cf111
Established Member
- Joined
- 13 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,348
Mushroom it is! Thanks all. Trip is tomorrow, been too long since I was on the rails.
If you go into your account there is a search facility which shows availability.
I have previously been able to book an Evening Meal qualifying departure, however if by December you mean X-mas time that may be a different matter.
Wait for the 12 week window and get in early.
I've done that, just was going to plan a birthday treat to go upto Edinburgh in early December on the Friday (and coming back Saturday afternoon either via the East Coast or West Coast).
I wanted to try and get the hotel booked sooner rather than later (saw a travelodge in Haymarket area for £24 for the night which probably would be ideal)
Obviously you will be coming up on East Coast although Virgin also have a similar offering of an Evening Meal on some services.
Going back as it is a Saturday EC's catering offer is better than Virgins - also you will be able to use The Lounge in Edinburgh.
In that case, you've surely got the answer, given that there are none showing availability.If you go into your account there is a search facility which shows availability......
I've done that, just was going to plan a birthday treat to go upto Edinburgh in early December on the Friday....
- hopefully that will manifest itself in the form of the drinks trolley rattling it's way to you on a regular basisIn that case, you've surely got the answer, given that there are none showing availability.
I'd imagine demand for the 1800 on a Friday would be very high indeed.
I think you'll have to settle for the 1930 instead, which has plenty of availability for dates in October. This is an "all day" service. The 2000 is evening meal but only goes as far as Newcastle.
On the plus side, a less wedged train probably allows the staff to provide a more attentive service.
[/B] - hopefully that will manifest itself in the form of the drinks trolley rattling it's way to you on a regular basis
In that case, you've surely got the answer, given that there are none showing availability.
I'd imagine demand for the 1800 on a Friday would be very high indeed.
I think you'll have to settle for the 1930 instead, which has plenty of availability for dates in October. This is an "all day" service. The 2000 is evening meal but only goes as far as Newcastle.
On the plus side, a less wedged train probably allows the staff to provide a more attentive service.
I believe that food provided in lounges is only intended for consumption within the lounge. Likewise, food provided on trains is only intended for consumption on board.In a East Coast first class lounge, specifically Newcastle, can you just take the biscuits and drinks? They are sort of behind a counter but I have never ever seen any staff there.
I believe that food provided in lounges is only intended for consumption within the lounge. Likewise, food provided on trains is only intended for consumption on board.
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood the question! I'd assume so; that's the case in all other lounges I've been to.Yeah, that's what I meant, can you take the food in the lounge to consume in the lounge.
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood the question! I'd assume so; that's the case in all other lounges I've been to.
Oh, sorry, I misunderstood the question! I'd assume so; that's the case in all other lounges I've been to.
In a East Coast first class lounge, specifically Newcastle, can you just take the biscuits and drinks? They are sort of behind a counter but I have never ever seen any staff there.
In KGX it's pretty much take what you want. I always walk out with a bottle of water and a couple of packets of biscuits.
Following my post 4749 on 25th July, I wrote to East Coast and this is the reply I received:
"Thank you for your correspondence received on 29th July 2014. Im sorry to learn you have cause to complain regarding your recent 1st Class experience with us.
I understand your disappointment in not being offered the full complimentary service advertised, as you know the journey you informed our staff you were taking was under 70 minutes; although I understand your destination point was currently unknown. Whilst I trust you were being truthful, in order to avoid dishonest answers our staff are unable to provide passengers with the full service who have already claimed to be alighting at an earlier stop.
With that being said, I am sorry to hear that you felt a member of our staff provided a low level of customer service during your journey with us.
We expect everyone representing East Coast to be polite, respectful and approachable at all times and its disappointing when, for whatever reason, this doesnt happen. Staff complaints are taken very seriously "
Following my post 4749 on 25th July, I wrote to East Coast and this is the reply I received:
"Thank you for your correspondence received on 29th July 2014. I’m sorry to learn you have cause to complain regarding your recent 1st Class experience with us.
I understand your disappointment in not being offered the full complimentary service advertised, as you know the journey you informed our staff :cry:you were taking was under 70 minutes; although I understand your destination point was currently unknown. Whilst I trust you were being truthful, in order to avoid dishonest answers our staff are unable to provide passengers with the full service who have already claimed to be alighting at an earlier stop.
With that being said, I am sorry to hear that you felt a member of our staff provided a low level of customer service during your journey with us.
We expect everyone representing East Coast to be polite, respectful and approachable at all times and it’s disappointing when, for whatever reason, this doesn’t happen. Staff complaints are taken very seriously …"
No Butts, no voucher received. Just the rather bland reply which has taught me that if in future I travel on East Coast when using an ALR, if asked where I am travelling to, I might respond with the name of whatever the final destination is whether I intend to go there or not.
Telling a lie on a train in order to get something that you're not entitled to isn't really that different to fare-dodging, is it? Where do you draw the line?
No voucher enclosed ?
I recently asked EC customer service if it was possible to book train tickets, where the journey in question involves taking a slower (but most importantly cheaper) combination of trains, as apposed to a faster direct service (where it isn't possible to filter out services by using the via or avoid functions), only for them to inform me that I was allowed to split ticket if I wished. This is despite me telling them the exact journey in mind, and highlighting the difference in price between the far more expensive, faster direct train and the far cheaper, slower alternative.