I've used Seatfrog maybe 20 times in the past, on the NCL <> KGX route. Last used it Dec 2023.
Typically I've used it to get on the 07:04 Flying Scotsman, having originally held a ticket for the significantly slower 07:30.
I've also used it going back up north, again usually changing from an original 19:30 to the 17:30 or similar.
On all bar one occasion (when I abandoned the idea as it was £30 odd) it's always been £10 to swap.
This week I'd originally booked the 08:58 and attempted to change to an earlier morning train but the upgrade price was £136.20. I had another look out of interest the following day, with a theoretical swap, and it was a similarly high cost. If I moved it later, the charge was back to £10.
Equally, looking at the evening one, to move it to midday or early afternoon is only £10, but anything around 5pm is a similarly high upgrade fee.
Ran a search on the forum but didn't find any corresponding posts. Does anyone know if this is a recent change? Seems as though there is now some form of surge pricing around peak times, perhaps after LNER have introduced those new semi flexible fares?
Or, possibly, they're now taking a more realistic look at the original cost difference between an advance for the 07:30 vs earlier trains? Playing about with Seatfrog and looking at 07:30 for tomorrow, shows an upgrade cost of £54.60 for the 07:04.
I have an open ticket with Seatfrog support but it's been radio silence since their initial reply two days ago, hence the thread.
Many thanks
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Reply back from them. Entire thing is still a little opaque as I paid a tenner only last month but seems out of their control. It is effectively the full amount of the difference between the two ticket types - you're just saving on the admin fee of trying to to adjust an advance ticket. Shame as it had been a terrific tool for me, but all good things have to end.
Typically I've used it to get on the 07:04 Flying Scotsman, having originally held a ticket for the significantly slower 07:30.
I've also used it going back up north, again usually changing from an original 19:30 to the 17:30 or similar.
On all bar one occasion (when I abandoned the idea as it was £30 odd) it's always been £10 to swap.
This week I'd originally booked the 08:58 and attempted to change to an earlier morning train but the upgrade price was £136.20. I had another look out of interest the following day, with a theoretical swap, and it was a similarly high cost. If I moved it later, the charge was back to £10.
Equally, looking at the evening one, to move it to midday or early afternoon is only £10, but anything around 5pm is a similarly high upgrade fee.
Ran a search on the forum but didn't find any corresponding posts. Does anyone know if this is a recent change? Seems as though there is now some form of surge pricing around peak times, perhaps after LNER have introduced those new semi flexible fares?
Or, possibly, they're now taking a more realistic look at the original cost difference between an advance for the 07:30 vs earlier trains? Playing about with Seatfrog and looking at 07:30 for tomorrow, shows an upgrade cost of £54.60 for the 07:04.
I have an open ticket with Seatfrog support but it's been radio silence since their initial reply two days ago, hence the thread.
Many thanks
-----
Reply back from them. Entire thing is still a little opaque as I paid a tenner only last month but seems out of their control. It is effectively the full amount of the difference between the two ticket types - you're just saving on the admin fee of trying to to adjust an advance ticket. Shame as it had been a terrific tool for me, but all good things have to end.
I've had a look at the Swap pricing as displayed on the website and a chat with our wider team - these prices do seem to be correct, though I appreciate that they are higher than the usual cost you've seen for a Swap.
We use advanced models to generate prices based on ticket pricing data for the route and how busy the service is, which is information provided to us by LNER.
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