AIBU to prefer first class for a long train journey?

Nope not being unreasonable. Also with the free drinks in first class on a 5 hour journey it won't work out as £40 difference!

I travel LNER on the east coast and there are still fortunately bargains to be had there. Fingers crossed that remains

If you can afford it, go for it.

Of course YANBU. Over two hours is my trigger point.

Unless you’re asking DP to pay let them think what they want! You treat yo self 🤣

£40?! That’s a no brainer

My company used to pay for me to travel first class and I didn't like it. I suppose I was commuting to London early in the morning but it always felt like I was in a gentleman's club and the courtesy tea and kit kat didn't seem worth the money.

I think it's worth every penny. YANBU

I regularly used to get upgrades for £14, however I just looked for next week and the starting auction price is £29 each way for my trains. Then there’s an extra £3 per upgrade, plus the auction will probably go to £38. The current buy now price is £41. I’m not going into the office next week so I haven’t bought an advance ticket, but if I bought one today there is a tiny saving and it’s not enough to justify risking not winning the auction and having to travel in standard. The days of great savings on Seatfrog have gone unfortunately, unless maybe you want to travel off peak. Even then I don’t think there’s much advantage over something like GWR weekend first, if any.

Before retiring, I often had to work on trains - not just the London trains, but cross country too. I will echo what you say @srapa - it's impossible to work on a laptop for any decent amount of time in standard class, unless your carriage is empty. First class has enough room (and elbow room) to work comfortably without disturbing other passengers. The extra cost used to be a lot less than my hourly rate and the free tea/coffee was very welcome. Even now I'm retired, I keep a close eye on the first class prices and grab bargains when offered. As for DP, if he wants to travel second class (and work) to prove a point - let him! And don't entertain any complaints about aches and pains.

I've never been offered free drinks, often the carriage is full, the single seat is comfortable and the curtain is great, they can be noisy with laptops, phone calls, people working so I always take earplugs and my own snacks.

If you can afford first class then do it. A world of difference assuming no problems with the journey.
Quieter. It just feels cleaner. Curtains on the windows. Coffees etc. Seats are more comfortable.

Not unreasonable. I do the same route often and go first. I do think first has declined in quality though, and half the time you can’t get a sandwich now, which used to be a big selling point.

Howwver, cross country is chronic. I’m almost at the point where I refuse to travel if it’s CC. Last time I had a seven hour trip and had a booked first class. The train manager then announced all reservations were void because there were too many passengers. Which makes ZERO sense - only one person can sit in each seat and if it’s booked it should be that person. Not being arsed to actually police your own policy on the train is a crap excuse. CC acted as if it was a one-off but the regular commuters say it happens all the time. Who the hell wants to be standing for seven hours?

If you can afford it why wouldn't you. Admittedly I travel long distance by train a lot less frequently, but if I'm on my own I'll only travel first class now (I would if I wasn't but first class for a whole family is too expensive). Also one of the best things about travelling first class is the individual seats on their own as opposed to having to be squashed up next to a stranger.

Actually I also prefer nicer things that cost more. I don't think that's massively unusual is it? 🙄

I’ve often managed to get the upgrades for £10-£20.

Doesnt seatfrog end up costing just as much as getting first class in the first place?

Damned right!

a decent DP would fucking pay the difference to make his partner’s journey more comfortable, not carp about £40!

@srapa you can’t be happy with a bloke like this? Surely you know you deserve to be valued and treasured?

If you're on a work related trip and working on the train do work pay for your train fare so you just pay the extra upgrade, if you know the dates in advance there are offers on and if it's a regular trip would a railcard help.

So nearly 100 for return?

@srapa do whatever the fuck you like with your (very) hard earned money

who the hell does your DP think he is trying to tell you what you can and can’t spend £40 on.

put that bloke in his place and tell him to pipe down.

Well, OP said £40, so I guess it's £40.

So what's the problem?

You know you're not being unreasonable to "prefer" first class. What a silly question.

I always try and snag a first class ticket. It’s so much nicer.

Seatfrog is brilliant for it.

Just out of interest, what's the price difference between first and standard class?