Grumpy Git
On Moderation
Hahahah I'd like to see that
It could have a logo saying something like "off duty, don't bother asking".
Hahahah I'd like to see that
They must passenger a lot of staff. They are on every train!Remember that some staff do pass on trains, meaning they're in uniform but are not the core staff on the train. They will assist where required but the main reason they're on that train is to get to another one.
Or they could be assisting with at seat order, which requires an extra person in the shop now.
Reduced timetable, same amount of staff. So makes senseThey must passenger a lot of staff. They are on every train!
It could have a logo saying something like "off duty, don't bother asking".
Although when travelling pass, while not working the train they are on duty !
Perhaps they could spend their time doing online cooking classes to help address catering service failures.Although when travelling pass, while not working the train they are on duty !
I've messaged Avanti on Facebook and they state there are no restrictions preventing Priv ticket holders from paying the appropriate fee to upgrade to Standard Premium.
Standard Premium accommodation
Standard Premium accommodation is currently only available as an onboard upgrade for members of the public and at the moment is not available to holders of any Staff Travel Facilities. First Class accommodation remains available to holders of First Class staff travel facilities.
Strange, as they supposedly checked with one of their Fare Managers.That's not what the latest RSTL restrictions state:
I'm considering LNWR First Class even if they dont offer food or lounges, they do seem offer a better pricing structure even if the journey is going to take longer.
As ever it's down to price and your mileage may vary.Have you ever actually used LNR First Class?
Let's see, in no particular order...
1. No food
2. No lounge
3. Inferior seats to Standard (unless a /2)
4. Less legroom than Standard other than in some middle sections
5. Curtains
You'd pay extra for curtains?
I think this is hyperbole. SP is just classic Euro First Class - an uplift of approximately 50% (on the Off Peaks) for a bigger seat. It is precisely the product I want, and if I had my way it would be the standard, with food served at an extra charge. (I could be swayed to free tea, coffee and water but not more than that).
The fare increases on cheapo Advances are a side issue; they'd have done that whether SP was introduced or not.
In essence, what SP is is Weekend First all week, unless you think a little snack box worth a couple of quid is that important.
I do think LNR would have an opportunity to make money out of decent 1st, but decent it is not.
FWIW what I do wonder is which of the two "middle class" propositions would be more popular - the one they chose (better seat, no service) or the other one (Standard seat, 1st service). I think a few on here might like the latter but I don't think it would do best overall.
If it’s really down to price I don’t see why most people wouldn’t just travel Standard. LNWR First class is a downgrade from standard and is more expensive!As ever it's down to price and your mileage may vary.
Avanti risk pricing themselves out.
I agree, the one they have chosen is better. Trenitalia has the other option, and I just can't understand why anyone would pay more for a different colour seat, and a biscuit + 330ml soft drink.Have you ever actually used LNR First Class?
Let's see, in no particular order...
1. No food
2. No lounge
3. Inferior seats to Standard (unless a /2)
4. Less legroom than Standard other than in some middle sections
5. Curtains
You'd pay extra for curtains?
I think this is hyperbole. SP is just classic Euro First Class - an uplift of approximately 50% (on the Off Peaks) for a bigger seat. It is precisely the product I want, and if I had my way it would be the standard, with food served at an extra charge. (I could be swayed to free tea, coffee and water but not more than that).
The fare increases on cheapo Advances are a side issue; they'd have done that whether SP was introduced or not.
In essence, what SP is is Weekend First all week, unless you think a little snack box worth a couple of quid is that important.
I do think LNR would have an opportunity to make money out of decent 1st, but decent it is not.
FWIW what I do wonder is which of the two "middle class" propositions would be more popular - the one they chose (better seat, no service) or the other one (Standard seat, 1st service). I think a few on here might like the latter but I don't think it would do best overall.
£31 with railcard seems pretty expensive really. Are we talking Birmingham or Liverpool?As ever it's down to price and your mileage may vary.
I have seen £31 advance first including railcard with LNWR, that's pretty impressive.
Avanti risk pricing themselves out.
