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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to prefer first class for a long train journey?

85 replies

srapa · 13/05/2026 09:32

About once every few months I need to take the train from London down to Penzance. It’s a minimum 5 hour train, often 6 hours.

I work full time and long hours, usually 9am-9pm. This means it’s pretty much impossible to get down to Cornwall for a proper weekend without travelling very early before work or in the evening after work. I used go get the sleeper train but this has genuinely tripled in price in the last few years.

I usually need to work on the train or I would need to use annual leave for the time off. There simply is not enough space or privacy to use a laptop for work in standard class. First is just a bigger seat and some tea and coffee really, but it makes all the difference.

DP thinks I’m precious about disliking standard class on the train. I’m v happy with standard for 2 hours or so, but can’t do it for 5 hours.

OP posts:
JingsMahBucket · 13/05/2026 13:58

srapa · 13/05/2026 09:43

For a 5 hour journey, I would roughly pay £40 extra for first class, not much more. I would genuinely postpone a visit if I had to travel and work in standard.

£40 extra is absolutely nothing for first class. @srapa book that ticket immediately without a single drop of guilt.

Just3pounds · 13/05/2026 13:55

This reply has been deleted

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MeAndMyGhost · 13/05/2026 13:18

I mean, that's less than £10ph, £5 for 30 mins, £2.50 for 15 mins, say, so broken down to that level, I would argue it was worth it!

EmailsaysOOO · 13/05/2026 13:18

If youve got the Dosh, why not? Makes space In The other carriages

CrushingOnRubies · 13/05/2026 13:15

Don’t that journey or most of it many times. PZ to Paddington is not the nicest in standard class. First class is much more civilised. If you have the option to go first class Yanbu

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 13/05/2026 12:30

I think almost everyone would prefer it!

What does your DH think it’s there for?

YANBU to use it if you can afford it, and your reasons for wanting it seem sensible- not that you need reasons!

Cheesipuff · 13/05/2026 12:27

The one time I took first class ,several years ago now, two very loud mouthed passengers were working on their laptops and having constant work phone calls😡

ParmaVioletTea · 13/05/2026 12:24

YANBU.

I travel a LOT for work, by train. I'm not allowed to claim back First Class in my expenses, but I often pay the difference myself because Standard class can be awful.

Although I generally find the London-West Country route is OK - book a seat in the Quiet Coach - the train managers (as well as the passengers) do try to keep it quiet.

But the long distance journey I hate is anything on CrossCountry. For some reason, the other passengers are always rude, noisy, and messy. I suspect it's because the trains are always overcrowded, dirty & smelly.

BauhausOfEliott · 13/05/2026 12:24

Who's paying for your ticket? If it's on expenses, I'd say it's got bugger-all to do with your DH.

OneTimeThingToday · 13/05/2026 12:18

FunnyOrca · 13/05/2026 12:13

My husband didn’t get it at first either! Then the first time we did it with a baby when we were stuck at King’s Cross for hours and were able to use the lounge he got it! Unlimited beverages and snacks, a nice loo, somewhere clean, comfy and quiet.

And the more space, less comings and goings and a meal once on the train!

We will probably stop doing it once the youngest is school aged, but for now it just takes a big mental load off.

I loved when mine were toddlers. Especially the bigger seats. Plus the staff would always give a hand with the pushchair and bags getting off the train. Sometimes they would even get childrens snacks (instead of the fancier snacks) from the buffet car for them.

DisforDarkChocolate · 13/05/2026 12:15

I rarely do anything else, Seat Frog is my friend.

FunnyOrca · 13/05/2026 12:13

My husband didn’t get it at first either! Then the first time we did it with a baby when we were stuck at King’s Cross for hours and were able to use the lounge he got it! Unlimited beverages and snacks, a nice loo, somewhere clean, comfy and quiet.

And the more space, less comings and goings and a meal once on the train!

We will probably stop doing it once the youngest is school aged, but for now it just takes a big mental load off.

ColdAsAWitches · 13/05/2026 12:08

Am I being unreasonable for prefering something that's better than the alternative?

What's the point of a question like that?

busyd4y · 13/05/2026 12:06

Surely your husband is the only person who'd prefer not to sit in 1st class for a long journey, I dont see how you could possibly think you're unreasonable

Are you being coercively controlled? I can't imagine why anyone would need their partners approval to spend such a minor sum in those circumstances or need the internet to tell them

BeaTwix · 13/05/2026 12:02

I want first class for longer journeys. Like @OllysArmyRidesAgain I frequently do London to Ed and almost always book first class.

I get loads done and I find the journey a good buffer between the activities in both places. I also HATE sitting squashed next to someone I don't know.

3 hours is usually my switcheroo points.

I went to Bath (from London) a couple of weekends ago and standard was fine on the way back (on the way out they had reduced the train by 50% and I had to stand all the way) Grr.

OllysArmyRidesAgain · 13/05/2026 11:59

Not done London to Cornwall but regularly do London to Edinburgh always first class.
I’m older and wiser and know that a few extra ££s for a much better service is a good investment.
If I time the booking right it can be less that standard booked closer to the date of travel.

lottlecat · 13/05/2026 11:46

I always book first for the single seat. I don’t take any of the food offerings I just want a seat to myself!

MissAmbrosia · 13/05/2026 11:43

I would always go first class unless the difference was huge.

OneTimeThingToday · 13/05/2026 11:36

£40 to save a day of annual leave makes financial ssnse.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 13/05/2026 11:35

Who wouldn’t prefer it.

MrThorpeHazell · 13/05/2026 11:34

YANBU. The only reason I do not travel first class on every train is that I am too poor.

Madarch · 13/05/2026 10:12

srapa · 13/05/2026 09:43

For a 5 hour journey, I would roughly pay £40 extra for first class, not much more. I would genuinely postpone a visit if I had to travel and work in standard.

£40 extra for a 5 hour journey is a no brainer.

SnippySnappy · 13/05/2026 10:09

srapa · 13/05/2026 09:43

For a 5 hour journey, I would roughly pay £40 extra for first class, not much more. I would genuinely postpone a visit if I had to travel and work in standard.

If that's the extra cost on that journey, then I'd definitely pay it.
In my 20s I wouldn't have - as I couldn't justify the extra cost with my income at the time.
So... it's horses for courses.

Wolfpa · 13/05/2026 09:45

Do you use Seat Frog for upgrades?

PinkTonic · 13/05/2026 09:45

Ineffable23 · 13/05/2026 09:36

Have you come across seat frog? You can buy a second class ticket and bid for the first class ones, if you can't justify the cost of first. I definitely understand preferring first though!

That’s now gone up so much I’ve basically given up and just try to book ahead far enough to get a tolerable price. I used to be able to upgrade for about £14 but last week there was no difference in the auction price and a fairly short notice first class ticket. It might depend on the route I guess. I can’t put up with standard on my commute anymore, the trains are always rammed due to cancellations and short trains.

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