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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/sep/20/virgin-east-coast-auction-first-class-seats-bid-upgrade-price
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Virgin East Coast to auction empty first-class seats to standard ticket buyers | Virgin East Coast to auction empty first-class seats to standard ticket buyers |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| Passengers can now bid for an upgrade shortly before departure using a smartphone app, with prices from £5 | |
| Press Association | |
| Wed 20 Sep 2017 07.35 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 20 Sep 2017 15.52 BST | |
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| Rail passengers unhappy at the prospect of a journey in standard class can now bid for an upgrade. | Rail passengers unhappy at the prospect of a journey in standard class can now bid for an upgrade. |
| Empty first-class seats on selected Virgin Trains East Coast services are being auctioned through a smartphone app shortly before departure. | Empty first-class seats on selected Virgin Trains East Coast services are being auctioned through a smartphone app shortly before departure. |
| Prices start from £5 for a seat in first-class carriages featuring complimentary food and drink, free Wi-Fi, reclining leather seats and extra legroom. | Prices start from £5 for a seat in first-class carriages featuring complimentary food and drink, free Wi-Fi, reclining leather seats and extra legroom. |
| Upgrades are initially available on some weekday services from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle and York, with more routes expected to be added soon. | Upgrades are initially available on some weekday services from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh, Leeds, Newcastle and York, with more routes expected to be added soon. |
| Regular walk-up first-class fares for London to Edinburgh journeys can cost almost £90 more than standard class tickets. | Regular walk-up first-class fares for London to Edinburgh journeys can cost almost £90 more than standard class tickets. |
| Each auction opens approximately two and a half hours in advance and closes about half an hour before the train departs. | Each auction opens approximately two and a half hours in advance and closes about half an hour before the train departs. |
| Suzanne Donnelly, commercial director at Virgin Trains East Coast, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with Seatfrog to offer customers more opportunities to experience first class. | Suzanne Donnelly, commercial director at Virgin Trains East Coast, said: “We are really excited to be partnering with Seatfrog to offer customers more opportunities to experience first class. |
| “Passengers can get upgrades from as little as £5 and there are real deals to be had. The live bidding element means you can decide at the last minute if you fancy treating yourself.” | “Passengers can get upgrades from as little as £5 and there are real deals to be had. The live bidding element means you can decide at the last minute if you fancy treating yourself.” |
| The Seatfrog chief executive, Iain Griffin, said people wanting to guarantee first-class travel should buy a regular ticket, as auctions would not be held for all trains. | The Seatfrog chief executive, Iain Griffin, said people wanting to guarantee first-class travel should buy a regular ticket, as auctions would not be held for all trains. |
| “For passengers who travel standard class and maybe want to experience first class now and again, or be a little spontaneous on the day, then Seatfrog is the perfect platform,” he said. “We give them the chance to get a really good deal.” | “For passengers who travel standard class and maybe want to experience first class now and again, or be a little spontaneous on the day, then Seatfrog is the perfect platform,” he said. “We give them the chance to get a really good deal.” |
| Griffin said he was in discussions about rolling out the service with a number of other travel firms. “I’d be really interested in working with any train service in the UK,” he added. | Griffin said he was in discussions about rolling out the service with a number of other travel firms. “I’d be really interested in working with any train service in the UK,” he added. |
| “I see this working perfectly for a business like Eurostar. We’re already talking to rail operators in mainland Europe. Outside of rail, we’ve also got a big airline capability.” | “I see this working perfectly for a business like Eurostar. We’re already talking to rail operators in mainland Europe. Outside of rail, we’ve also got a big airline capability.” |
| Passengers who want to use the system for a first-class upgrade enter their booking reference into the app and start bidding. Successful participants are instantly sent a new ticket direct to their smartphone or tablet. | Passengers who want to use the system for a first-class upgrade enter their booking reference into the app and start bidding. Successful participants are instantly sent a new ticket direct to their smartphone or tablet. |
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