First Class Upgrade "Issues" A Hot Potato Situation (A Rant!)

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

Well I wanted to Upgrade to First Class this evening on the 22:36 Service from Bath Spa - Salisbury. (Christmas Shoppers in Bath, was not prepared to have to stand for 35 mins for the sake of ^3.05)

I was at Bristol at the time, and knowing the ticket office at Bath would be closed by the time I got there (Caught the 20:33 as I was meeting someone in Bath and then intending to travel on to Westbury on the 22:36) I decided to upgrade at Bristol Temple Meads... There was a helpful looking member of staff stood there with a trusty Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains). Who said to me he couldn't upgrade my ticket unless he did a full Return Upgrade (Bit pointless seeings as I had already made the outward Journey to Bath and then bought a seperate ticket onto Bristol). That was costed at ^15 something. He referred me onto the ticket office.

At the ticket office I was told there wasn't even First Class on that route... Well yes the is I said, 4 SWT^▸ (South West Trains) per day... Response:

I can't do that as they have different ticket arrangements which they don't have access to... Well forgive me here, I don't really buy that because I have bought upgrades for SWT Services from Bath and Bristol before with no issues. Which I did say, still the person decided they couldn't help me and told me to pay on the train.


Now I did pay the upgrade on the train, the guard was very helpful and charged me ^3.05 which IMO^▸ ('in my opinion') on a busy train full of roudy drunks, was good value

But i'm still mift at the fact that I wanted to buy something which seems perfectly reasonable and nobody would help me...

Whats your views on this then, In future should I just sit in First Class and upgrade on the train?? or be a bit more assertive at the ticket office ?

[JayMac]

One assumes you are talking about an excess fare upgrade and not 'Weekend First'.

Maybe the ticket office staff at BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains) thought you were refering to 'Weekend First' which is bought only on the train (at least in SWTs^▸ (South West Trains) case - avoids disappointment if a WF is sold and then 1st is full).

They should, however have been able to excess your ticket to change it from STD to 1ST.

 

[thetrout]

Yes Excess Fare Upgrade as apposed to WF

I believe I made it clear enough, but he told me it was because it was a different company that the fares were different and he couldn't issue me it...

I have bought upgrades for these trains before in Bristol & Bath Spa without issue so really I couldn't see what the problem was...?!

[eightf48544]

As Mr Weeden (?spelling) Divisonal Manager Central Divison 1966 would have said

 "Give me one side of A4 explainging the current fare structure."

Perhaps that's a demand that Coffee Shop should make.

[Ollie]

Yes Excess Fare Upgrade as apposed to WF

I believe I made it clear enough, but he told me it was because it was a different company that the fares were different and he couldn't issue me it...

I have bought upgrades for these trains before in Bristol & Bath Spa without issue so really I couldn't see what the problem was...?!

Sounds to me like whoever served you was still going on the basis of you wanting weekend first.

[thetrout]

Yes... the more I look into it I think your right... Maybe I should make it more clear next time... I don't have a problem with Upgrading on the train... and in all honesty sometimes don't come round or they'll say "I never saw you", wink and walk off

I'd just prefer not to be in a situation where there could be potential disagreements... Hence why I always try and have the money out ready to pay...

Again in all honesty the only trouble I've ever had trying to upgrade to 1st on trains was on a GNER^▸ (Great North Eastern Railways) service I wanted to upgrade and the ticket collector took a great dislike to me when I couldn't find my ticket... which did turn up in my back pocket after 5 minutes of frantic searching...! To which he was delighted (and very apologetic) to sell me an upgrade...