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Seatfrog? Anyone used?
- Thread starter Bayum
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RailUK Forums
Existing thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/seatfrog-does-it-actually-work.192962/
Also previously discussed in Special Offers.
Only you can decide. My personal success rate is around 75% "won". Always keep a cool head and don't over-bid! As others have pointed out check you can't buy a new 1st class ticket for £11.10.
Kings Cross to Leeds is the shortest journey I'd bid on. I often use Seatfrog as a way to split expenditure across different accounting periods. That's not something I've seen mentioned before but is important to me.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/seatfrog-does-it-actually-work.192962/
Also previously discussed in Special Offers.
Only you can decide. My personal success rate is around 75% "won". Always keep a cool head and don't over-bid! As others have pointed out check you can't buy a new 1st class ticket for £11.10.
Kings Cross to Leeds is the shortest journey I'd bid on. I often use Seatfrog as a way to split expenditure across different accounting periods. That's not something I've seen mentioned before but is important to me.
LA50041
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Used a couple of weeks ago and got an upgrade Cardiff - London for £10. As standard was very busy it was £10 well spent
SHFTraveller
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I've had similar success KGX-DON, usually around £10-£14 mark. Anymore than this I usually leave it.
cactustwirly
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Can you not just select your service?
I can, but why does it suggest using your booking reference if it isn’t needed?
Haywain
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I believe it requires a booking reference with LNER, but could be wrong. Seatfrog is used by a number of operators and who can use it seems to vary.
Failed Unit
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Most recent actions I have bid on closed early. A Stevenage - Lincoln just had a single £5 bid.
My experience is that the majority of auctions I try close immediately. Not sure if the sell all the seats out or someone hits buy it now. If it is the later - they paid more than the new ticket value.
I try but find the app is a waste of space as I can rarely actually bid.
My experience is that the majority of auctions I try close immediately. Not sure if the sell all the seats out or someone hits buy it now. If it is the later - they paid more than the new ticket value.
I try but find the app is a waste of space as I can rarely actually bid.
philthetube
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They do exclude a lot of people by insisting on booking references, all walk ups, priv holders for a start.
Haywain
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Yes, that’s a considered strategy. It says, essentially, book with us if you want a chance of a cheap upgrade.
Puffing Devil
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Virgin let you bid without a reference. You select your train from the timetable and tick the box to say that you have a ticket for that service.
freddie1729
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They don't require a booking reference any more. You can just pick the services from a list.
I frequently win upgrades on trains between Manchester and London under £20. The most expensive such upgrade I've bought was £23. Generally these go with an Off Peak Return, usually this would be bought from a ticket machine. I've had a quick scan through email and there are double digit numbers of receipts, so this has been a very effective strategy at getting me to spend more with Virgin Trains.
I won the upgrade for the journey down. £11 York to Kings X. The return journey at 2000 however is at £25-30 right now. Not sure I can justify the upgrade for that, especially with the offerings I’m likely to get at that time.
Yes you are wrong here, no booking reference required for LNER. This feature was added earlier this year and noted in the Special Offers thread. LNER, VTWC & GWR are Seatfrogable.
Edit: Ah, others spotted the error too!
Great, enjoy! Regarding the return, exactly, it's a balancing act. I did Edinburgh-Euston two weeks ago and paid £25 but food/drink was served four times during the journey.
Walk-ups and season tickets are valid on Seatfrog. Depressing the amount of erroneous information being given out on this thread.
Was that it on such a long journey?
I mean, the cynic in me expects that if I’m honest. Yes you get larger seats and tables, but it’s still a cost-cutting exercise.
Four separate catering "services" at different points in the journey (with a crew swap somewhere along) each service with multiple food/drink offerings (e.g. snacks, 1st course, 2nd course etc.). I gave up after the second service as was fully stuffed.
Puffing Devil
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£12 is my ceiling from London to Crewe in the evening - I don't value the food and drink at more than that and I never have trouble finding a seat pair to myself.
I've scored a few £10 upgrades in the mornings with Breakfast service, though these seem to be going for £15 or more now it's catching on.
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