Eurostar is now offering you the chance to bid for an upgrade from Eurostar Standard to Eurostar Plus, which is the new name for Standard Premier.
I’m not sure when this was introduced, but I suspect it is new because it was included in an update to the Club Eurostar T&C released this week.
Full details are on the Eurostar website here.
Looking at the rules, this isn’t a deal which will automatically be available. It appears that Eurostar will be looking for trains with a number of unsold Eurostar Plus seats, and will email holders of Standard tickets ‘a few days’ before departure.
You will be directed to the webpage above where you will be able to access the bid page with your booking reference.
You enter the amount you would be willing to pay for a Eurostar Plus upgrade, and will receive ‘at least 24 hours notice’ if your bid is successful.
It isn’t clear what sort of bid would be required. At times, the cash difference between Standard and Plus can be very low at the original time of booking.
Eurostar Plus gets you the same larger seat as Eurostar Premier, just with a lower quality meal and no fast track or lounge access.
Arguably £40-£50 per person each way is a fair price to pay given the bigger seats and the meal, which comes with wine.
There are two bits of small print to note:
- you don’t earn Club Eurostar points on the cost of the upgrade, only on the cost of your original ticket
- if you choose to change your train after buying an upgrade, the cost of the upgrade is lost
If you travelling on Eurostar, remember that:
- you get Fast Track security, regardless of travel class, by signing up for iProov (no children under 16 allowed)
- you get access to Eurostar lounges by flashing an American Express Platinum personal card, although no guests are allowed