Seat reservation

[thelem]

I purchased an off-peak open return ticket from Brighton to Bristol TM on the national express east coast website today. I specifically delayed my journey so that I could get a train that had seat reservations available (the site will tell you if a reservation is not available on a particular train near the end of the booking process).

When I collected the ticket from the machine at Brighton, it printed three tickets, out, rtn and collection receipt. None of the tickets have a seat number on them, and nor does the email I received from NatEx.

Does anyone know how I can find out what my reservation is? I would email them, but it is for Christmas Eve so I don't expect them to respond in time.

Thanks,
Ian

 

[glynn80]

I purchased an off-peak open return ticket from Brighton to Bristol TM on the national express east coast website today. I specifically delayed my journey so that I could get a train that had seat reservations available (the site will tell you if a reservation is not available on a particular train near the end of the booking process).

When I collected the ticket from the machine at Brighton, it printed three tickets, out, rtn and collection receipt. None of the tickets have a seat number on them, and nor does the email I received from NatEx.

Does anyone know how I can find out what my reservation is? I would email them, but it is for Christmas Eve so I don't expect them to respond in time.

Thanks,
Ian

What has happened is that you have purchased a ticket that is not restricted to one particular train. I realise you specified a particular service but this is on the website so consumers do not purchase tickets believing they are valid on services they are not.

If you wish to have a specific reservation on a service from Bristol to Brighton you will be able to reserve a seat free of charge at any ticket office. I have checked and the direct FGW services are reservable.

 

[yorkie]

Seats are shown just before booking (when it says 'Seating is reserved' you can press 'Edit' and it says what they are and you can change them at that point if you wish) and also on the confirmation screen when you have paid along with the reference number.

If you missed it I believe they are also sent in the email confirmation. Are you sure it booked you a seat?

 

[thelem]

Yes, it definitely booked me a ticket. The first two times I went through the booking process it said something along the lines on "there are no more reservations possible on this service". The third time (later train) I was able to reserve a seat and I got the "seating is reserved" message. I don't think it give me a seat number on the confirmation page, and the email just says:

Journey: 1 Brighton to Bristol Temple Meads

Ticket type: Off Peak Return
Valid on off-peak services by the route and Train operator shown. Return travel any day within 1 month.
Route: Via Any Permitted Route

Outward journey: 24 Dec 2008
departs Brighton at 15:49 travel by Train service provider Southern Railways to station London Victoria arrives 16:42
London Underground
departs London Paddington at 17:30 travel by Train service provider First Great Western to station Bristol Temple Meads arrives 19:15

Return journey: by 23 Jan 2009

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I've just gone through the booking process again and the particular train I booked no longer has any available reservations. A later train does have reservations and I am able to see the reserved seat by clicking edit as mentioned by yorkie. I couldn't go any further because I only want one ticket!

I think I will try to book a reservation at a ticket office tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

 

[yorkie]

I think I will try to book a reservation at a ticket office tomorrow. Thanks for your help.

Unless you're at a ticket office anyway I wouldn't bother, as you may end up with a rubbish seat or there may be no reservations on the day anyway e.g. due to a late inbound service and fast turnaround or staff shortage. The best advice I'd give is to arrive at PAD early and get on the train about 15-20 mins before it leaves and then you'll be able to find a decent seat.

You can get any train with an 'Off Peak' ticket.

Just make sure you don't go the long way round from VIC to PAD like some tourists do!