liverpool, so maybe worth a punt

 

[Andy Pacer]

OP here .. thank you for your replies.

I don't think I'll bother with first class tomoorow, but we are actually coming back via Carlisle, which I see has a much better offering. If the price is the same on Seatfrog next Wednesday evening (£11 extra per person) the total for the two of us, would still be less than what we paid going TO Liverpool, so maybe worth a punt

Agree, West Coast is much more worthwhile. I guess an advantage on the Liverpool - Newcastle route can be a quieter carriage as well as the chance of tea and biscuits.

 

[yorkie]

My wife and I are traveling to Liverpool tomorrow morning, from Newcastle on TPE leaving at 08:38.

Although we are booked on normal 'second class' I see on my phone there is the ability, through Seatfrog of bidding to travel first class. The current price is £11 / person.

Just wondering whether it is worth it or not.

Last year we travelled from Doncaster to Manchester on TPE, in first class, but we were not offered anything .. food or drink.

TPE is very variable, but within the core hours on "Nova" trains, you should get something. On 185 trains, you may as well write catering off; I either get nothing, or a very minimal offering.

It's certainly not worth upgrading for food and drink; it's far better value to visit a shop before boarding. However, you could attach a nominal value of £3-4 for any catering offering, so the question then is whether the remainder of the price is worth it for extra legroom, wider seats, etc.

But do bear in mind you may actually get less exclusivity/privacy/legroom with the upgrade; as your standard ticket would include free seat selection so you can get 2 seats together with no-one opposite, but Seatfrog might put you at a table of four, either opposite randomers (with reduced legroom as a result) or sat next to randomers.

Also, Seatfrog engage in unlawful "drip pricing", which means they add a £3 "fee" for each ticket. This is unlawful, and you are entitled to demand this money back, but it probably isn't worth the effort for £6. If you regularly use Seatfrog, keep a PDF copy of all booking confirmation emails in a safe place, and when it adds up to a decent chunk of money, put in a letter before claim.

 

[Willie Bee]

Also, Seatfrog engage in unlawful "drip pricing", which means they add a £3 "fee" for each ticket. This is unlawful, and you are entitled to demand this money back, but it probably isn't worth the effort for £6. If you regularly use Seatfrog, keep a PDF copy of all booking confirmation emails in a safe place, and when it adds up to a decent chunk of money, put in a letter before claim.

I've never actually used Seatfrog so was obviously not aware of any extra charges

 

[Merle Haggard]

Bare in mind the first class food is not served by a dedicated host, they also do the standard class trolley.

On a recent journey Darlington to Manchester there was nothing offered to myself, the host appeared back in the first class coach just as we arrived into Manchester.

And on the return, I was offered something as soon as departing Manchester, then just went to do standard class trolley, and didn’t appear back in first class until near Northallerton.

Interesting, because when I've travelled on the west side (Carlisle - Preston and even Preston - Manchester there does seem to be a dedicated host; or, at least, all their time is spent in the First. But maybe west side is different from east side.

 

[800001]

TPE is very variable, but within the core hours on "Nova" trains, you should get something. On 185 trains, you may as well write catering off; I either get nothing, or a very minimal offering.

It's certainly not worth upgrading for food and drink; it's far better value to visit a shop before boarding. However, you could attach a nominal value of £3-4 for any catering offering, so the question then is whether the remainder of the price is worth it for extra legroom, wider seats, etc.

But do bear in mind you may actually get less exclusivity/privacy/legroom with the upgrade; as your standard ticket would include free seat selection so you can get 2 seats together with no-one opposite, but Seatfrog might put you at a table of four, either opposite randomers (with reduced legroom as a result) or sat next to randomers.

Also, Seatfrog engage in unlawful "drip pricing", which means they add a £3 "fee" for each ticket. This is unlawful, and you are entitled to demand this money back, but it probably isn't worth the effort for £6. If you regularly use Seatfrog, keep a PDF copy of all booking confirmation emails in a safe place, and when it adds up to a decent chunk of money, put in a letter before claim.

