Booking window for advance tickets esp sleeper

[whole diary]

[Brucey]

What the difference between the sleeper advance standard solo A for ^74 and the solo B for ^99

I cant see much difference in the blurbs

Just different fare categories (i.e. different prices, like all advance tickets)

Ticket:                      
 Code    -                  SJ
 Class   -            STANDARD
 Name    - STD SLEEPER SOLO  
___________ADVANCE A          
 Sgl/Rtn -              SINGLE
Outward/Return Validity:      
 Day  -         DATE ON TICKET
 Time -         TIME ON TICKET
Break of Journey:           NO
Pre-Book Req:  1800 DAY BEFORE
Reservations Comp:         YES
Discounts:                    
 Child    -                YES
 Railcard -                 NO
 Group    -                 NO
Refunds:  -                 NO
                              
Ticket:                      
 Code    -                  SK
 Class   -            STANDARD
 Name    - STD SLEEPER SOLO  
___________ADVANCE B          
 Sgl/Rtn -              SINGLE
Outward/Return Validity:      
 Day  -         DATE ON TICKET
 Time -         TIME ON TICKET
Break of Journey:           NO
Pre-Book Req:  1800 DAY BEFORE
Reservations Comp:         YES
Discounts:                    
 Child    -                YES
 Railcard -                 NO
 Group    -                 NO
Refunds:  -                 NO
                              
Ticket:                      
 Code    -                  SL
 Class   -            STANDARD
 Name    - STD SLEEPER SOLO  
___________ADVANCE C          
 Sgl/Rtn -              SINGLE
Outward/Return Validity:      
 Day  -         DATE ON TICKET
 Time -         TIME ON TICKET
Break of Journey:           NO
Pre-Book Req:  1800 DAY BEFORE
Reservations Comp:         YES
Discounts:                    
 Child    -                YES
 Railcard -                 NO
 Group    -                 NO
Refunds:  -                 NO

[Mookiemoo]

Luckily this is no longer needed but I REALLY APPRECIATE all those who kept me informed

Have come to an arrangement with a friend of mine who lives near reading where I rent her room whenever I need a hotel - saves her taking in a lodger to pay the rent

She's throwing the 19th in free of charge!

But I do have one question - is there such a thing as a first class sleeper berth?

Says if you are standard sleeper you may need to share but there seemed to be no option for bagging one to yourself

[Ollie]

sleeper is standard only. Solo berths are available.

[Mookiemoo]

sleeper is standard only. Solo berths are available.

Cool - cos I'm trying this wed night - am intrigued and need to be in paddington by 7am for a flight to munich - Friend already has a full house since we only came to this agreement the other day - so I'll get the sleeper on wed night - will report back

[Mookiemoo]

Now, having booked this, it seems you can ONLY book solo berths - there is no other option.  Well not that I was offered

Do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) really have strangers sharing a berth?  I can see how that would be a can of worms.

[Phil]

Do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) really have strangers sharing a berth?  I can see how that would be a can of worms.

Honestly don't know the answer to that. I do know Stena Line ferries do, or did very recently, as I booked myself into just such a berth on the way back from Holland. It was all that was available and I was desperate to get home. As it happened the chap (I was assured it was a chap!) I was sharing with never showed up - probably spent the night in the bar or something

[eightf48544]

Last time I used the sleeper in the late sixties I came back with my then girlfriend we both had shared berths but in separate cabins maybe even a coach. I was joined at I think Par by another chap, I believe she also had a travelling companion (female)

[Timmer]

Do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) really have strangers sharing a berth?  I can see how that would be a can of worms.

Yep and Scotrail. Been that way probably since sleepers started. If you book a 1st class sleeper on Scotrail you will get your own berth and a complimentary breakfast.

More info on FGW and Scotrail sleepers can be found on the links below:

FGW: http://www.seat61.com/Cornwall-sleeper.htm
Scotrail: http://www.seat61.com/CaledonianSleepers.htm

[inspector_blakey]

Do FGW^▸ (First Great Western) really have strangers sharing a berth?  I can see how that would be a can of worms.

Actually no, not any more - it was that way until fairly recently but now if you're travelling alone you will only be booked into a room that you have to yourself. To quote seat61:

Passengers travelling alone pay ^45 and get a single room all to themselves.  Unlike the sleepers to Scotland, if you're travelling alone you're no longer allowed to share a 2-berth room with another passenger, you must pay for sole occupancy of a single room.  However, unlike the Scottish sleepers, you no longer need a first class ticket to travel in a single room all to yourself, a standard class ticket is all you need.

Similar deal on Amtrak sleepers, where whatever charge you pay for sleeper accommodation ends up being "per room" and you won't find yourself sharing with someone else.

[Mookiemoo]

Yeah - I like the Amtrack system - and am roughly glad the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) system works the same (although it still asks whether you want the upper or lower berth)

I'll report back on thursday

It was cheaper to get an advance to penzance on wed and the sleeper to be at heathrow on time (if the sleeper breaks down in this case I care not - client pays - unlike xmas) than to get a peak ticket to get me there in the morning OR go down the night before and get a hotel

Insanity

[old original]

Single travellers CAN still be booked into twin berth cabins  (same sex), if they wish.

There is also one compartment in each coach (berths 17 & 18)  which are switchable. They can be booked as a twin or a single but as a single the top bunk will still be left down and there won't be the Volo Tv available

[JayMac]

Booking window open for the 19th Mookiemoo!!!

And about time too. 

EDIT: Have looked at the Sleeper Advance Solos for that date and the cheapest is ^74. The cynic in me suggests that the cheapest ADVs were never going to be available and FGW^▸ (First Great Western) can use the excuse that it is close to Christmas, but one wonders if they may've been available if it wasn't for the RDG^‡(resolve) blockade and the booking horizon issues this caused.

Maximising revenue..... sharp practice.....

[Ollie]

Booking window open for the 19th Mookiemoo!!!

And about time too. 

As mentioned on Page 3

But she doesn't need it now..

[JayMac]

Oops. Posted in haste without reading the thread.