Free Heathrow Express upgrade for *A Gold members
 

Free Heathrow Express upgrade for *A Gold members
 

Fantastic! I am going to use this coming Friday. :-)

Interesting I just took the HEX but didn't know of this. Again it's a 25 min ride so not sure if it is that big of a deal.
Going back in 2 weeks but may be more of a hassle trying to prove to the inspector.

Actually, it's a 15 minute ride, so the benefit isn't even as great as you think! :(.

The upgrade also depends on buying a full-price ticket - which you can probably take to mean no railcard discounts or HEX discount codes are allowed.

Gave this a try today. Ticket inspector didn't seem to have a clue what I was talking about when I mentioned the promo, but he also didn't seem to be too interested in figuring it out and left me be.

I asked the ticket inspectors standing on the platform near the first class carriage about this promotion last week, and he knew about it... fantastic offer!

Unfortunately this offer seems to have ended on Sept 1st...

Why go through the hassle to ride first class on a 15 minute train ride? Is the train normally chock full with commuters?

The offer referenced in the previous posts was the 2015 offer.

The 2016 offer http://heathrowt2.staralliance.com/offers should still be valid.

The standard class can get pretty full.

You get a free copy of the FT (Financial Times) in first.

A virtual *A gold card via a mobile app does not always seem to make the ticket inspectors very happy, but in my experience to date has not been refused.

Is a free newspaper and guaranteed sitting for 15 minutes instead of maybe have to stand for 15 minutes worth the extra money? Buying discount tickets online saves a substantial amount if you guy up front or with the Duo Saver.

I guess if you're traveling solo and didn't buy a ticket up front, it's only 5 quid or so difference in ticket prices between saver and standard, so buying standard to get the upgrade is probably worth it.

I was advised this evening by the train conductor that this offer ended yesterday, and charged £10 for the upgrade - apparently train crews were informed at the start of their shift today. A manager confirmed the same, but no documentary evidence was offered.

However, I can find no reference to the offer ending on the Star Alliance offer page and it would still appear to be valid. Anyone else experience this?

On the rare occasion I've used the Heathrow Express, it's been rammed - but then I only use it if the Tube is not working for some reason.

Helpful terms:

Seems like HEx can just say "nope, no longer valid" and nick you for extra money.

This offer is back on. I was told by a HEX duty manager that there had been 'issues' between HEX and *A leading to the offer being suspended until the issues had been resolved, but that it resumed on 9 October and will be running indefinitely.

I used the offer yesterday and it was working then.

It is definitely running today - sitting in First Class now waiting for the 1940 to depart, and the agents at the door confirmed the offer is valid. This certainly looks permanent(ish).

I wonder if HEX's plan was to try and tempt people into paying for First Class following the taster period, and when the numbers didn't materialise they went back and did another deal with Star?