Weekend First Upgrades

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Are not available on IET^▸ (Intercity Express Train) services operated DOO^▸ (Driver-Only Operation (that is, trains which operate without carrying a guard)).

Are catering staff entitled to check your ticket? One threw me out of 1st class when I said I wanted a weekend upgrade...said he couldn't sell me one, but insisted on checking my ticket & throwing me out of 1st class when I said I wanted to upgrade...

I suspect I could have sat/stood my ground as weekend first upgrades are advertised as generally available at weekends on stock wuth 1st class seating.

[Timmer]

And what would their reply have been if you having been refused a weekend first upgrade asked to excess your fare up to the first class fare?

Might be worth taking this up with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

I didn’t think catering staff were entitled to check tickets but that may have changed with the introduction of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train). Hopefully someone can clarify that for us.

[stuving]

And what would their reply have been if you having been refused a weekend first upgrade asked to excess your fare up to the first class fare?

Might be worth taking this up with GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway).

I didn’t think catering staff were entitled to check tickets but that may have changed with the introduction of IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train). Hopefully someone can clarify that for us.

Surely 1st class hosts at least are allowed to check whether tickets are 1st class. I'm pretty sure they can sell upgrades too - it would be logical. The question is whether other on-board staff, who may be doing catering but are not 1st clas hosting, should be allowed (and trained) to do the same. (I've assumed from the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) that no 1st class service at all was being offered, but I'm not certain of that.)

[Oxonhutch]

I have recently been charged £15 for a Weekend First upgrade between Paddington and Didcot.  Is this the correct amount? I expected it to be £10 and the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) website talks of upgrades from as little as £10.

[IndustryInsider]

I think that's the correct amount for a Zone A upgrade which covers out from London as far as Didcot, Oxford or Banbury.

[didcotdean]

Yes it has gone up considerably, although it was £5 for many years.

[Phantom]

A little bit of information here https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/ways-to-save/weekend-upgrades

The zonal maps are certainly not a basic as they used to be and all about how many zones you travel through now
file://medsvcs.medicalservices.com/dfs/Citrix_Folders_2019/27104G.MEDSVCS/Downloads/Weekend%20First%20Map.pdf

One zone: £10.00
Two zones: £15.00
Three zones: £20.00
Four+ zones: £25.00

I have found seat frog to work out cheaper in the week rather than paying 1st class from scratch, some savings on occasional weekend journeys
https://seatfrog.com/partners/gwr/

[Timmer]

I think this zonal map is now out of date:
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/maps/weekend-first-map.pdf?la=en

I’ve just looked up:
Paddington to Reading £10
Paddington to Didcot £15

The above map showing both stations in the same zone.

[TaplowGreen]

I think this zonal map is now out of date:
https://www.gwr.com/~/media/gwr/pdfs/maps/weekend-first-map.pdf?la=en

I’ve just looked up:
Paddington to Reading £10
Paddington to Didcot £15

The above map showing both stations in the same zone.

Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?

[JayMac]

Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?

Lounge access at Paddington with the complementary drinks and snacks. Increased liklihood of a seat on board. Just about worth a tenner I'd argue.

Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.

[IndustryInsider]

Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.

And then apply for a refund due to there being no First Class accommodation on the train. 

[Timmer]

Hardly worth it for Paddington-Reading is it?

Lounge access at Paddington with the complementary drinks and snacks. Increased liklihood of a seat on board. Just about worth a tenner I'd argue.

Although, if you just want to escape into the First Class lounge for a bit, then buy a 1st Class Single to Ealing Broadway for £7.50. £4.95 if you have an appropriate railcard.

Couple of queries. Firstly I don’t think you can buy Weekend First in advance and is WF even valid for lounge access?

I don’t think the Ealing Broadway ticket trick works now as I can’t find a first class ticket Paddington to Ealing Broadway online using GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)/LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) sites. I can see the fare exists on BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Fares, as you say at £7.50.

Would you have to specifically ask for it at the ticket office and would they sell it knowing there’s no FC^‡(resolve) to Ealing Broadway anymore?

[bobm]

Wait til the station opens at Old Oak Common. 

[JayMac]

Couple of queries. Firstly I don’t think you can buy Weekend First in advance and is WF even valid for lounge access?

I don’t think the Ealing Broadway ticket trick works now as I can’t find a first class ticket Paddington to Ealing Broadway online using GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)/LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) sites. I can see the fare exists on BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Fares, as you say at £7.50.

Would you have to specifically ask for it at the ticket office and would they sell it knowing there’s no FC^‡(resolve) to Ealing Broadway anymore?

Weekend First is valid in the lounge, although purchasing ahead of travel is problematical. So lounge really only usable on arrival in Paddington.

The £7.50 (£4.95) 1st Anytime Single can still be purchased online. You just have to use a booking engine that doesn't require the selection of a scheduled train. I just did a test purchase with RSH's older Mixing Deck booking engine. It allowed the purchase, save declining transaction for the account I used having insufficient funds.



I'll see if I can buy it from the local TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) tomorrow.

[TaplowGreen]

That's something I've learned today - didn't realise that railcards provide discount on 1st class as well as standard class.