Travel News: Get on track for a first-class journey

Upgrading to first class on an aircraft is usually extremely expensive. On the train, though, premium travel can be very cheap, as an investigation by The Independent Traveller has revealed.

In general, the lowest fares from long-distance train operators are sold as advance-purchase tickets for one-way journeys. The business model used by most companies is to offer three price levels for both standard and first class.

When the lowest-priced tranche of tickets sells out, the fare rises to the next level. The key to finding a first-class bargain is that, often, the cheapest tickets in standard class sell out before the equivalents in first.

On GNER, which links London with Yorkshire, North-east England and Scotland, that could mean paying a premium of only 40 per cent to upgrade to a first-class ticket. On a London-Leeds journey, for example, you could find the cheapest standard-class ticket to be £23.15, with first-class available at only £32.50. Note that GNER offers its lowest fares online at www.gner.co.uk; for other train operators, fares are usually the same whether you book online (at sites such as www.thetrainline.com) or at principal rail stations.

On First Great Western, which links London to South Wales and the West of England, the extra cost can be even less. A range of sample bookings showed that first class was available at little more than standard. Between Bath and London, the premium can be as low as £3 on a one-way £20 ticket.

The great advantage of first class on Virgin Trains is that complimentary food and drink is included. On a range of Liverpool-London trains in June, the cheapest standard fare is £20, but first is available at only £30.50.

At weekends, Virgin Trains (in common with a number of other operators) offers a flat-rate upgrade that you can either book in advance or on the day of travel; bear in mind that it may not be available on the day for those holding the cheapest tickets.

From London to Birmingham the cost of "Weekend First" is £10; to Manchester or Liverpool, £15; and to Glasgow £20. Note that the catering service is downgraded at weekends to tea and biscuits.

Anyone who flies from London to Manchester, Liverpool or Glasgow in April or May can qualify for a free Virgin Trains first-class ticket for the same journey. The train operator (which is part of the same empire as the airlines Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Blue) is trumpeting its green credentials at www.planerelief.com. Download the application form and send it in with the boarding pass to qualify; the free trip must be taken by the end of October.

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