Help me on train class and others for a newbie - seatfrog

[TheDrownedApe]

Hey all,

So me and OH will be going from Rugby to Edinburgh in late April for a midweek break.

Don't want to drive or fly and I've only used the train a handful of times to London and once overnight up to Inverness.

I've ben trying to do some research on avanti 1st class and whether to book or use something I've never heard of; seatfrog.

So is 1st class worth the x4 cost? Anyone experienced that route and any tips? Is seatfrog worth it, is it a risk?

[bitchstewie]

The couple of times I've gone on a train first class - with my own money - not a cat in hells chance it's worth 4x in the context of if it's £40 instead of £10 rather than £400 instead of £100 and it's a special trip then why not.

Assumption being a train where you can get a seat and you're a normal person who just wants to sit and look out the window or read a book or whatever.

[48k]

TheDrownedApe said:

Hey all,

So me and OH will be going from Rugby to Edinburgh in late April for a midweek break.

Don't want to drive or fly and I've only used the train a handful of times to London and once overnight up to Inverness.

I've ben trying to do some research on avanti 1st class and whether to book or use something I've never heard of; seatfrog.

So is 1st class worth the x4 cost? Anyone experienced that route and any tips? Is seatfrog worth it, is it a risk?

Depends what you value. I use Avanti First whenever I can between Milton Keynes and Euston, and Milton Keynes and Coventry. I value having a nice big seat, table, wireless charging, quiet carriage and food and bar service at seat. Recently the service hasn't been so good for various reasons (staff shortages) but I wouldn't hesitate to book 1st for a longer journey its just a very pleasant way to travel.

[Rough101]

It’s worth it at maybe a £50 premium, no more, unless you’re in business and need the space to work.

Avanti will only get you to Glasgow anyway and then you need to walk 5 mins to Queen Street for a train to Edinburgh.

Perhaps try a connection at the start of the journey and get the East coast LNER service straight into Edinburgh?

[Mammasaid]

Rough101 said:

It’s worth it at maybe a £50 premium, no more, unless you’re in business and need the space to work.

Avanti will only get you to Glasgow anyway and then you need to walk 5 mins to Queen Street for a train to Edinburgh.

Perhaps try a connection at the start of the journey and get the East coast LNER service straight into Edinburgh?

Avanti do both Edinburgh and Glasgow direct via the WCML.

[48k]

Rough101 said:

Avanti will only get you to Glasgow anyway and then you need to walk 5 mins to Queen Street for a train to Edinburgh.

Nope, Avanti go direct to Edinburgh not just Glasgow.

[Venisonpie]

I'd be tempted to transfer 1 stop on the tube to Kings X and take LNER to Edinburgh, much better service in my opinion. I'd always go 1st class which gets you free refreshments (inc booze) both on the train and in the 1st class lounge.

[Rough101]

48k said:

Nope, Avanti go direct to Edinburgh not just Glasgow.

There was only 2 a day of those last time I looked, and very cancellation prone.

[48k]

Rough101 said:

48k said:

Nope, Avanti go direct to Edinburgh not just Glasgow.

There was only 2 a day of those last time I looked, and very cancellation prone.

Like I said in my other post, Avanti service has gone down hill at the moment with staff shortages and they also have industrial action.

They normally have 5 or 6 direct services to Edinbugh from Euston on a weekday.

[miniman]

Seatfrog is great, assuming you’re going on a specific train as the auctions run sufficiently ahead of departure time that you can’t bid whilst at the station waiting for the next train. I’m not sure what happens if you win an auction and the train gets cancelled, personally I’d chance my arm at just getting the next one and arguing the toss if it came to it.

There are some trains where the standard class coaches are just horrible - particularly the Cross Country vomit comets and to a similar extent the Pendelinos.

I regularly get upgrades on the LNER East Coast and Avanti West Coast for around £25.

[TheDrownedApe]

48k said:

Depends what you value. I use Avanti First whenever I can between Milton Keynes and Euston, and Milton Keynes and Coventry. I value having a nice big seat, table, wireless charging, quiet carriage and food and bar service at seat. Recently the service hasn't been so good for various reasons (staff shortages) but I wouldn't hesitate to book 1st for a longer journey its just a very pleasant way to travel.

Well I can't go abroad anymore so happy to splurge the cash and as its a 5hr journey it makes sense, thanks.

Venisonpie said:

I'd be tempted to transfer 1 stop on the tube to Kings X and take LNER to Edinburgh, much better service in my opinion. I'd always go 1st class which gets you free refreshments (inc booze) both on the train and in the 1st class lounge.

