Virgin first class at weekends

[graham125hst]

We have travelled down to London Euston from Preston this morning in first class and yet again due to a lack of staff if anyone wanted cuppa they had to go down to coach C and join a very long queue of people (mostly first class passengers) who wanted to get a drink.

This seems to be happening more and more recently or maybe we have just been a bit unlucky.

While I was not bothered about doing this as we only paid £11 standard and £15 weekend upgrade each you have to wonder what people who paid the normal fare made of this and if in the long run it will effect how many people Virgin can attract to first class at the weekend.

 

[jamesontheroad]

Any word on whether this is due to deliberate staffing strategies, or have not enough people volunteered / chosen to work weekends?

 

[devon_metro]

We have travelled down to London Euston from Preston this morning in first class and yet again due to a lack of staff if anyone wanted cuppa they had to go down to coach C and join a very long queue of people (mostly first class passengers) who wanted to get a drink.

This seems to be happening more and more recently or maybe we have just been a bit unlucky.

While I was not bothered about doing this as we only paid £11 standard and £15 weekend upgrade each you have to wonder what people who paid the normal fare made of this and if in the long run it will effect how many people Virgin can attract to first class at the weekend.

Complain to Customer Services via email!

If enough people moan then they might actually do something about it. And what have you got to lose! You might even get refunded something as a gesture of good will.

 

[Squaddie]

While I was not bothered about doing this as we only paid £11 standard and £15 weekend upgrade each you have to wonder what people who paid the normal fare made of this...

This is a dangerous attitude to take.

Train companies set their own fares and someone who pays the rock-bottom Advance fare has just as much right to expect good service as someone who has paid a walk-on fare.

This is the attitude that allows certain low-cost airlines to get away with treating their customers as a mere inconvenience, and it would be a terrible shame if the same attitude were to prevail on our railways.

 

[graham125hst]

This is a dangerous attitude to take.

Train companies set their own fares and someone who pays the rock-bottom Advance fare has just as much right to expect good service as someone who has paid a walk-on fare.

This is the attitude that allows certain low-cost airlines to get away with treating their customers as a mere inconvenience, and it would be a terrible shame if the same attitude were to prevail on our railways.

You are right mate. On thinking what you said about people like us who have paid rock bottom prices to get in first class having the right to expect the same standard of service as people who paid the full price I have come to your way of thinking about it.

I am going to email Virgin about this like somone else said before and maybe at the same time ask them why people seem to be able to travel from Manchester to Stockport/Macclesfield/Wilmslow/Crewe/Stoke for free if they dont get a ticket beforehand.

 

[Failed Unit]

This is a dangerous attitude to take.

Train companies set their own fares and someone who pays the rock-bottom Advance fare has just as much right to expect good service as someone who has paid a walk-on fare.

This is the attitude that allows certain low-cost airlines to get away with treating their customers as a mere inconvenience, and it would be a terrible shame if the same attitude were to prevail on our railways.

Virgin already treat 1st class passengers North of Preston on services from Birmingham like an inconvenience. No at seat service at all ever. It always has been a bugbear that if you travel on a pendo from Glagsow - Preston you pay the same fair as someone on a Voyager but get a full breakfast on the Pendo. On the voyager you get a microwaved bacon roll and a coffee you go to collect yourself.

If you are standard class you can sit in the coach with the 2+2 seating (which is first class on the Holyhead route) and pay for the food saving yourself a fortune on the first class ticket. I guess you will even be able to access the free-wi-fi if you are sat in the right seat!