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Original poster

How much extra would you pay for First Class on the Train

59 replies

boogeewoogee · 28/05/2023 12:01

For travel in the UK on a GWR service. I have to travel fairly long distances by train on GWR every couple of months. Have a railcard so get 1/3 off.

I often do London-Pembroke Dock and London-Penzance. It just so happens that my family have decided they like living at the very end of train lines... Both of these journeys can take around 5 or 6 hours. That's without delays.

If a standard class single was £20 and first class was £40, would you pay the difference? I much prefer travelling in first as I can work, or relax a bit more. But I constantly feel guilty for 'wasting' money.

OP posts:
Worried1305 · 28/05/2023 15:10

I find it depends on the rail operator. LNER from Stirling to London, you used to get a hot breakfast AND lunch, as well as free hot drinks delivered to your seat. Virgin, I did it once from Pembroke to London - all I got was a crappy sandwich and a bag of crisps, and I had to go and get that myself from the buffet car. Not worth it at all.

What do you get for the money @OP?

justasoul · 28/05/2023 15:29

Seatfrog. I wouldn’t pay more than £20-ish though. GWR trains are nice, at least the longer distance ones, so standard class is ok - sockets on all seats, wifi mostly decent. I like first class for the peace and quiet but last time I went on it there was a full on hen do going on… Grin
to be honest though, if you can afford it and enjoy it, why not? Every few months you said, just see it as treat Wink

Nofixedabodewell · 28/05/2023 15:30

someone toke me it’s possible to upgrade to first for an extra £25 on board at weekends . Don’t know if this is still true.

SwedishEdith · 28/05/2023 15:35

For £20 extra, I'd pay, especially for a long journey. It's just fewer people that makes it more enjoyable and free drinks. Depends on the train though. Trans Pennine has a little 1st class section which always looks a bit pointless.

PleaseSay · 28/05/2023 15:47

Definitely depends on which operator. I travel LNER frequently and will always pay the extra if travelling at a time where they give you free wine :)

JingsMahBucket · 28/05/2023 15:48

@boogeewoogee definitely upgrade if it's only about £20 for such a long trip. That's entirely worth the price.

highlandspooce · 28/05/2023 15:49

JingsMahBucket · 28/05/2023 15:48

@boogeewoogee definitely upgrade if it's only about £20 for such a long trip. That's entirely worth the price.

Surely it's not though? Because that would mean the original fare for the 5/6 hours was £20. I think the £20/£40 are unrelated examples.

TrishTrix · 28/05/2023 15:51

My rule is journey has to be over 2.5 hrs and I'll pay for first

So London to Ed I'll go first.

London to Birmingham I won't unless it's super cheap.
I really wish they would bring in a national discount rail card for regular single travellers like other european countries have. I do most of my journeys on my own and it's a expensive when I travel outside the network south east area.

MrsDanversGlidesAgain · 28/05/2023 15:59

Nofixedabodewell · 28/05/2023 15:30

someone toke me it’s possible to upgrade to first for an extra £25 on board at weekends . Don’t know if this is still true.

True on GWR.

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 28/05/2023 16:18

I don't know if this is peculiar to Avanti West Coast, but last time I did the marathon return trip from Euston to Glasgow Central I booked Standard Premium because it wasn't much more than Standard. It turned out to be a First Class carriage with a name change. Far fewer seats crammed in, so easier to go up and down the aisle. Far less full than Standard. Charging points at every seat. Shared the loo with the First Class carriage so there were fewer people using it. No free drinks, but otherwise it appeared to be a First Class ticket/service for much, much less cost. I will do this again.

(Senior Railcard brought the price down a lot too.)

JingsMahBucket · 28/05/2023 16:18

@highlandspooce sorry, I meant to write "£20 difference". I was so excited for the OP that I forgot my words!

