The price of UK rail travel is, in my opinion, ludicrous. The price rockets even further if you want to travel in comfort in First Class. So how can Seatfrog help you keep costs down if you want to upgrade your train journey?
Every Friday I share one of my favourite finds of the week — a website, tool or an app that has impressed me.
My Friday Favourite this week is Seatfrog – Upgrade Your Train Journey.
How much does it cost?
The Seatfrog app is free to set up and use.
Seatfrog – Bid to upgrade your train journey
I’m writing this Friday Favourite sat on the 1135 Cross Country train from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Birmingham, where I’m headed to visit friends and family.
Unlike air travel, where you can use Hopper and know when to fly and book flights at their cheapest, the UK rail booking system is a shambles.
Despite trying to book my ticket online around six weeks in advance, buying First Class carriage tickets would have cost me an eye-watering £245 each way!
Instead, I booked a standard class ticket at a much more reasonable £43.35 each way.
I then used the Seatfrog app to bid on First Class upgrades for my train ticket in the days running up to my journey.
Thanks to Seatfrog, 48-hours before my trip, I ended up paying £15 to upgrade my ticket to Birmingham to a First Class ticket. I am currently sat in (a virtually empty) First Class carriage.
EDIT: I bought a First Class Upgrade for £6 via Seatfrog for my return trip from Birmingham to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne!
How to use Seatfrog to get a cheap First Class Upgrade
The Seatfrog app is easy to set up and use.
You can either register your travel details manually or enter your existing reservation number. Seatfrog will then tell you if there are excess First Class upgrades that you can bid on.
Not every UK train operator participates in Seatfrog, but my regular train carriers, such as LNER and Cross Country, are included.
You place your auction bid and then wait to see if you’ve won the upgrade.
If you win, then Seatfrog will send you an electronic upgrade ticket. You can use this ticket when boarding the First Class carriage.
The UK train ticket system is ridiculous and outdated, but Seatfrog helps you to keep your costs down when you want to upgrade your journey!
How can I get it?
You can download the Seatfrog app for iOS or Android.
Visit the Seatfrog homepage to find out more.
You can also visit the Seatfrog Facebook page, or follow @Seatfrog on Twitter.
Thanks to Darren Piper of Accordant Solutions for letting me know about Seatfrog!
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Richard Tubb is one of the best-known experts within the global IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) community. He launched and sold his own MSP business before creating a leading MSP media and consultancy practice. Richard helps IT business owner’s take back control by freeing up their time and building a business that can run without them. He’s the author of the book “The IT Business Owner’s Survival Guide” and writer of the award-winning blog www.tubblog.co.uk
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