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First Class comfort

Serving you the best travel experience at 125mph

First Class with LNER

Onboard our Azuma trains, you'll experience a whole new First Class with more room and a smarter layout for you to relax and recharge in our most luxurious train yet.

Wider, reclining seats

Generous leg-room and larger tables

Our fastest ever Wi-Fi on Azuma trains

Power sockets and USB charging points

Complimentary food and drink service

Dog friendly

First Class lounges

Enjoy a relaxing atmosphere for customers wanting to take a break or use the contemporary space to work before continuing their journey.

Discover the First Class lounges

First Class menu

Our new menus offer you locally sourced food and drinks, including alcoholic tipples, from along the LNER route.

View the First Class menu

Popular First Class journeys

London Kings Cross to York 

Saturday 15 November 2025
First Class from
£70.80
7x greener than a car

York to London Kings Cross 

Wednesday 17 September 2025
First Class from
£62.50
7x greener than a car

Edinburgh to London Kings Cross 

Tuesday 4 November 2025
First Class from
£101.40
15x greener than a plane

Ready to travel classier?

Book your First Class ticket now for an exceptional travel experience. Enjoy the comfort of LNER First Class, to give you the most relaxing and productive journey.

Enhance your travel experience and make your journey with LNER as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Book a First Class seat now

Upgrade to LNER First Class

First Class rail travel is calling you, upgrade and treat yourself today.

Book your First Class ticket to experience the full First Class experience, or if you've already booked a Standard ticket but fancy a treat, learn how to upgrade below.

Upgrading to First Class through your account

We're giving you more ways to experience First Class train travel and have made it simple to upgrade to First Class through your LNER account. Upgrading your train ticket to First Class after purchasing a standard ticket has never been easier.

Access your LNER account via our app or website and upgrade to First Class with just a few clicks.

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, use your LNER account to upgrade to First Class from your Standard Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, or Super Off-Peak ticket until 2 hours before travel. It’s never been so quick and easy to upgrade your rail ticket to First Class!

  • 1. Log in to your LNER account

    Once you’ve booked your LNER standard ticket, log in to your account through the LNER app or website. Check for available First Class train upgrades under your booking details.

  • 2. Choose your train ticket upgrade

    Select the train ticket upgrade option if seats are available. The fare difference will be displayed, but no additional fees apply. Confirm your choice and the rail ticket upgrade will be processed instantly.

  • 3. Enjoy your First Class journey

    Your LNER First Class upgrade confirmation will be sent to your phone or email, so you can enjoy First Class travel as soon as you enter the station – from usage of LNER First Class Lounges to getting onboard and enjoying a delicious meal.

    Remember to bring both your original Standard ticket and your LNER First Class upgrade confirmation for a smooth travel experience.

Upgrade rail tickets to First Class with Seatfrog

We want to give you more opportunities to experience our relaxing First Class train travel, so we’ve teamed up with Seatfrog, an app for bidding on last-minute seat upgrades for rail travel. Looking for cheap First Class tickets? Download the Seatfrog app today to bid on a First Class upgrade.

How do Seatfrog upgrades work?

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, use Seatfrog to bid on an upgrade to First Class from your Standard Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak, or Super-Off-Peak ticket from as little as £10. You can place a bid as soon as your auction appears, and bidding stays open until 30 minutes before the train leaves its starting station.

Upgrading LNER to First Class together

You can bid on multiple train tickets upgrades to LNER First Class with Seatfrog and travel First Class in style with friends, colleagues or family!

  • Before you bid make sure you select the number of passengers you wish to upgrade to First Class. We will let you know if there aren’t enough seats available.

  • Due to the last-minute availability of First Class train ticket upgrades, we cannot guarantee all passengers will be seated together.

  • Make sure all passengers you wish to upgrade to First Class on the train have an eligible standard class ticket.

Seatfrog upgrade terms and conditions

  1. This Seatfrog upgrade auction offer can only be used by customers and accompanying travellers on the same booking reference, with a valid standard class (Standard Advance, Anytime, Off-Peak or Super-Off Peak) ticket, travelling on eligible London North Eastern Railway trains. Travellers with Guest Passes and Complimentary Travel Passes are not eligible to participate in the upgrade offer.