Question, how is Seatfrog £3 feee illegal? It’s clearly shown when you bid for a seat?
Seems no different to Ticketmaster taking a booking fee when booking concert tickets?

 

[p.d87]

Interesting, because when I've travelled on the west side (Carlisle - Preston and even Preston - Manchester there does seem to be a dedicated host; or, at least, all their time is spent in the First. But maybe west side is different from east side.

The West Coast route has had its 1st class Catering upgraded with a dedicated host in 1st class and another host taking the trolley through standard. The 1st class offer is now vastly improved from what it was previously

 

[Merle Haggard]

The West Coast route has had its 1st class Catering upgraded with a dedicated host in 1st class and another host taking the trolley through standard. The 1st class offer is now vastly improved from what it was previously

Tanks for the info. There's one particularly good and genial host who has a strong Bolton ??? accent.

 

[rg177]

I've done the 0838 off Newcastle on a Sunday before and it was basically a croissant and a coffee (which started leaking out of the cup).

The host was pleasant but probably not worth it. After all you're boarding at the origin station so will get a seat.

 

[yorkie]

Question, how is Seatfrog £3 feee illegal? It’s clearly shown when you bid for a seat?

I refer you to the links above; not only has there been a dedicated forum thread on the subject, but an ORR report, and various other sources, such as the one I directly linked to above.

I've never actually used Seatfrog so was obviously not aware of any extra charges

Indeed; when you say "£11", this is the advertised price that you have seen, but if you actually bid, you will be told your bid amount is "£14"! This is an extremely clear-cut case of drip pricing.

My advice isn't necessarily to avoid Seatfrog, but to make sure people are aware of their dodgy, misleading practice, and also that trying to get a one-off refund by asking them nicely won't work. Saving up a load of receipts, and making a big claim at a later date, is the way to do it.

 

[800001]

I refer you to the links above; not only has there been a dedicated forum thread on the subject, but an ORR report, and various other sources, such as the one I directly linked to above.



Indeed; when you say "£11", this is the advertised price that you have seen, but if you actually bid, you will be told your bid amount is "£14"! This is an extremely clear-cut case of drip pricing.

My advice isn't necessarily to avoid Seatfrog, but to make sure people are aware of their dodgy, misleading practice, and also that trying to get a one-off refund by asking them nicely won't work. Saving up a load of receipts, and making a big claim at a later date, is the way to do it.

I can’t see any links above?

It’s also shown on the ‘place bid’ page about the £3 fee per ticket, so can’t see how you would have any way to claim at back? As surely by buying the auction your agreeing to the fee?

 

[yorkie]

I can’t see any links above?#

Sorry; it was in another thread. It's cropped up various times

Railcard discounts to be reduced to 33.4%

So someone who is living on tax payers money can travel around the country at half price??? The UK really is the gift that keeps giving!! No, pensioners only get 1/3rd discount. Jobseekers otoh are only given that card when it's relevant to get them to interviews etc to get into work, thus...

www.railforums.co.uk

It’s also shown on the ‘place bid’ page about the £3 fee per ticket, so can’t see how you would have any way to claim at back?

Ah, you're not aware of the concept of drip pricing. Basically, the price needs to be stated up front. For more detail, see the various other threads and links, and ORR report.

As surely by buying the auction your agreeing to the fee?

That doesn't make it lawful!

 

[childwallblues]

They have dedicated hosts on the 0812 Liverpool to Glasgow.
There is also a host on the 0754 Liverpool to Newcastle. I travelled to York recently and was given a bacon roll, tea, biscuits and orange juice.

 

[Tugzrule]

Also worth noting that no exact seats can currently be reserved on TPE either through a full original booking or seatfrog upgrade

 

[yorkie]

Also worth noting that no exact seats can currently be reserved on TPE either through a full original booking or seatfrog upgrade

I was allocated a specific seat by Seatfrog recently, but in reality, as you say, there were no actual reservations in place.