As if train travel wasn’t comfortable and convenient enough already, Virgin Trains are now providing travellers the opportunity to make their journeys truly luxurious.
Customers on the West Coast line and across the UK can now secure a last minute upgrade and enjoy their journey in the comfort of the first class carriages as a result of Virgin’s collaboration with Seatfrog, an app which lets users take part in an auction for upgraded seats.
From May 8th, customers have been able to bid from 24 hours right up to 30 minutes before departure with just a few taps of their smartphone, where upgrades to first class can cost as little as £10. The app is highly convenient, with a seamless and easy-to-use interface that removes any extra hassle by having no extra paperwork, ticket printing or additional fees when bidding.
This follows on from the introduction of Avocet technology at stations, part of Virgin’s commitment to make travel to and from terminals and on trains as convenient as possible.
The Seatfrog app works by creating a live auction system for unfilled First Class seats, allowing passengers to bid against other travellers to upgrade as solo travellers or as a group. Those not wanting to wait can upgrade immediately through Seatfrog’s ‘buy it now’ option, even if they’ve booked through a third party.
Customers who successfully bid on a First Class ticket will be able to enjoy all the benefits of Virgin Trains’ First Class experience, including complimentary food and drink, additional legroom and the First Class lounge.
Sarah Copley, Executive Director, Commercial, at Virgin Trains, said: “This is a great opportunity for our customers who fancy treating themselves at the last minute.
“This new partnership with Seatfrog is another example of our strong record in innovation – giving customers a unique chance to enjoy our First Class experience, which includes complimentary food and drink served by our amazing on board teams from our award winning menu.”
Iain Griffin, Co-Founder and CEO of Seatfrog, said: “At Seatfrog we’re all about taking people’s journey beyond the ordinary and making it something special.
“Our partnership with Virgin Trains is just the latest stop as we rapidly expand across the UK and Europe, giving more travellers the opportunity to upgrade their trip.”