  2. Seatfrog upgrade auctions are available on selected London North Eastern Railway trains only, with at least one seat available on eligible trains in service.

  3. Each First Class upgrade is valid for a single person travelling on the booking reference number entered into the Seatfrog app and is for the stipulated one-way journey only. Upgrades can only be used in conjunction with a valid London North Eastern Railway standard class ticket.

  4. Customers travelling in a group on the same booking reference may participate in a Seatfrog upgrade auction to upgrade together. Any member of the group can register with Seatfrog and bid on a number of seats which they specify. Should the member win an upgrade, the specified number of upgrades will be issued to their device.

  5. Due to the last-minute nature of Seatfrog upgrade auctions, we cannot guarantee every member of the group will be sat together if an upgrade bid is successful.

  6. Upon payment of the upgrade fee, customers are issued with First Class upgrade barcodes for the specified number of upgrades within the Seatfrog app. Each upgrade barcode issued to your mobile phone must be presented along with a valid original standard class ticket to the Train Manager when travelling on board the train. Please also retain your original standard class tickets to pass through the station ticket barriers. Without a valid original standard class ticket, the upgrade is not valid.

  7. Seatfrog upgrades are verified by the Train Manager on board the train. If the customer is unable to produce a valid barcode on their mobile device, they may be charged for a full price upgrade. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure their mobile device is fully charged as ticket inspection can take place at any point during the train journey.

  8. First Class upgrades purchased via the Seatfrog app also include access to the London North Eastern Railway First Class Lounges located along the east coast route at Edinburgh Waverley, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Newcastle, Darlington, York, Doncaster, Leeds, Wakefield, and London King's Cross.

  9. Upgrades are available across the east coast, on London North Eastern Railway services, at a starting price from as little as £10.

  10. The upgrades are also eligible for Delay Repay compensation should the service you are travelling on be delayed by 30 minutes or more.

  11. If the London North Eastern Railway train for which you have purchased an upgrade is cancelled or delayed by more than 60 minutes, special arrangements will be made to accommodate you on the next available London North Eastern Railway train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed), or to refund the fee paid for your upgrade provided your journey has not yet commenced.

  12. First Class complimentary food and drink varies according to date, time of day and the journey being made.

  13. Seatfrog First Class upgrades are not valid with any other train operator.

  14. Customers who purchase a Seatfrog upgrade with a valid standard class ticket can only travel in First Class on the train for which the upgrade was purchased. Upgrades are not transferable even if your original ticket permits you to travel in standard class on other London North Eastern Railway services.

  15. London North Eastern Railway reserve the right to not honour the upgrade should disruption occur between the issuance of the upgrade and your journey commencing. In this instance, you will be refunded the fee paid for your upgrade.

Upgrading to First Class on the train

What are onboard train ticket upgrades?

We’re pleased to offer you the premium experience of First Class travel, so we’ve made it possible to upgrade to First Class onboard the train. If you’ve already booked a standard class ticket but decide to treat yourself mid-journey, our Train Manager can help you upgrade your rail ticket to First Class on the spot, subject to seating being available on the train.

How does upgrading to First Class on the train work?

Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, upgrading to First Class on the train is simple and convenient.

  • 1. Speak to the Train Manager

    Once onboard, locate the Train Manager to enquire about First Class ticket upgrades. If you are travelling on our 10-car services, the Train Manager is located in the rear five coaches, so please ensure you board this section to upgrade. Upgrades are available on off-peak services, including but not limited to evenings and weekends, and are subject to seating availability.

  • 2. Choose your LNER First Class upgrade

    The Train Manager will inform you of the availability and cost. Set prices are £35 or £45 depending on the journey being made. There are no additional fees for upgrading onboard.

  • 3. Enjoy your journey

    Upon upgrading, you will receive a physical ticket and receipt as proof of your First Class ticket upgrade. Show this along with your original standard class ticket to enjoy our First Class amenities immediately.

Upgrade onboard today and enjoy the comfort of First Class travel with LNER.