Avanti West Coast First Class Review: Is an Upgrade Worth It?

I love train travel. Whether it’s exploring Provence by rail, taking the super scenic journey on the Glacier Express through Switzerland or stepping on board Norway’s Flam Railway, I’m there.

Closer to home, a trip to Oban and Inveraray in Scotland allowed me to try out Avanti West Coast First Class service from London to Glasgow. But was this upgrade worth the premium fare?

To help you decide, here’s my Avanti West Coast First Class review.

I travelled out on a Thursday and back on a Saturday. As the service differs depending on the day of the week that you travel, this allowed me to compare the First Class product on a weekday and at the weekend.

When I travelled between London and Glasgow in September 2019, the service was operated by Virgin Trains. This franchise was taken over by Avanti West Coast on 8th December 2019.

Avanti West Coast First Class review: What Does an Upgrade Get You?

Let’s start by taking a look at the perks that your Avanti West Coast First Class ticket offers over and above standard class.

1. Access to Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge at the train station (where available)
2. A more comfortable and spacious carriage
3. Power points at all window seats and a guaranteed table
4. Complimentary food and drink served at your seat (on Voyager trains, complimentary refreshments are available from the onboard shop at the weekend, rather than served at your seat)

First Class lounges

As of December 2024, these railway stations have an Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge:

• London Euston
• Birmingham International
• Birmingham New Street
• Crewe
• Liverpool Lime Street
• Manchester Piccadilly
• Glasgow Central

Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge, London Euston Station

Located on the mezzanine level of the station, overlooking the concourse, Avanti West Coast Trains First Class Lounge at London Euston was busy but comfortable.

At 9.45 am, it wasn’t quite gin o’clock, and the bar was not open. However, self-service tea, coffee, juices, water and a limited range of snacks and pastries were available.

Complimentary newspapers and Wi-Fi were also on offer. Toilet facilities were available within the lounge.

Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge, Glasgow Central

Avanti West Coast First Class Lounge at Glasgow Central was underwhelming, to say the least. The lounge offered sofas, armchairs and a workstation with power points running the length of its small area.

Food and drink options were poor, comprising tea, undrinkable coffee, a miserly selection of snacks and cold drinks. Toilets are not available in the lounge and there is no lounge attendant.

SPACIOUS TRAIN CARRIAGE

For me, this is the main perk of first-class travel on Avanti West Coast.

With their seats arranged four abreast, the standard carriages on Avanti West Coast trains feel cramped and can be very busy. My outbound leg to Glasgow was not at peak time, yet people were standing in the train’s vestibules in standard class. Not much fun on a four-and-a-half-hour journey.

By contrast, Avanti West Coast First Class carriage on both journeys was an oasis of calm.

With just three seats across the carriage, there is a 25% reduction in occupancy. There is more room to spread out, the carriage is less likely to be fully occupied and there is reduced pressure on luggage storage space.

To ensure that your portable devices have enough juice to last the ride, power points are available at every window seat.

COMPLIMENTARY FOOD & DRINK

Catch an Avanti West Coast between London and Scotland on a weekday and you’ll be treated to a full food and drink service. Travel at the weekend, and this is reduced.

The menus also differ depending on whether you are travelling on a Pendolino or Voyager service.

Weekday service

The food and drink service on my outbound journey from London Euston was superb. Cheerful staff seemed to be constantly passing down the carriage with food and drinks. As a result, I was grazing for the entire four and a half hours, watching the English countryside, and later the Scottish countryside, unfold outside my window.

Leaving London Euston, we were served tea or coffee, followed by juice and water and their hot brunch service. I opted for a very tasty vegetable hash. Dessert took the form of cookies and chocolate and more hot drinks.

Their bar service started at Preston, the journey’s halfway point. A welcome glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc washed down the ‘Summer Picnic Box’, one of the cold snack selections on offer.

The staff made a repeat bar run before reaching Glasgow.

Weekend and bank holiday service

Although delivered with the same level of cheeriness, the food and drink service in First Class on Avanti West Coast at the weekend was reduced.

Tea or coffee and soft drinks remained available. The hot meals were replaced by a choice of two sandwiches with crisps and a chocolate cookie.

Wi-Fi and Onboard Entertainment

Although free Wi-Fi and onboard entertainment are also provided in Standard Class on Avanti West Coast trains, they are worth commenting on.

Whilst it was fine when it worked, the train’s Wi-Fi connection was erratic. Perfectly OK for checking your email and social media feeds; not so good for streaming.

How Much Does It Cost to Travel First Class on Avanti West Coast?

In line with levels of catering service, the premium that you pay for travelling First Class on Avanti West Coast depends on which day of the week you travel.

If you travel Monday – Friday, this premium is likely to be higher than that at the weekend. As ticket prices are demand-based and therefore highly variable, it is impossible to generalise the magnitude of this premium. You will need to interrogate Avanti West Coast’s booking system to get the best deal.

You can upgrade when you buy your ticket, just before you travel or on board, subject to availability.

For a potential upgrade bargain, download the Seatfrog app. This allows you to bid for a last-minute upgrade to first-class. Select the number of upgrades you’d like to bid for, set your price and you’ll only pay if you are successful.

Avanti West Coast Standard Premium Class

Premium Economy has come to trains. Avanti West Coast’s Standard Premium Class has been launched across the West Coast Main Line on all of the Pendolino trains.

But what does an Avanti West Coast Standard Premium Class ticket buy you and how much does it cost?

You get roomier seats with extra space and a guaranteed table. Essentially, these are lightly used first-class carriages. Free food and drink and lounge access are not part of the deal.

My Verdict

Avanto West Coast First Class is worth it if you value a quieter train carriage with more space and complimentary food and drinks. If you just want to stretch out in relative comfort, book a Standard Premier ticket.

As the cost of an upgrade during the week is highly variable you will have to put in the legwork to identify the better value fares. You can travel better for less; the key to well-priced train fares is booking in advance and flexibility.

For me, travelling First Class was worth it just to get a more comfortable seat in a quiet and spacious carriage. When I travelled, the Standard Premier Class had not been launched.

I was also impressed by the weekday catering service on the outbound journey, which made the 4-hour + journey fly by. The food and drink offerings on the return journey were less impressive.

Unless you are forced to spend an extended period at the railway station, Avanti West Coast First Class Lounges aren’t worth the ticket upgrade cost.

Finally, a disclaimer. This review of based on my journey before the service was taken over by Avanti West Coast. Although much has remained the same, the menus on board have changed. Check the train company’s website for up-to-date information.

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.

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