RailUK First Class Lounge Guide

[Deerfold]

How far in advance do you book to get that price?

Strange they don't stock soft drinks in the lounges.

They used to have coke/diet coke at Kings Cross (but not for many years, now) and the only time I've used York they had an unusual but tasty pop (2023?).

Cans of pop are portable ?

They stocked them for years at Kings Cross and still stock bottled water (which isn't usualy much cheaper than pop).

 

[Travelmonkey]

Slightly off topic but I usually raid the irn bru from the Calledoinian lounges, I know I have a 1st class trip on avanti next month so will be using the Euston lounge before heading down to Lichfield, definitely will be patronising the lounge before rolling to my Evero,

 

[Egg Centric]

Slightly off topic but I usually raid the irn bru from the Calledoinian lounges, I know I have a 1st class trip on avanti next month so will be using the Euston lounge before heading down to Lichfield, definitely will be patronising the lounge before rolling to my Evero,

Do they have real Irn Bru (i.e 1901) or just the horrid post sugar tax abomination?

 

[Travelmonkey]

Do they have real Irn Bru (i.e 1901) or just the horrid post sugar tax abomination?

The current gen one but free is free. They do also do full fat cokes too, although last time I got some one exploded all over the passenger assist buggy, think it pierced on either my phone charger or seat belt.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I'm sure I read somewhere GWR Advance First Class tickets are permitted in lounge at Paddington? GWR doesn't state this, a google 'AI Generated' description mention's it is valid with no proof where it got it's source from so I'm not 100% trusting AI telling me I can at the moment

 

[aar0]

I'm sure I read somewhere GWR Advance First Class tickets are permitted in lounge at Paddington? GWR doesn't state this, a google 'AI Generated' description mention's it is valid with no proof where it got it's source from so I'm not 100% trusting AI telling me I can at the moment

Why wouldn’t they be? Unless you mean a GWR advance first class ticket for a route not via Paddington

 

[Mikey C]

Yes, GWR Advance 1st class tickets do allow you access.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Thank you! I did a google search just about First Class Advance and First Class lounges, and it came up with LNER and Scotrail allow Advances in lounges but it's unclear if all TOC's have this policy, suggesting that some only accept full fare first class tickets, which I couldn't imagine being the case.

I had thought being in the lounge once if Weekend First Upgrades would permit anyone in the lounge I haven't found an answer for this, even GWR's Weekend Upgrade page doesn't clarify that lounge access is a perk of a cheap weekend upgrade, so I'm assuming the idea of the weekend upgrade is more for the on train perk than anything else...?

 

[WesternLancer]

Thank you! I did a google search just about First Class Advance and First Class lounges, and it came up with LNER and Scotrail allow Advances in lounges but it's unclear if all TOC's have this policy, suggesting that some only accept full fare first class tickets, which I couldn't imagine being the case.

I had thought being in the lounge once if Weekend First Upgrades would permit anyone in the lounge I haven't found an answer for this, even GWR's Weekend Upgrade page doesn't clarify that lounge access is a perk of a cheap weekend upgrade, so I'm assuming the idea of the weekend upgrade is more for the on train perk than anything else...?

Pretty sure whenEMT existed their first class lounges they did not accept First Advance tickets for entry.

 

[Polarbear]

Pretty sure whenEMT existed their first class lounges they did not accept First Advance tickets for entry.

That’s my recollection too. East Midland lounges didn’t accept advance purchase tickets.

 

[alastair]

Thank you! I did a google search just about First Class Advance and First Class lounges, and it came up with LNER and Scotrail allow Advances in lounges but it's unclear if all TOC's have this policy, suggesting that some only accept full fare first class tickets, which I couldn't imagine being the case.

I had thought being in the lounge once if Weekend First Upgrades would permit anyone in the lounge I haven't found an answer for this, even GWR's Weekend Upgrade page doesn't clarify that lounge access is a perk of a cheap weekend upgrade, so I'm assuming the idea of the weekend upgrade is more for the on train perk than anything else...?

I frequently use GWR Weekend First but have always understood it can only be bought on-board from the TM. i.e. after any opportunity to use the lounge.

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I frequently use GWR Weekend First but have always understood it can only be bought on-board from the TM. i.e. after any opportunity to use the lounge.

Ah yes of course I have it in my head the conditions of a First Class ticket is you can use the lounge for 1 hour once you arrive, hence the question would it work on arrival at Paddington, but I think I'm answering my own question here I doubt you could use it on arrival anyway thinking about it, you'd still have a STD ticket I can't remember if the upgrade comes as a ticket format or paper reciept

 

[Mikey C]

Review: Great Western Railway First Class lounge, Paddington Station

This is our review of the GWR First Class lounge at Paddington Station in London. It was way back in November 2016 when we last reviewed this lounge, so it was time to take another look. I was there one evening in early April as part of a journey which…

www.headforpoints.com

This article came up in my recommended ones, probably because of this thread!

A review of the Paddington lounge, nothing revelatory, but might be useful. He was there for the sleeper, I was there at breakfast time and I think there were porridge pots available.

