How to get best Avanti First Class price

[RailAirUser]

Hello!

OK, Ill preface this by saying I would rather not use Seat Frog (but will if it saves me a ton!)

Has anyone got any tips for getting the best possible first class fare London to Manchester Airport?
Seat Frog is looking like it will be £75pp upgrade fee, which in principle is fine and seems lower than booking the cheapest first class fare from the get go. Am I missing any tricks?
Happy with Advance tickets, and I do want the First Class rather than Standard Premier...
Any tips welcomed form people who have booked this journey before
Thanks

 

[Lucy1501]

I travel from Penrith to Coventry once a month. I’ve found that Seatfrog can often be more expensive than buying a first class ticket.

I can often get an advance single for £40-£60 with my railcard and using Trainsplit’s split ticketing.

Meanwhile buying a standard ticket and upgrading is often £12-£20 for the standard ticket, and at least £50 for the upgrade assuming nobody else bids on it.

It may be cheaper for you to buy the upgrade via Seatfrog if you don’t have a railcard, however (and I’m not an expert on your specific journey’s prices!)

I defaulted to buying first class as I pretty regularly upgrade to standard premium, which in total cost more than buying a first class ticket in the first place, and you get less of a service!

Just remember than Avanti don’t go to Manchester Airport and you will need to change onto a standard class train at some point, most likely at Crewe or Manchester Piccadilly.

 

[jfollows]

Just remember than Avanti don’t go to Manchester Airport and you will need to change onto a standard class train at some point, most likely at Crewe or Manchester Piccadilly.

Or at Wilmslow. There’s something like a 10 minute connection (from the xx.33 from Euston), but the onward service is only hourly. If you don’t mind being late with a Delay Repay refund it’d be an option.

 

[sh24]

Introducing London makes First very expensive. Those starting and finishing their journey elsewhere typically have much better pricing. I think I paid circa £300 one way from Glasgow to London but only a little over £100 to Crewe.

 

[RailAirUser]

Thanks all.

Tickets booked - direct with Avanti and their 10% off for signing up to the club.

Looking forward to trying their proper first class food and drink (gwr is my local operator and you are lucky to get a stale biscuit with them!)

 

[Chrism20]

If your employer uses the Reward Gateway platform for their discounts/cashback offers there is 20% off standard premium and first class tickets on off peak services.

It's not advertised on the Reward Gateway platform but when you click through the landing page shows it.

 

[cool110]

Perks at Work has the same offer as well

 

[Lucy1501]

Looking forward to trying their proper first class food and drink (gwr is my local operator and you are lucky to get a stale biscuit with them!)

Remember to check out the lounge at Euston as well - some very lovely cake last time I was there!

 

[RailAirUser]

Thanks everyone