Question about first class booking with Virgin Trains

[snuk]

Hi,

Is it possible to make a booking with Virgin Trains in first class and specifically request one of the seats by the windows which have a table with a seat either side - I think they might be called 1+1 seats?

If so, what do I need to request? Do they have any seats like these anywhere in standard class?

Many thanks,

Steve.

 

[ChrisTheRef]

In short, no.

The Virgin site will only let you specify that you'd like a table seat, not which one in particular.
However, if you book through www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk you can see which seat you're being given before you choose to buy.
By consulting the seating plan (just google 'virgin pendolino seating plan') you can see where the seat is. If you're unhappy, hit refresh and you'll get a different one.

Hope this helps

 

[me123]

On the NXEC website, you can play about with your preferences to get close to what you want. They do automatically allocate the seats, but you can change the preferences to get the seat you want.

But how do you know what to go for on Virgin? See here for the Pendolino services. Just play about with the preferences until you get a seat you're looking for.

 

[tony_mac]

it's not a direct answer to your question, but if you book with nxec then you can see the seat numbers before you buy. You can them look them up on the 'seating plan' on Virgin's website.

If you don't get a seat that you are happy with then leave the browser window open and start the process with another browser- it should offer you a different seat, if one is available.
While it looks like it should work, I've never tried it in practice.

 

[MKB]

I've done this trying to book a Virgin standard class seat, and it works, sort of.

When I requested a window seat, it kept allocating seats next to the wall but at rows that didn't have a window, even though I was booking 12 weeks ahead. I kept holding seats until I got the one with a window, then removed all the previous bookings. It took a while, and there is a limit quickly reached beyond which it won't let you add any more journeys to your booking, so you may need multiple computers.

It doesn't seem to matter how expensive or cheap the fare is, the seat assignment algorithm seems to be based on assigning the worst seats first, or at least that has been my experience. And the facing/backward request is frequently ignored.

It would be good if there were an option to request a seat with working audio/radio, but since these are rarer than off-peak Virgin stopping services in Nuneaton, i.e. practically non-existent, I can only dream.

 

[voyagerdude220]

Just a quick note..

If you're booking AP singles, I personally wouldn't flick through many different seats, because the ticket booking system automatically reserves each seat which you get offered, regardless of whether you actually buy a ticket or not.

This means that if there are only say 3 seats left at the current fare level and you try to look for 4 seats, your desired ticket will be unavailable for at least approximately 6 hours, until the system resets itself, unless the TOC decides to get rid of the left over AP quota.

 

[yorkie]

That's very true, Voyagerdude. I suspect it may be more than 6 hours but I'm not sure. It certainly is a while though! It's happened to me once or twice.

It could work the other way though. Say the availability is getting low, and you are not sure yet if you wish to purchase but you'll know in a day or two. Well, you can guess the rest..... probably a bit sneaky to do that though! Not that I've done it, but in theory....

 

[snuk]

Many thanks for the replies.

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but could someone please explain what "AP" means when referring to tickets? I guess it means Advance....something.

Cheers,

Steve.

 

[glynn80]

Many thanks for the replies.

I'm sorry if this is a silly question but could someone please explain what "AP" means when referring to tickets? I guess it means Advance....something.

Cheers,

Steve.

AP is often used as the abbreivation of Advanced Purchase however I have also seen it informally used as an abbreivation for Any Permitted, on forums and such like.

 

[Olympian]

If you book with CrossCountry on their own website, you can now choose your seat from a seating plan just like you can with airlines such as Flybe, and you can see which seats are available and either take the one they give you or pick your own. I've not had much of a play with it, but it works for Voyagers (at least) but, not surprisingly, only for CrossCountry journeys from what I could see. I just wish Virgin would do the same as it would make life a lot easier getting the seats I like....

 

[rick9525]

I did pick my exact seat. I specifically picked a single seat from the plan in 1st class a few weeks ago on the Virgin website. This was a first advance fair and I could pick any seat. Same as XC as well.

 

[rail-britain]

Is it possible to make a booking with Virgin Trains in first class and specifically request one of the seats by the windows which have a table with a seat either side - I think they might be called 1+1 seats?

If so, what do I need to request? Do they have any seats like these anywhere in standard class?

Yes, I do this all the time when travelling, no matter what train company
I go to Glasgow Central during quiet periods (typically mid week after 20:00), but you can also do it most manned stations

I have the seat plans for VT, and take these with me in case my preferences are already taken
My personal recommendations are :
Southbound -
Coach G 45 (facing) 42 (back)
Coach J 35 (facing) 32 (back)
Northbound -
Coach G 1 (facing) 3 (back)
Coach J 26 (facing) 29 (back)

There is ONE in Standard...
Coach C 1 and 2
However, it is next to the shop and the staff tend to pile their kit on it!

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I have a thing going on with J14. My favourite seat ever.

And agreed, C1 and C2 are the best in STD

 

[rail-britain]

I have a thing going on with J14. My favourite seat ever

J14 is good in that it is one of the few single seats, but it's view is restricted by the service
Perhaps try G2 next time
At weekends I like K3