1st class v Standard on train

[antwacky]

Does anyone know if there is much if any difference in the comfort of the seats in 1st class compared to standard class?
Thanks

GWR is generally worth upgrading for a long journey IMO. Much more comfortable.

If it's GWR, you can do cheap on-train upgrades at the weekend.

https://www.gwr.com/your-tickets/ways-to-save/weekend-upgrades

Advance tickets sometimes aren't too outrageous for first. Also there's something called seatfrog which I haven't tried but I think offers cheaper upgrades sometimes?

Also look at Seatfrog for upgrades. But if a lottery and not always available, but I've had some good deals with upgrades using Seatfrog.

GWR have really downgraded their refreshments offering since lockdowns. No sarnies or bottles of wine in the evenings for the last half of the week. The seats are wider and you can get them to recline about 10 degrees.

Possibly because of the way a lot of booking engines are set up, it is sometimes cheaper to get a 1st ADVANCE single than a seat in 2nd class.

GWR has a couple of Pullman dining cars, one of which heads down to Plymouth.

(Not relevant to OP but LNER's offering is very slick and an absolute bargain booked early with a railcard).

I often need flexible tickets and in some cases the difference in price for first class is only £10 for a single. LNER actually have gluten free options for meals and snacks which is a huge bonus for me as I'm coeliac.

GWR and LNER with the lounge and refreshments, yes. Other lines with no lounge and no refreshments on board, no. Remember Seat Frog for an upgrade. Also, keep a keen eye on the journey time and claim delay repay. Sometimes you get the whole trip refunded.

Thanks all, it's GWR to Penzance. I've checked ticket prices and they are almost double for first class.
Thanks @TheBossOfMe for the link, from what i understand the upgrade cant be booked when purchasing the ticket online. I will give them a call to help clarify.

I've been on trains when they are just literally small part of the train and look no different to the bigger carriages.

We were also travelling back from London the other week and it was offered to upgrade to 1st class for £5!!!!

I've say in a first class area once. Wouldn't pay for it at twice the price!
We were sat there because ds (wheelchair user but can walk) and I got on and couldn't get into the priory area reserved for wheelchairs because everyone said they needed it. We couldn't even get a seat and no room due to numbers standing for ds to open and sit in his wheelchair.

He asked if anyone could stand so he could sit but they couldn't possibly move whilst train was.

So guard moved us. To first class. Suddenly quite a few of the seated people could stand and move and offered to move there too.

They weren't happy when their offer was declined 😂

Yes that’s right, you go to 1st class when you board and ask for the weekend upgrade. If they have space they just charge you the extra on the train. I’ve never been turned away and I travel on GWR from London to Wales and back every other weekend.

Hi OP, I paid less than £20 ( think 13-15 from memory) one way to upgrade London to Penzance on Seat Frog, so if you are prepared to travel standard, might be worth considering. I booked standard with GWR as I was buying a combined train and boat ticket.

Also worth booking a ticket for the geothermal pool at Jubilee Pool for just after you arrive, if timings allow, as it is a really refreshing dip after travel.