What is the point of first class rail tickets?

Posted by EvadeCapture@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 20 comments

I have been in this country almost seven years, but I still do not understand this. When I buy train tickets, it gives me the option to pay more money for a "first class" ticket. And on the train there is a car labelled first class. But....the first class car looks exactly the same as all the other cars, except has a white sash that says First on the head rest. I could kind of understand if it was guaranteed seating and not crowded, but when trains are crowded they let all the riff raff in anyways so you dont even have that benefit. What am I missing?

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20 Comments

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SquirelWinter@reddit

Depends on the operator. Some operators first class is literally a different colour seat and likelihood of getting a seat. Other operators give you food, drink and much more comfier spacious seats.

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DesertTrux@reddit

Travelling with LNER you get a first class lounge at certain stations, which are nice to chill in and you get snacks and drinks. You also get bigger seats and tables, plus onboard food and snacks.

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ClippTube@reddit

different class of people

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unethicalworker@reddit

First class on long trips (London to Edinburgh first class is great) is totally worth it if you can afford it imo, much nicer cabins, seats, free food and drink, free wifi etc. Short trips I agree in most cases it's not worth it unless you need to guarantee a seat perhaps because you've got to do some work on the laptop etc.

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buymybone@reddit

Makes me feel like a *biiig* man.

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novel-adj@reddit

literally nothing. i get standard tickets and still sit in the first class sections sometimes. its just copy and pasted, but like you said, with the sash on the headrest. idk where these people are from that get food and drinks on trains

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LondonCycling@reddit

It depends what train you're getting. If you're on a high speed long distance route, like LNER, Avanti, GWR operate for example; then you get food/drink, larger seats, more legroom, all table seats with plug sockets, WiFi, access to first class lounges at stations, etc. On some commuter services you're effectively paying for space (assuming 1st class doesn't get declassified). On more local routes, it might not be worthwhile. A lot of the routes near me don't even have 1st class seating.

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SirCarp00@reddit

You’re missing the ability to see the differences between the first class and standard class carriages.

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Electricbell20@reddit

Nothing. Been in first class and it's really not that much better than standard. The food isn't even that good. Rather save the money and go elsewhere either prior or after my train.

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melielush@reddit

The best bit is you can just sit in the first class seats & pay a £25 standard premium fee only when and if the ticket guy comes round. You can only buy these tickets ON the train and it’s completely part of the policy. Standard premium differs from first class as first class gets unlimited snacks & wifi but rarely does the wifi work very well & I’ve sat in ‘first class’ on the £25 standard premium ticket many, many times & i’ve never even seen a food trolley come down the aisles ….. You basically pay an extreme first class fee for NOTHING. Sure it’s a guaranteed seat in first class but first class RARELY fills up, you may as well just upgrade to standard premium & buy a snack from the shop & the wifi - get the whole service for way less!! First class is designed for business customers, who claim on expenses, they’re deliberately expensive as train companies know businesses will just pay it regardless & the average commuter won’t even consider it for the lack of benefits it offers. At least this is the case for all trains I’ve been on travelling from or into London, longer distance of course.

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smww93@reddit

Usually bigger seats, more leg room, generally quieter, usually complimentary drinks and snacks (assuming the train has catering as not all of them do). Depending on the length of your journey, you may even get a free meal. Seating still isn't guaranteed depending on your ticket but if you get a specified train with reserved seating then it's usually fine.

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DangerShart@reddit

Because everyone in 1st class is expensing it so they don't give a fuck.

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Comfortable-Use5648@reddit

You get meals at mealtimes plus, unlimited snacks and soft and hot drinks. You can also get alcohol and entrance to first class lounges in certain train stations. The lounges have free biscuits, crisps, hot drinks, bottled water, charging stations, TVs and clean toilets.

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afungalmirror@reddit

It's for if you want to feel a bit fancy.

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BigDanglyOnes@reddit

On some trains I’ve thought the same thing. When the seats are almost the same.

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Miserable_Mix_6253@reddit

Some trains have an offset corridor with 1 seat on one side and two on the other. Inclusive wifi, hot drinks and sometimes food.

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bishibashi@reddit

It is guaranteed seating, normally bigger seats with a table, refreshments or sometimes even a meal included and at a lot of stations a lounge to wait in before boarding, that also has space to work and refreshments. Most of the time they absolutely do not open it up to the rest of the train unless it’s basically empty, as doing so pisses off first class customers and triggers refunds.

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sv723@reddit

Less busy, better chance of actually sitting. On longer distance trains the seats are bigger and comes with free food/drinks.

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yariso@reddit

You get free food (breakfast in the morning), drinks (wine/ beer on evening) and bigger seats. The best way to get them is by using the app Seatfrog, you can bid for tickets and get them much cheaper.

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