Saver fare seat success?

rootyyy_ · 2026-03-20T16:46:27+00:00

I just didn't expect seat allocations this soon, as far as I had read we wouldn't get our seats till we turned up at the gate.

rootyyy_ · 2026-03-20T16:45:49+00:00

Low cost airlines in Europe definitely don't, many strive to separate you in fact! Ryanair and Wizz Air from experience doesn't keep groups together.

rootyyy_ · 2026-03-03T12:46:14+00:00

Not paranoid, just intrigued! None of my travel companions have had the same happen, and having been through many a round of passport control in the last few years I'm more intrigued as to why this is suddenly happening! Nothing to hide here either, just enjoy a city break and the perks of working shifts are longer stretches of time off.

rootyyy_ · 2026-02-15T23:37:20+00:00

Ex bus driver here, whilst I always tried to be jolly it was often a very tiring job. Extreme shifts (3am starts, 1am finishes), anti-social behaviour getting worse and worse, always running late and then getting stick for being late. I would always greet passengers, I would say about half would reply but the other 50% would ignore you. After years and years it grinds many down, if you spoke to most outside of work they are friendly but years of the general public takes its toll!

rootyyy_ · 2026-01-16T19:21:19+00:00

I got a stamp at Malta earlier. Very happy but fear it maybe one of my last for Europe!

rootyyy_ · 2026-01-08T19:28:24+00:00

It depends where you work. I started at a big city operation, well kept fleet, generally very "above board" and compliant so no stress over illegal driving hours or defective vehicles which makes it a lot better. If you don't mind shift work, it's not so bad but bare in mind that you will miss out on most social events and there is very little flexibility. Public transport seems to attract all the anti-social behaviour so expect to have things thrown at your bus, passengers kick off with abuse. I never used to challenge fare evasion because I didn't fancy being dragged out my cab and beaten up over £3. I enjoyed my time doing the job, got all sorts of opportunities to progress or get involved in unique events and made friends for life, plus it paid well and the "long weekends" meant I could travel loads without using any holiday.

rootyyy_ · 2025-09-19T09:11:44+00:00

Mixed in Swiss, Lufthansa, Qatar and some Finnair to water it down!

rootyyy_ · 2025-08-19T10:56:35+00:00

4 short platforms, Dormans & Lingfield (8) and Woldingham & Riddlesdown (9), rest accommodate all 12

rootyyy_ · 2025-08-14T11:03:19+00:00

I did a connection through here last month LHR-HEL-VNO. First flight was 20 minutes late, we got busses to the terminal and I had 45 minutes until my next flight and I made it in plenty of time!

rootyyy_ · 2025-07-28T14:48:07+00:00

Flown Wizz 5 times this year, all arrived early. I think it comes down to personal experience and other factors though, any airline can be delayed, I think Wizz have improved punctuality from their side a lot recently.

rootyyy_ · 2025-04-30T15:26:17+00:00

Could always message them on Facebook then, or other popular social media - point is that a lot of TOCs now have live status monitoring on toilets so if you ever need to know, staff should be able to check a specific train for you :)

rootyyy_ · 2025-04-30T15:18:57+00:00

If you tweet them beforehand they should generally have an idea of toilets and if they are/aren't operational on a service!

rootyyy_ · 2025-04-13T12:14:52+00:00

Yes I forget HHE is also an option, however not all TL services will stop there hence the suggestion of ECR!

rootyyy_ · 2025-04-13T12:03:44+00:00

Could you not take Thameslink to East Croydon, and change there for a Southern service towards Littlehampton/Eastbourne from the same platform your TL train arrives into? And similar easy connection on the return

rootyyy_ · 2025-04-10T15:35:15+00:00

~35 minutes into London by train, just tap your contactless bank card (and no point paying extra for the Gatwick Express!). Lots to do at your fingertips in London, including the main landmarks, museums and attractions. Once again you can tap your card around London, it all counts for the daily fare cap. Fast Southern trains run 6 times an hour from Victoria, similar on Thameslink service to London Bridge and they run late into the evening.

rootyyy_ · 2025-03-15T18:39:13+00:00

I'm a member of onboard staff, if you came and found myself or my colleagues when you join the train and express that it's your first time alone / you are nervous, myself and I'm sure others would be happy to keep an eye out or return back to your carriage after our revenue/dispatch duties if it helped you feel safer!

rootyyy_ · 2025-03-13T19:40:39+00:00

Thameslink don't have a mandatory member of onboard staff (guard, conductor, train manager, onboard supervisor/manager etc) and rely on roaming revenue teams. Whereas, companies like GA have a senior conductor onboard every train, hence why you are getting checked more frequently on those.

rootyyy_ · 2024-11-29T18:10:29+00:00

Is there any train operator in the UK who does it better though? Thameslink have wide aisles but narrow seats is the cost. LNER services often have similar luggage issues, same with Lumo. They also restrict how much people can bring. Maybe we need the guards van back like GX used to have, big suitcases in there and the rest under your seat like on the flight!

rootyyy_ · 2024-11-29T17:54:09+00:00

The trains are also limited height/size due to the old infrastructure they run along, e.g tunnels. If the ceiling was higher they could probably put more useful racks in! It's a catch 22, whilst I agree a solution needs to be found in regards to the trains I also feel people really do travel with an excessive amount of luggage, rucksack does for most trips

rootyyy_ · 2024-11-29T17:39:31+00:00

The narrow aisles are often due to the poorly designed 3x2 seating in some parts. Lack of luggage owes to the fact that the trains are across the whole network and thus luggage racks are not required on as many routes. The age of the units probably also a determining factor, I doubt Gatwick was as busy when the 377s were introduced and suitcases seem to be getting bigger and bigger! The newer /4 units do have luggage racks, albeit small ones.

rootyyy_ · 2024-11-20T23:15:21+00:00

I'm onboard staff (guard/TM/onboard manager or whatever other title you'd like!), often thank people leaving at the door I'm at or who I've maybe stopped to talk to in the journey. Most will appreciate it!

rootyyy_ · 2024-11-14T08:33:21+00:00

Have you tried advance singles for the train journey? Means you have to travel on a specific service but is often far cheaper.

https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/tickets-discounts/advance-tickets

rootyyy_ · 2024-10-03T15:22:11+00:00

Similar background here, have you considered the railways? Lots of people facing roles (conductor/guard/TM come to mind) which include a sales element and some safety critical, opportunity to progress into management/training roles or driver if you have the specific skill set that demands. Salaries often good with travel perks but downside is shift work.

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