Phoned today to book a return London-Stockport on Virgin Trains. Had to phone to reserve one of the four bike spaces.
The lady told me that I couldn't book the bike space until I'd booked the train ticket. She announced that she couldn't hold the bike space while she herself booked my ticket, and that if the bike space had gone it would cost £10 to amend my ticket to another train (this is with the flexible off-peak month return).
At this point I said this was madness but she insisted there was no other way.
Lo and behold, the bike space had gone by the time my ticket had gone through. I had to pay £10 to get her to move me to another train with a bike space, with again no guarantees that the bike space would remain. Thankfully it completed successfully.
This isn't just absolute madness, it is utterly derisory that they refused to waive the amendment fee in this case. I'm amazed I managed to not loose my rag tbh.