Yeah setting off in rugby might make that a longer journey haha. I can also use local stations such as leamington, Warwick and cove try so I shall see what other providers there are.

Thanks all, OH is on board so hooray

[miniman]

The other thing worth doing is booking well in advance, the super-advance First fares are less available than Standard but they do come up from time to time.

[TheDrownedApe]

miniman said:

The other thing worth doing is booking well in advance, the super-advance First fares are less available than Standard but they do come up from time to time.

Thanks. No tickets yet for the end of April but I guess anytime now

[the-norseman]

48k said:

Depends what you value. I use Avanti First whenever I can between Milton Keynes and Euston, and Milton Keynes and Coventry. I value having a nice big seat, table, wireless charging, quiet carriage and food and bar service at seat. Recently the service hasn't been so good for various reasons (staff shortages) but I wouldn't hesitate to book 1st for a longer journey its just a very pleasant way to travel.

I go MKC - Euston all the time, never once been tempted to pay the extra £20+ on 1st class, its like 35 minutes.

[Countdown]

48k said:

Depends what you value. I use Avanti First whenever I can between Milton Keynes and Euston, and Milton Keynes and Coventry. I value having a nice big seat, table, wireless charging, quiet carriage and food and bar service at seat. Recently the service hasn't been so good for various reasons (staff shortages) but I wouldn't hesitate to book 1st for a longer journey its just a very pleasant way to travel.

My experiences of Avanti FC are different. The seats are slightly wider but, if you can get a table seat in Standard, the differences are negligible. The food/snacks are ok until you realise how much extra you're paying.

ETA Just to add I had never heard of Seatfrog - i was assuming you were going to pay the £200+ difference between Standard and 1st. if you can upgrade for less than £30 I'd say it was worth it

Edited by Countdown on Saturday 4th January 18:46

[miniman]

the-norseman said:

I go MKC - Euston all the time, never once been tempted to pay the extra £20+ on 1st class, its like 35 minutes.

Agreed, I’ll only bother on 2+ hour trips.

[Equilibrium25]

I used seatfrog to upgrade Bristol-Manchester Piccadilly, PIC-Edinburgh and Edinburgh-Bristol a few months back. Very impressed. The standout value in price terms was the edi-bristol upgrade for about a tenner.

I really enjoyed first class on Trans Pennine Express from Piccadilly to Edinburgh. First includes reasonable light hot meal and beer. Or canned wine. I was offered at least 3 or 4 beers on my trip. How first class used to be!

OP, I'd suggest Rugby-Piccadilly-Edinburgh would be a very nice way to do your trip.

[48k]

the-norseman said:

48k said:

Depends what you value. I use Avanti First whenever I can between Milton Keynes and Euston, and Milton Keynes and Coventry. I value having a nice big seat, table, wireless charging, quiet carriage and food and bar service at seat. Recently the service hasn't been so good for various reasons (staff shortages) but I wouldn't hesitate to book 1st for a longer journey its just a very pleasant way to travel.

I go MKC - Euston all the time, never once been tempted to pay the extra £20+ on 1st class, its like 35 minutes.

Yep it's horses for courses, depends what you value. The breakfasts are decent, the coffee is decent, the wines are OK, the menus change reasonably frequently, wireless works, wireless charging handy, the carriages are not overcrowded, first class lounges are nice places to be especially Euston when it's absolutely rammed due to delays and you can just relax with a few drinks looking out over the crowds below. It's just a much more pleasant way to travel. IMHO, YMMV etc

[Chrisgr31]

I went London Glasgow recently and upgraded with Seatfrog to first class. I wouldnt pay the full First Class price unless able to get it cheap on a Super Advance. However the Seatfrog upgrade was reasonable and in my opinion worth it.

Seatfrog bidding commences 24 hours before departure (I think) and you can bid for an upgrade and you discover if you are successful about an hour before departure. They may also have hidden deals and if your bid is sufficient and hits that point you get the upgrade as soon as you bid.

Avanti do offer a Premium Standard option. Basically gives you a First Class seat but not the food and drinks. Going long distance I think that upgrade is worth it. You can book in advance or upgrade on the day of there is space. So my recommendation would be to bid for upgrade to First on Seatfrog, if unsuccessful upgrade on board.

Dont do what I did which is book Premium Standard then upgrade to First using Seatfrog as effectivley you have paid more than you need to do. You are better upgrading from Standard to First.

By the way its not guaranteed there will be a Seatfrog auction on all trains. If a lot of seats are prebooked their wont be one

[TheDrownedApe]

Chrisgr31 said:

Great help thanks
:thumbsup: