London (TAN): United Kingdom-based Virgin Trains has collaborated with transport booking application Seatfrog to let passengers upgrade their seats in first class through an auction.
Passengers will be able to bid from 24 hours to 30 minutes before departure of their respective trains. All they need to do is tap their smartphones a few times. Customers bidding can get a first class seat even for GBP 10.
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Easy to use, it comes without any paperwork, additional fees, or hassles of printing tickets.
Passengers will be able to participate in bidding through the free app on Virgin Trains routes across the country.
Sarah Copley, Executive Director, Commercial, Virgin Trains, said: “This is a great opportunity for our customers who fancy treating themselves at the last minute.”
“This new partnership with Seatfrog is another example of our strong record in innovation – giving customers a unique chance to enjoy our First Class experience, which includes complimentary food and drink served by our amazing on board teams from our award winning menu,” she added.
The Seatfrog app generates a live auction system for first class seats that have not been sold, which enables customers to bid against other customers. Passengers that are unwilling to wait can upgrade immediately through the app’s ‘buy it now’ option, no matter if they have reserved seats through a third party.
Passengers who have upgraded their seats in first class will be provided all Virgin Trains’ first class perks, including complimentary food and drink, and lounge.
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“At Seatfrog we’re all about taking people’s journey beyond the ordinary and making it something special,” Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Seatfrog, Ian Griffin said.
“Our partnership with Virgin Trains is just the latest stop as we rapidly expand across the UK and Europe, giving more travellers the opportunity to upgrade their trip,” he added.
