Your eligibility for First Class or Standard Class fares will be indicated at the top of your Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card with the 3 character abbreviation of either 1ST for First Class or STD for Standard Class.
If you hold a STD class Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card, then you may buy Standard Class staff discounted (priv-rate) tickets and travel in Standard Class. You cannot pay the difference between Standard Class and First Class fares to travel in First Class accommodation.
There are however, two options to upgrade to First Class if you already hold a Staff discounted (priv-rate) Standard Class ticket, or have dated a box on a Staff Travel Card.
Weekend First upgrades
Where a TOC offers Weekend First upgrades, Staff Travel Card, Rail Staff Leisure Card or RST Online Leisure Card holders with Standard Class staff discounted (priv rate) tickets may purchase the Weekend First upgrade at the public rate and travel in First Class accommodation.
Weekend First upgrades are not available in advance of travel. They may only be purchased from the train manager or ticket inspector on board a train.
Card holders must wait in Standard Class accommodation and ask the train manager or ticket inspector whether upgrades are available, and obtain one before moving into First Class accommodation.
Seatfrog upgrades
Some TOCs may allow the purchase of upgrades for First Class using Seatfrog.
However, not all TOCs allow this. If it is permitted, it will be documented in the Staff Travel Restrictions.
Using First Class facilities to purchase Standard Class tickets
If you hold a 1st Class Staff Travel Card or Rail Staff Leisure Card, then you may buy either Standard or First Class staff discounted (priv rate) tickets. If you buy Standard Class staff discounted (priv rate) tickets, then you may only travel in Standard Class accommodation.
