Virgin Trains has partnered with a smartphone app to allow passengers to upgrade to first class for as little as £5.
The rail firm said that under a ‘world first’ partnership with upgrade app Seatfrog, passengers can bid on ‘last minute’ upgrades for first class tickets on East Coast services up to 30 minutes before departure.
Virgin customers can bid for upgrades to first class via an app
Passengers will compete against each other with just a few taps of their smartphone in an ‘open and honest’ auction for spare first class seats.
Suzanne Donnelly, commercial director at Virgin Trains on the East Coast, said: ‘We have a strong record of innovating for the benefit of our customers and we are really excited to be partnering with Seatfrog to offer customers more opportunities to experience first class.
‘Our innovative partnership with Seatfrog means passengers can get last minute upgrades to First Class seats from as little as £5 and there are real deals to be had. Plus, the live bidding element means you can decide at the last minute if you fancy treating yourself and, if you do, bidding to bag a bargain is great way to go about it.’
The rail firm said the process was ‘completely seamless and easy-to-use’, without extra paperwork, printing tickets or additional fees.
The free app works by creating a live, dynamic bidding system for first class seats that would otherwise be empty. Each auction opens approximately two and a half hours before a train departs from its originating station.
For customers whose bid is successful, the benefits of Virgin Trains’ 'first class experience' include complimentary food and drink from a menu ‘curated’ by TV chef James Martin, reclining leather seats, additional legroom, mood lighting, free Wi-Fi and, in selected stations, first class lounges with free Wi-Fi, relaxation areas and refreshments.
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