 

[Deerfold]

That’s my recollection too. East Midland lounges didn’t accept advance purchase tickets.

Not sure how far you're going back, but I used Advance tickets in the Derby lounge in 2014.

 

[Doctor Pepper]

Back in the day East Coast didn't accept Advances in first class lounges - you had to pay a £5 fee.

 

[Travelmonkey]

That’s my recollection too. East Midland lounges didn’t accept advance purchase tickets.

I must have a way about me they always let me waltz in, tbh I did get into the LNER Newcastle lounge with a TPE 1st once as well. Sadly no luck with other tocs in their other lounges it is a bit cr*p that Avanti ones can't be used in LNERs Edinburgh.

I can understand the open acess ones getting a big nope for me at London Kings Cross though.

 

[Leogilbert007]

Genuine question — how do some TOCs justify forbidding holders of AP tickets from lounges? Surely they hold first class tickets, no less valid than flexible tickets…

 

[WesternLancer]

Genuine question — how do some TOCs justify forbidding holders of AP tickets from lounges? Surely they hold first class tickets, no less valid than flexible tickets…

I guess it's because for some of the cheapest Advance First class tickets you could eat and drink your way through the price of the ticket without even getting on the train...

AFAIK everything provided in first class is pretty much at the discretion of the operator - ie there is no requirement for train operators to provide all the 'perks' that they throw in to first class travel which are there to justify (historically at least) the large mark up of first compared with Standard Class tickets - some of which were regulated on privatisation when 1st class was not regulated.

Frankly I would rather they went back to the 'historic' norm of pricing 1st class at 50% above the standard fare (as I think remains common on many European railways) and made all the other add ons charged for if people actually want them. Paying large mark ups for tickets that then include a free cheap to source refreshments isn't really as good as charging less for 1st class.

But people do like something that they believe is "free" so it makes good business sense on a commercially minded railway I guess, and thus some operators must feel retaining First Class lunges as exclusive to higher paying passengers makes business sense in terms of creating a sense of exclusivity.

Well, I think that's how they would justify it.

 

[Mikey C]

I must have a way about me they always let me waltz in, tbh I did get into the LNER Newcastle lounge with a TPE 1st once as well. Sadly no luck with other tocs in their other lounges it is a bit cr*p that Avanti ones can't be used in LNERs Edinburgh.

I can understand the open acess ones getting a big nope for me at London Kings Cross though.

I would like to think that GBR will get rid of such issues...

 

[WesternLancer]

I would like to think that GBR will get rid of such issues...

More likely get rid of such lounges I fear

 

[Travelmonkey]

I would like to think that GBR will get rid of such issues...

maybe not for Hull & GC bit the rest we can live in hope.

More likely get rid of such lounges I fear

that would be foolish especially at the larger terminals, Euston is already hellish enough without the thought of lounge disposal,

 

[Deerfold]

I must have a way about me they always let me waltz in, tbh I did get into the LNER Newcastle lounge with a TPE 1st once as well. Sadly no luck with other tocs in their other lounges it is a bit cr*p that Avanti ones can't be used in LNERs Edinburgh.

I can understand the open acess ones getting a big nope for me at London Kings Cross though.

Most of the times I've used Newcastle I've not even been checked that I had a valid ticket.

 

[WesternLancer]

that would be foolish especially at the larger terminals, Euston is already hellish enough without the thought of lounge disposal,

Indeed - lets hope sense remains and a decent standardised product emerges across intercity service network. The re-introduction of the intercity brand would make sense too, but that's off topic

 

[Travelmonkey]

Indeed - lets hope sense remains and a decent standardised product emerges across intercity service network. The re-introduction of the intercity brand would make sense too, but that's off topic

I do need to check if they have a line to assists as its total opisite side to the concourse, but if your paying for 1st class a lounge is a good perk,

 

[Mikey C]

The freebies in the Paddington lounge were very similar to the onboard "freebies" on my GWR service, so all part of the 1st class package.

 

[Butts]

Indeed - lets hope sense remains and a decent standardised product emerges across intercity service network. The re-introduction of the intercity brand would make sense too, but that's off topic

Avanti is the leader in terms of offering in my view.

Unfortunately since the introduction of Standard Premium also the most expensive.

 

[Travelmonkey]

Avanti is the leader in terms of offering in my view.

Unfortunately since the introduction of Standard Premium also the most expensive.

Even the SP uplift price has skyrocketed, I know I'm treating the other half to some 1st class milage Euston to LTV soon on a Evero so will certainly be spending some time in the lounge prior to departure.

 

[Scotrail314209]

I do kind of understand why TOCs limit the First Class lounge if they run it. Edinburgh is an example, if you allowed TransPennine, Scotrail, Avanti and CrossCountry 1st class passengers along with LNER’s, the lounge wouldn’t exactly be a pleasant place to wait as it would be rammed full.

I already find that even with it just being LNER passengers, it’s already fairly busy.

The only other solution I can see was if Network Rail was to create a First Class lounge for multi-toc use outwith the LNER one.