Great Western Coffee Shop

I have just received ANOTHER misleading email from FGW! ::) Here are the highlights:

*"Discounts: There's a 10% discount on our Advance train tickets when you buy them on our website." No, they've just RAISED advance tickets by 11% if you buy them at a ticket office!

*"No fees: Unlike other websites, there are no postal, booking or credit card fees when you buy train tickets for national travel from our site." I know plenty of other websites that do the above. Misleading statement.

*"Super Off-Peak - even greater choice, even better savings: Super Off-Peak tickets are new, and even better value for money than the regular Off-Peak tickets. These turn-up-and-go fares are available on a smaller number of trains, at quieter times of day. You can pick up a real bargain, such as Bristol to London for just ^24.50 one-way." No - you have just hiked Off Peak tickets, so the claim that these fares are new is misleading. Had they taken the Chiltern approch and introduce the new fare level at LOWER prices, then this would be justified.

And yet the only decent change in FGW's tickets - the cheaper singles, are NOT mentioned! ???

Moan at me all you want for this post, but in my opinion FGW have got a nerve to send this out to their "customers". >:(

For goodness sake, calm down. There is no need to get hysterical!

Whilst its a bit cheeky, they are marketing, now you tell me that marketing always includes the full facts?

I'm calm. ;D

It's just FGW must think we were born yesterday...

For all your froth Btline, every statement in that email is factually correct, and none of them are misleading.

1. At current prices, you do get a 10% discount on Advance fares using the FGW website.
2. Other websites, notably thetrainline an raileasy, do charge booking and credit card fees.
3. Super off-peak tickets are now significantly cheaper than off-peak.

You can't directly compare the fares before the September changes an after them like you're trying to do.

Can I suggest that it might be good for your health for you to unsubscribe from the FGW mailing list...?  ;)

I appreciate that all the statements are technically correct.

However, it is still misleading. Why shouldn't I compare the old fares? FGW are making out they've done a Chiltern when they actually done a SWT!

It's not as bad as the letter I received from Virgin Mobile when they recently (Monday) raised the price of calls from 15p a minute for the first 5 minutes a day and 5p a minute thereafter, to a flat 20p per minute. Apparently they were offering me the "same great value".

They are not making out anything, they are stating the situation as it stands now. So the statements are indeed correct.

On the subject of publicity "spin", I received an email from BA the other day all about their "enhanced" seating policy, which apparently gives everyone more control/choice/yadda yadda yadda. What it actually gives you is the opportunity to part with more cash and hand it to the airline. Basically, whereas previously if I was quick and got to online check-in 23 hours 59 mins and 59 sec before my flight was due to leave, most of the time I would get lucky and bag an exit row seat at no additional cost.

Now, however, thanks to BA's "enhancements", it would cost me GBP50.00 to choose an exit row seat ahead of time and GBP20.00 to choose a particular seat anywhere on the aircraft before check-in opens. Even business class passengers (who pay through the nose already) will get charged an extra GBP60.00 to choose a seat under certain circumstances!

The Continental flights from Bristol are looking more attractive by the minute...

When "Willie" Walsh was interviewed on R4 the other morning, he said the new policy would cost passengers no more - this was an "optional" enhancement.
The interviewer wasn't quick enough to think of your point !

For many people, buying Advance tickets online isn't an "option".

And if you want a day out in London, buying a Super Off Peak ticket is not an "Option".

So BA's changes are not as bad as FGW's (even if both their emails are suspect).

Bit of an over generalisation there Btline.  Super Off Peak Day Return is an option if your day out is a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday. Even if its a weekday you can still get upwards of 10 hours in the capital; kinda depends where you are travelling from.

I'm sure they will get over it, it's not the end of the world. I'm sure they could chose to drive along the congested M4 and then pay congestion charge and ^10 upwards to park. It allmounts up...

Its the business class charge I cant understand!

Charge them more!  Should be included - of course its probably complementary just as the coke/fizzy pop and the friday wine club used to be