As ever it's down to price and your mileage may vary.
I have seen £31 return advance first including railcard with LNWR, that's pretty impressive.
Avanti risk pricing themselves out.
I have paid £28.70 for First Class from Liverpool on Virgin Trains.
I'm going have to disagree with you on value, I do not think SP is a better value for what you are paying.No, it's down to the value proposition. LNR First is cheap, but as it's inferior to Standard I wouldn't "upgrade" if it cost an extra £0.01, and indeed if I had a First Class ticket anyway I'd sit in Standard unless there were only the "no legroom" centre section seats available (I have a near 100% record of not having to sit in one of those seats).
Paying to downgrade has zero value.
If LNR had fitted TPE style 1st to all the 350s it would indeed have been about price.
Not when the product basically has zero value.
Quite the opposite - SP is making a better seat accessible to more people on weekends including walk-up passengers at the same price as Weekend First was. All they're doing is getting rid of the supercheapo Advances which are small in number anyway.
That's a "price dumped" low value Advance. If the railway sells any of those it isn't yield managing effectively.
Have you ever actually used LNR First Class?
Let's see, in no particular order...
1. No food
2. No lounge
3. Inferior seats to Standard (unless a /2)
4. Less legroom than Standard other than in some middle sections
5. Curtains
You'd pay extra for curtains?
I think this is hyperbole. SP is just classic Euro First Class - an uplift of approximately 50% (on the Off Peaks) for a bigger seat. It is precisely the product I want, and if I had my way it would be the standard, with food served at an extra charge. (I could be swayed to free tea, coffee and water but not more than that).
The fare increases on cheapo Advances are a side issue; they'd have done that whether SP was introduced or not.
In essence, what SP is is Weekend First all week, unless you think a little snack box worth a couple of quid is that important.
I do think LNR would have an opportunity to make money out of decent 1st, but decent it is not.
FWIW what I do wonder is which of the two "middle class" propositions would be more popular - the one they chose (better seat, no service) or the other one (Standard seat, 1st service). I think a few on here might like the latter but I don't think it would do best overall.
Yet companies like Trenitalia and Regiojet make do with FOUR classes on some trains (arguably more in the case of the latter), and it seems to work well for them.I'm going have to disagree with you on value, I do not think SP is a better value for what you are paying.
I have looked inside the LNWR 1st class carriage, they are big enough and not overcrowded, cheap enough at least I can bring my own food knowing I'm actually getting what I actually paid for and not sit in stupidly expensive Avanti seat paying for the privilege of having mock 1st Class.
I still think Avanti have made a poor decision in massively jacking up the price of 1st Class and applying old 1st class price to an inferior product offering, it feels like blatant profiteering.
The old railway companies got rid of 3 classes in the past for a reason !
Probably cultural for Europe.Yet companies like Trenitalia and Regiojet make do with FOUR classes on some trains (arguably more in the case of the latter), and it seems to work well for them.
Probably cultural for Europe.
In the UK it doesn't seem to work.
So are you saying you would turn down anything else offered to you free as part of the package.
The fact that it doesn't work when FirstGroup does it in a half-***ed way, launches it in the midst of a global pandemic and doesn't advertise it properly doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the concept!Probably cultural for Europe.
In the UK it doesn't seem to work.
The fact that it doesn't work when FirstGroup does it in a half-***ed way, launches it in the midst of a global pandemic and doesn't advertise it properly doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the concept!
Yet these are new concepts introduced relatively recently. Even this ÖBB Railjet that I am on right now has three classes, as does the competition of Westbahn.Probably cultural for Europe.
In the UK it doesn't seem to work.
Very busy 9 car from Euston to Glasgow today
Reservations not loaded
Standard Premium coach 80% occupied on leaving London
Anounced as declassified at Preston but very few people came through
TM from Preston walked through when train quietened down but no ticket checks done
This. They have no brand identity. What’s that, a triangle? How riveting.Exactly. Avanti West Coast is lackadaisical and half-whatevered, as you say, through and through.
No. Never. Not after those talking bloody toilets.Come back VT, all is forgiven