Tupster · 28/05/2023 16:31

I always get first class if possible on a long LNER journey - it's well worth it there. I've travelled first class on GWR but find their service a lot less impressive and resented paying the extra for nothing much. I probably still would pay for the peace and comfort on a long journey, but my cut-off price would be much lower for GWR. But I'm someone for whom travelling is part of the experience and I enjoy having a little bit of luxury as I travel. I have friends who see it as a total waste of money. Each to their own!

londonmummy1966 · 28/05/2023 16:47

I'll pay the extra for a long journey but will then pick my train for the less convenient and therefore cheaper times if I can. I got lucky once coming back from Berwick to London as the first class ticket was cheaper than the standard on the same train......

Natsku · 28/05/2023 16:51

Not in the UK, here we have ekstra class instead of first class and you can book private cabins which is definitely worth the extra if you're travelling in a small group on a long journey. Was especially good during covid times when we had to use masks on trains but didn't have to in the private cabin (6 seats, all with proper tables, and our own luggage space, at the end of the train so no one passing through. There was also smaller cabins with 2 or 4 seats available) because it was just my family. Only tea and coffee free though, no other drinks and no free food so not as good as first class in that sense but also its only about 8 euros extra for normal ekstra class (and the ekstra class cabin above the restaurant car has nice swivel seats so you can face straight towards the window)

TheCyclingGorilla · 28/05/2023 17:05

I once got a deal online where first class York to London was cheaper than a standard ticket. Oh, to DH & I t'was luxe. Free drinks and crisps, comfy seats and good wifi. Loads of foot room. I've never achieved anything similar since, sadly.

I also once came back from Penzance cattle standard class at peak holiday season with DD & DD. Never. Fucking. Again. It was so uncomfortable and so squashed I wanted to scream.

I don't mind standard class in general and thus is how I tend to travel but if I see a deal which means I'm only paying a bit more, same or even less, I say, yeah, why not?

LlynTegid · 28/05/2023 19:35

I'd pay the £20 for that sort of distance, especially if I can get a single seat.

elevenplusdilemma · 28/05/2023 21:33

On GWR the first class device is pretty good. You can use the lounge at Paddington and take advantage of the complimentary food and drinks (includes sandwiches at certain times of the day) and there's a free trolley service on board too. Sometimes they even used to serve free wine on board.
So for that, I'd happily pay £30 extra for Paddington to the West Country.

dwightschrutebeets · 28/05/2023 22:19

When I used to travel from Cardiff-London jr was £20 extra and was soooo much comfier. I can't find it for less than £50 on trips now. £20 is worth it IMO

burnoutbabe · 28/05/2023 22:33

BranchGold · 28/05/2023 13:43

if you’re not too bothered about getting first or not, (and doing the journeys you say where you’re joining at the start of the line rather than a mid point then I wouldn’t be too much, just walk to the very end of the platform and those carriages tend to be significantly quieter) then seat frog is a good way to upgrade. You bid on a first class ticket up to about an hour before the journey. I’ve had upgrades for £10/15 pound.

Yes I do that quite a bit for trips 2 hours from London. £15 max bid and sometimes get it, sometimes not. Also make the most of the first class lounge at Paddington either trip.

continentallentil · 28/05/2023 22:35

I would yep.

Exactly how much I’d pay would depend on how dire standard was

burnoutbabe · 28/05/2023 22:37

Think the sandwiches are Paddington are no longer offered it was humous and dips at lunchtime last time I used it.

Dodger101 · 28/05/2023 22:38

For journeys of 5-6 his £40 is good going. I'd pay and enjoy the first class space.

AnneShirleysNewDress · 28/05/2023 22:48

I travel to London with LNER from Scotland and first class is definitely worth it.

Aposterhasnoname · 28/05/2023 22:51

Igmum · 28/05/2023 12:52

Yes definitely (though sadly railcards don't give you discounts on first class tickets)

What? My two together railcard most certainly does discount first class.

CharlottenBurger · 28/05/2023 22:53

Aposterhasnoname · 28/05/2023 22:51

What? My two together railcard most certainly does discount first class.

Show quote history

Most cards do allow first class, as 30 seconds with Google would have shown that person.

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