Seatfrog Review: The Ultimate Guide to Cheap First Class Train Upgrades

If you've ever gazed longingly at the First Class carriage while squeezing past with your standard ticket, Seatfrog might be your new best friend. I recently used it to upgrade my London to Liverpool journey, and I'm genuinely impressed with how seamless the whole process was.

What is Seatfrog?

Seatfrog is an app that lets you bid on or instantly purchase First Class upgrades on various UK train services. Think of it as eBay for train upgrades - but with the option to skip the auction and buy instantly if you prefer certainty.

Which Train Companies Participate?

Currently, Seatfrog works with:

• Avanti West Coast

• LNER

• Great Western Railway

• TransPennine Express

• CrossCountry

• East Midlands Railway

How Does It Work?

There are two main ways to secure an upgrade:

1. Bidding: Place a bid starting from as low as £10. If you win, you'll get your First Class upgrade for potentially much less than the regular price. Auctions typically start 24 hours before departure.

2. Instant Upgrades: For those who don't want to wait or risk losing an auction, you can often purchase immediate upgrades at fixed prices. While these are usually more expensive than successful bids, they're still significantly cheaper than buying a First Class ticket outright.

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My Real-World Experience and Pricing

I've tried both First Class and Standard Premium upgrades on the London-Liverpool route. Here's what I paid:

• First Class upgrade: £40 (full First Class experience with food and drinks)

• Standard Premium upgrade: £21 (more spacious seat without the extras)

For context, buying these tickets directly would have cost significantly more, especially for First Class which often prices at over £100 more than standard tickets.

What Do You Get?

First Class (£40 upgrade in my case):

• Spacious seating

• Complimentary food and drinks

• Quieter environment

• Power sockets

• Free WiFi (faster than standard class)

Standard Premium (£21 upgrade in my case):

• More spacious seating than standard class

• Power sockets

• Same WiFi as standard class

• No complimentary food/drinks

Pro Tips From My Experience

1. Consider Both Classes: Standard Premium can be excellent value if you just want more space

2. Time It Right: Mid-week and off-peak services often have better prices

3. Watch Both Options: Sometimes instant upgrade prices are close to current bid levels

4. Set Price Alerts: The app notifies you when auctions start

5. Know Your Routes: Some routes (like London-Liverpool) regularly have good availability

Limitations to Keep in Mind

• Not all trains offer upgrades (especially very busy services)

• Must book your original ticket directly with the train operator

• Split tickets might not be eligible

• Availability varies significantly by route and time

Is It Worth It?

Based on my experiences:

First Class (£40 upgrade): Excellent value for longer journeys, especially if you'll make use of the food and drink service. Morning and evening peak times often provide the best value due to full meal services.

Standard Premium (£21 upgrade): Perfect for those who just want more space and don't care about the extras. It's a great middle-ground option that many people don't know exists.

The Bottom Line

Seatfrog has genuinely changed how I approach train travel in the UK. While I wouldn't pay full price for First Class, these upgrade prices make it very tempting. The Standard Premium option at £21 is particularly interesting as a way to get more comfort without the full First Class price tag.

Just like we look for sweet spots in airline miles (check out our Avios Calculator for flight values), Seatfrog represents another tool for savvy travellers to upgrade their journey without breaking the bank.

Have you tried Seatfrog? I'd love to hear about your experiences - drop us a comment below or reach out on Instagram.

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