Upgrade to First Class with Seatfrog

First Class is calling you, treat yourself today

What is Seatfrog?

We want to give you more opportunities to experience our luxurious First Class service when you travel on our trains. So we’re bringing a world first to UK rail by teaming up with Seatfrog, an app for bidding on last-minute seat upgrades.

Download the Seatfrog app today to bid on a First Class upgrade.

Apple App Store  Get it on Google Play

How does Seatfrog work?

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, use Seatfrog to bid to upgrade your Standard Advance ticket from as little as £10 and you could be jumping into a First Class seat.

To be eligible, you should: 

  • Book an LNER Standard Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak or Super-Off Peak ticket ticket.
  • Travel on an LNER train any day of the week.

1. Download the Seatfrog app

Once you’ve booked your LNER Standard ticket, download the Seatfrog app and sign up. Then, enter your booking reference when prompted, or use the Seatfrog train search feature, and the app will show you what upgrades are available for your journey.

2. Start bidding

Once bidding opens simply set your price, Seatfrog will bid on your behalf up to your set amount. It’s free to take part in the auctions, and you only pay if you win. Plus, we'll keep you posted with instant alerts so you don't miss a thing.

3. Upgrade in seconds

If your bid wins, we’ll send your upgrade straight to your phone. That way you can enjoy First Class as soon as you’re onboard. It’s that easy.

You must bring your original Standard ticket and your First Class upgrade to enjoy your First Class journey. 

Upgrading together

You can bid on multiple upgrades with Seatfrog and travel First Class in style with friends, colleagues or family!

  • Before you bid make sure you select the number of passengers you wish to upgrade. We will let you know if there aren’t enough seats available.
  • Due to the last-minute availability of upgrades, we cannot guarantee all travellers will be seated together.
  • Make sure all passengers you wish to upgrade have an eligible ticket.

First Class benefits

We’ve been working hard to make our First Class experience just right, whether you’re looking for relaxation or need room to work with WiFi and plug sockets here's a few reasons why First Class offers you our most luxurious travel experience.

Please note: Menu options may vary based on date, time of day and availability. View our First Class menu to see what’s being served.

Complimentary First Class menu

When in First Class you will recieve a complimentary meal from one of our deliciously tempting menus: Deli, Dish, Dine or Brunch. Choose from a range of hot and cold meals, sweet treats and delightful snacks, as well as an array of handpicked drinks we know you'll love! Look out for our seasonal additions to the menu too, from speciality dishes to delectable drinks that'll get you in the spirit!

Spacious reclining seats

Enjoy spacious reclining seats in First Class that allow you to spread out whether you want to get comfortable and relax, nod off into a 125mph nap, or turn your seat into a workspace for your journey. The choice is yours!

Free Wi-Fi

Enjoy free WiFi in First Class so you can stream movies and TV programmes to your hearts content, attend work meetings or listen to music. Always stay conntected with LNER.

Tables at every seat

With tables available on every seat in First Class you have plenty of space to yourself. Utilise your table however you like: use it as a work desk to take meetings while on the go, use it as a place to rest your head and enjoy a nap, or use it to eat and drink with our complimentary food and drink. You have the Freedom to choose.

Power sockets on every seat

Use the power sockets that are available on every seat to recharge your gadgets and gizmos. Whether its a work laptop or a phone that needs some more juice you can easily find your power socket on the left side of your seat for whenever you need to use it. Plus, with both USB and plug sockets you'll have multiple options for multiple devices.

First Class lounges

With every First Class ticket you will get access to our exclusive LNER First Class lounges, meaning you can arrive early to your station* and recieve complimentary food and drink, a warm place to wait for your journey to begin and a place relax in a comfy seat while charging your devices. Bliss.

*Find out more about access to First Class lounges here.

Seatfrog Terms & Conditions

  1. This Seatfrog upgrade auction offer can only be used by customers and accompanying travellers on the same booking reference, with a valid Standard Class ticket, travelling on eligible London North Eastern Railway trains. Travellers with Guest Passes and Complimentary Travel Passes are not eligible to participate in the upgrade offer.
  2. Seatfrog upgrade auctions are available on selected London North Eastern Railway trains only, with at least one seat available on eligible trains in service.
  3. Each First Class upgrade is valid for a single person travelling on the booking reference number entered into the Seatfrog App, and is for the stipulated one-way journey only. Upgrades can only be used in conjunction with a valid London North Eastern Railway Standard Class.
  4. Customers travelling in a group on the same booking reference may participate in a Seatfrog upgrade auction to upgrade together. Any member of the group can register with Seatfrog and bid on a number of seats which they specify. Should the member win an upgrade, the specified number of upgrades will be issued to their device.
  5. Due to the last-minute nature of Seatfrog upgrade auctions we cannot guarantee every member of the group will be sat together if an upgrade bid is successful.
  6. Upon payment of the upgrade fee, customers are issued with First Class upgrade barcodes for the specified number of upgrades within the Seatfrog app. Each upgrade barcode issued to your mobile phone must be presented along with a valid original Standard Class ticket, to the train manager when travelling on board the train. Please also retain your original tickets to pass through the station ticket barriers. Without both the First Class upgrade barcode and a valid original Standard Class ticket, the upgrade is not valid.
  7. Seatfrog upgrades are verified by the train manager on board the train. If the customer is unable to produce a valid barcode on their mobile device, they may be charged for a full price upgrade. It is the customers' responsibility to ensure their mobile device is fully charged as verification can take place at any point during the train journey.
  8. First Class upgrades purchased via the Seatfrog app also include access to the London North Eastern Railway First Class Lounges located along the east coast route at Edinburgh Waverley, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Darlington, Doncaster, Leeds, Wakefield,  London King's Cross and York.
  9. Upgrades are available across the east coast, on London North Eastern Railway, at a starting price from as little as £10.
  10. The upgrades are also eligible for Delay Repay compensation should the service you are travelling on be delayed by 30 minutes or more.
  11. If the London North Eastern Railway train on which you have purchased an upgrade is cancelled or delayed by more than 60 minutes, special arrangements will be made to accommodate you on the next available London North Eastern Railway train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed), or to refund the fee paid for your upgrade provided your journey has not yet commenced.
  12. First Class complimentary food and drink varies according to date, time of day and the journey being made.
  13. Seatfrog First Class upgrades are not eligible for any other train operator.
  14. Customers that purchase a Seatfrog upgrade with a valid Standard Class ticket can only travel in First Class on the train for which the upgrade was purchased. Upgrades are not transferable even if your original ticket permits you to travel in Standard Class on other London North Eastern Railway trains.
  15. London North Eastern Railway reserve the right to not honour the upgrade should disruption occur between the issuance of the upgrade and your journey commencing. In this instance, you will be refunded the fee paid for your upgrade.

Go by train and relax!

Pick your seats

Choose where and which direction you would like to travel in.

Eat at your seat

Eat warm delicious food brought right to your seat. 

Group savings

Travel with friends and book together and save 20%

Avoid the jams

Get there hassle free, leave your car at the station and avoid those motorway jams

Eco friendly

With 70% less CO2 emissions than travelling by car, its the responsible way to travel

Get £5 free

Join LNER Perks to recieve £5 joining credit and 2% cashback for every journey