Some diligent planning ahead – combined with a few savvy crosschecks – can make all the difference when it comes to bagging a cheap first-class ticket.
Follow our guide to the ins-and-outs of travelling posh 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 tried all the tricks to get first-class tickets at reduced prices – here’s what we found…
Is there really a simple way of getting a cheap first-class ticket?
Yes. Sign up to the Seatfrog auction app (seatfrog.com). After buying a standard-class fare for a journey, it’s possible to bid for an upgrade to first. On most trains, a limited number of such upgrades are available. It’s a straightforward 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 could bid for an upgrade for £36. So, effectively, the first-class ticket came to £130 – a saving of £100 (or 43 per cent off).
Are first-class tickets for all train services offered on Seatfrog?
Almost all. Transport for Wales has just joined but Scotrail and Hull Trains don’t take part.
If not entering a Seatfrog auction, is it better to book in advance or wait till the last moment?
Booking well in advance is usually best, says Mark Smith, of website Seat61.com. When we looked, a first-class fare from York to Edinburgh was £59.80 ten weeks in advance. This compared to £91.70 on the day (54 per cent more).
Is there an exact best time to book ahead?
Eight to 12 weeks is best for long-distance routes as this is when most rail operators release timetables and when prices are normally lowest. Fares may be up to 75 per cent cheaper during this ‘sweet spot’. Some operators allow you to book bargain advance fares even further ahead: LNER is 20 weeks and Hull Trains 26 weeks.
What about very last-minute deals?
These are possible and worth checking if the Seatfrog app is not for you. On trainline.com – on the day of travel – we found the difference between first-class and standard-class for Bristol to Penzance was a mere £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 on that week were £173 to £299.
Are some routes better for first-class deals than others?
Yes. The best prices are usually available when travelling between regional stations and when avoiding London, says Railsmartr.co.uk. It highlights that a York to London first-class fare 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 2h 37m).
What about upgrading once you’re onboard?
This is sometimes possible if there’s availability – you’ll need 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’s from £10 to £45 on LNER. You can pay there and then with your card and walk on through.
What about on Avanti West Coast trains?
It’s different from the others with two upgrade possibilities: standard premium and first class. You sit in the same-style carriages for both – with wider seats and a guaranteed table – but with standard premium you do not get free food or drink. On-the-day first-class upgrade prices are similar to LNER. If booking in advance, Saturday fares between London and Glasgow might be £85 (standard), £120 (standard premium), and £199.50 (first class). On all journeys, standard premium is from £17.50 extra.
Do railcard discounts apply to first-class tickets?
Yes, when tickets are bought in advance. They do not work for upgrades available via Seatfrog or onboard.
Any other travel tips?
Try boarding a train with a restaurant car. Although first-class passengers get priority bookings, standard-class ticket holders can dine too on GWR.
When do GWR dining cars run?
GWR’s Pullman Dining is in a vintage-style Pullman carriage, available Mondays to Fridays on the 1.03pm and 7.04pm Paddington to Plymouth services; 5.48pm from Paddington to Swansea; 1.15pm and 6.16pm 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 per bottle.
What about the Transport 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 at tfw.wales.
