Great Western Coffee Shop

All across the Great Western territory => Fare's Fair => Topic started by: ChrisB on January 11, 2020, 15:15:21



Title: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: ChrisB on January 11, 2020, 15:15:21
Are not available on IET services operated DOO.

Are catering staff entitled to check your ticket? One threw me out of 1st class when I said I wanted a weekend upgrade...said he couldn't sell me one, but insisted on checking my ticket & throwing me out of 1st class when I said I wanted to upgrade...

I suspect I could have sat/stood my ground as weekend first upgrades are advertised as generally available at weekends on stock wuth 1st class seating.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Timmer on January 11, 2020, 15:46:43
And what would their reply have been if you having been refused a weekend first upgrade asked to excess your fare up to the first class fare?

Might be worth taking this up with GWR.

I didn’t think catering staff were entitled to check tickets but that may have changed with the introduction of IETs. Hopefully someone can clarify that for us.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: stuving on January 11, 2020, 16:01:44
And what would their reply have been if you having been refused a weekend first upgrade asked to excess your fare up to the first class fare?

Might be worth taking this up with GWR.

I didn’t think catering staff were entitled to check tickets but that may have changed with the introduction of IETs. Hopefully someone can clarify that for us.

Surely 1st class hosts at least are allowed to check whether tickets are 1st class. I'm pretty sure they can sell upgrades too - it would be logical. The question is whether other on-board staff, who may be doing catering but are not 1st clas hosting, should be allowed (and trained) to do the same. (I've assumed from the OP that no 1st class service at all was being offered, but I'm not certain of that.)


Title: Weekend First Upgrade Price
Post by: Oxonhutch on October 31, 2022, 12:01:47
I have recently been charged £15 for a Weekend First upgrade between Paddington and Didcot.  Is this the correct amount? I expected it to be £10 and the GWR website talks of upgrades from as little as £10.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: IndustryInsider on October 31, 2022, 12:26:16
I think that's the correct amount for a Zone A upgrade which covers out from London as far as Didcot, Oxford or Banbury.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: didcotdean on October 31, 2022, 13:42:36
Yes it has gone up considerably, although it was £5 for many years.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Phantom on October 31, 2022, 16:20:35
A little bit of information here https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/ways-to-save/weekend-upgrades

The zonal maps are certainly not a basic as they used to be and all about how many zones you travel through now
file://medsvcs.medicalservices.com/dfs/Citrix_Folders_2019/27104G.MEDSVCS/Downloads/Weekend%20First%20Map.pdf

One zone: £10.00
Two zones: £15.00
Three zones: £20.00
Four+ zones: £25.00

I have found seat frog to work out cheaper in the week rather than paying 1st class from scratch, some savings on occasional weekend journeys
https://seatfrog.com/partners/gwr/



Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Timmer on October 31, 2022, 16:48:03
I think this zonal map is now out of date:
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/maps/weekend-first-map.pdf?la=en

I’ve just looked up:
Paddington to Reading £10
Paddington to Didcot £15

The above map showing both stations in the same zone.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: TaplowGreen on October 31, 2022, 17:39:22
I think this zonal map is now out of date:
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/maps/weekend-first-map.pdf?la=en

I’ve just looked up:
Paddington to Reading £10
Paddington to Didcot £15

The above map showing both stations in the same zone.

Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: JayMac on October 31, 2022, 18:28:25
Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?

Lounge access at Paddington with the complementary drinks and snacks. Increased liklihood of a seat on board. Just about worth a tenner I'd argue.

Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: IndustryInsider on October 31, 2022, 18:36:08
Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.

And then apply for a refund due to there being no First Class accommodation on the train.  :)


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Timmer on October 31, 2022, 19:25:54
Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?

Lounge access at Paddington with the complementary drinks and snacks. Increased liklihood of a seat on board. Just about worth a tenner I'd argue.

Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.
Couple of queries. Firstly I don’t think you can buy Weekend First in advance and is WF even valid for lounge access?

I don’t think the Ealing Broadway ticket trick works now as I can’t find a first class ticket Paddington to Ealing Broadway online using GWR/LNER sites. I can see the fare exists on BR Fares, as you say at £7.50.

Would you have to specifically ask for it at the ticket office and would they sell it knowing there’s no FC to Ealing Broadway anymore?


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: bobm on October 31, 2022, 21:04:42
Wait til the station opens at Old Oak Common. 


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: JayMac on October 31, 2022, 22:19:11
Couple of queries. Firstly I don’t think you can buy Weekend First in advance and is WF even valid for lounge access?

I don’t think the Ealing Broadway ticket trick works now as I can’t find a first class ticket Paddington to Ealing Broadway online using GWR/LNER sites. I can see the fare exists on BR Fares, as you say at £7.50.

Would you have to specifically ask for it at the ticket office and would they sell it knowing there’s no FC to Ealing Broadway anymore?

Weekend First is valid in the lounge, although purchasing ahead of travel is problematical. So lounge really only usable on arrival in Paddington.

The £7.50 (£4.95) 1st Anytime Single can still be purchased online. You just have to use a booking engine that doesn't require the selection of a scheduled train. I just did a test purchase with RSH's older Mixing Deck booking engine. It allowed the purchase, save declining transaction for the account I used having insufficient funds.

(https://i.ibb.co/mXcW4cq/Screenshot-2022-10-31-22-02-58-235-com-android-chrome.jpg)

I'll see if I can buy it from the local TVM tomorrow.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: TaplowGreen on November 01, 2022, 07:44:43
That's something I've learned today - didn't realise that railcards provide discount on 1st class as well as standard class.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: JayMac on November 01, 2022, 09:51:42
That's something I've learned today - didn't realise that railcards provide discount on 1st class as well as standard class.

Some do, some don't.

All ticket types: Disabled, HM Forces, Senior, Two Together, Veterans.
All Std Class plus 1st Class Advances: 16-25, 26-30.
All Std Class only: 16-17 Saver, Family & Friends.
Std Class only, excluding Advances: Network, Jobcentre Plus.

All regional railcards, such as Dales and Devon & Cornwall, are Standard Class, excluding Advance, only.

E&OE


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Timmer on November 01, 2022, 19:09:24
Include Two Together in the All ticket type category.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: JayMac on November 01, 2022, 22:02:44
Include Two Together in the All ticket type category.
Indeed.

It was there originally. Dunno why I deleted it during an edit.

Added it back in again.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: Sleepy on November 30, 2022, 20:16:45
 :( Read somewhere recently GWR weekend first upgrades will be available on the weekdays between Christmas and New Year. However looking at BR fares.com site suggests only available 27th & 28th but not 29th or 30th ?? EDIT Our member Plymothian was the source for this.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: jamestheredengine on November 30, 2022, 22:13:58
I think this zonal map is now out of date:
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/maps/weekend-first-map.pdf?la=en

I’ve just looked up:
Paddington to Reading £10
Paddington to Didcot £15

The above map showing both stations in the same zone.

Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?
Not the only journey segment where Weekend First is atrocious value. I think it's true to categorically state that for all journeys wholly within Wales, just buying a normal First Class ticket is far better value than Weekend First.


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: ChrisB on December 02, 2022, 08:27:27
Indeed….even under old map, wordt offer is the few minutes from Didcot to Swindon. Two zones that costs for about15 mins


Title: Re: Weekend First Upgrades
Post by: JayMac on January 28, 2023, 13:09:09
Just to show that the AML/ELB 'trick' for First Class lounge access at Paddington still works.

(https://i.ibb.co/zbXjnwh/IMG-20230128-130745.jpg)



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