AIBU to prefer first class for a long train journey?

[srapa]

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.

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.

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

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.

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😡

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!

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

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

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!

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

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

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

Seatfrog is brilliant for it.

So what's the problem?

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

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

@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.

So nearly 100 for return?

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.

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?

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.