Some diligent planning ahead – combined with some savvy cross-checking – can make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheap first-class ticket.
Follow our guide to the ins and outs of travel sposh and a whole new world of British trains opens up, including bigger seats, soft drinks and snacks on shorter journeys, and hot meals and alcoholic drinks on long-distance services such as Avanti.
We’ve tried all the tricks to get first class tickets at discounted prices – here’s what we found…
Is there really a simple way to get a cheap first class ticket?
Yes. Join the Seatfrog auction app (seatfrog.com). After purchasing a standard class fare for a journey, it is possible to bid for an upgrade to first. A limited number of such upgrades are available on most trains. It’s a simple system: the highest bid wins, with the auction closing 30 minutes before departure.
On a random check we found a standard ticket from London Euston to Penrith at 1.40pm was £94, while a first class ticket was £230. Using Seatfrog you can bid for an upgrade for £36. So the first class ticket actually cost £130 – a saving of £100 (or 43 per cent off).
Are first class tickets for all trains services offered on Seatfrog?
Almost everyone. Transport for Wales has just joined, but Scotrail and Hull Trains are not participating.
If you do not enter a Seatfrog auction, is it better to book in advance or wait until the last minute?
Booking early is usually best, says Mark Smith, of the website Seat61.com. When we checked, a first class fare from York to Edinburgh was £59.80 ten weeks in advance. This compared to £91.70 on the day (up 54 per cent).
Is there an exact best time to book in advance?
Eight to 12 weeks is best for long-haul routes as this is when most rail operators release timetables and when prices are usually the lowest. Fares can be up to 75 percent cheaper during this ‘sweet spot’. Some operators allow you to book bargain advance fares even further: LNER is 20 weeks and Hull Trains 26 weeks.
How about a lot last minute deals?
It’s possible and worth checking out if the Seatfrog app isn’t for you. On trainline.com – on the day of travel – we found that the difference between first class and standard class for Bristol to Penzance was only £22.10 – £83.50 instead of £61.40. For London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, a last-minute first class ticket was £138.90 (booked 30 minutes before travel) while journeys later that week were £173 to £299.
Are some routes better for first class offers than others?
Yes. The best prices are usually available when traveling between regional stations and when avoiding London, says Railsmartr.co.uk. It highlights that a first class fare from York to London on the same day at around the same time can cost £95 (for a journey of 1h 52m), while York-Edinburgh in first class can be as low as £52 (for a journey of 2 hours 37m).
How about upgrading once you are on board?
This is sometimes possible if there is availability – you will have to ask the guard. Especially low rates may be available at weekends and bank holidays. The cost on Great Western Railway and Greater Anglia is from £10, or it is from £10 to £45 on LNER. You can pay there and then with your card and walk through.
How about on Avanti West Coast Trains?
It is different from the others with two upgrade possibilities: standard premium and first class. You sit in the same style of carriages for both – with wider seats and a guaranteed table – but with standard premium you don’t get free food or drink. On-the-day first class upgrade prices are similar to LNER. If you book in advance, Saturday fares between London and Glasgow can be £85 (standard), £120 (standard premium) and £199.50 (first class). On all journeys standard premium is from £17.50 extra.
Does train ticket discount apply to first class tickets?
Yes, when tickets are purchased in advance. They do not work for upgrades available via Seatfrog or on board.
Any other travel tips?
Try boarding a train with a restaurant car. Although first class passengers get priority reservations, standard class ticket holders can also dine on GWR.
When does GWR eat? cars run?
GWR’s Pullman Dining is in a vintage-style Pullman coach, available Monday to Friday on the 13:03 and 19:04 Paddington to Plymouth services; 17:48 from Paddington to Swansea; 13:15 and 18:16 from Plymouth to Paddington; and the 12.23pm Swansea to Paddington (gwr.com). It’s £37 for two courses or £44 for three courses; wine is from £17 a bottle.
What about the Transportation for Wales dining service?
Two courses £21.95 (with a bottle of wine £37) or three courses £24.95 (with a bottle of wine £40); for details, see First Class Menu tfw.wales.
