I upgraded to first class on Eurostar from London to Brussels for just $12. Here's what I got for my money.
- I upgraded my Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels to first class for only $12 more.
- The carriage was significantly more spacious than standard class and I also got a meal.
I took the Eurostar high-speed train from Brussels to London. It only cost $12 more to upgrade to Standard Premier, or first-class – so I went for it.
My single journey, which I booked about three weeks in advance, cost $187, including the upgrade. Prices vary considerably depending on time of travel and when you book. Standard Premier usually a lot more than the $12 I paid.
One of the first things I noticed was that the Premier Standard carriage was significantly more spacious than Standard class.
There was was plenty of space for large luggage, too, partly because there were fewer passengers in each carriage.
I was really impressed by having my own single seat, with the nearest passenger across the aisle and no one close by.
There were also seats in pairs – in some cases next to and in other cases opposite each other – as well as sets of four around a table.
My seat had a tray table that could be pulled down and a rack for magazines or newspapers. It also had a cup holder, a mirror, a lamp, and a USB socket.
This is what a Standard carriage on Eurostar looks like.
As well as free WiFi – which can be a bit temperamental but is available on the entire train – there were a number of magazines to read.
The best part was the free meal.
Passengers could choose between a chicken and a vegetarian main.
I opted for the veggie meal – two pieces of falafel, hummus, a slice of courgette, and a quinoa and carrot salad. It tasted delicious, though the portion was small.
The meal also had other dishes.
The meal also came with a small bread roll, lemon dessert, and bottle of water. I was also offered a choice of drink, and went for a Coke Zero and a cup of tea.
Passengers who opted for wine were offered free top-ups – a major perk of traveling in Standard Premier.
The upgrade was worth it.
Though an exact comparison isn't possible, if I'd been in Standard class and ordered a sandwich, cold drink, and dessert in a lunch deal from the on-board cafe (like in this photo from a Eurostar journey I took last year), plus a cup of tea, it would have cost me about $15. That's more than the cost of my upgrade to Standard Premier.
I got lucky.
To have a single seat for the two-hour journey and get a meal and drinks, the $12 upgrade definitely felt worth it. But I know that I got lucky when I booked.
For most journeys, the upgrade costs at least $25. For some journeys, it's well over $50, and I'm not sure that's worth it for a two-hour journey.
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