Are you wondering whether to travel in Eurostar Standard or Eurostar Plus?
Then you’ve come to the right place. To compare the two, I travelled from London to Brussels in Eurostar Standard, and back in Plus as part of a one-week Belgium itinerary.
So is Eurostar Plus worth it?
The bottom line is that an upgrade is worth it for the spacious, comfortable and more tranquil carriages. Whether the food and drink on the Eurostar Plus service adds value is more questionable. If the prices of Standard and Plus are close, it’s a no-brainer.
Get the lowdown in my Eurostar Plus review.
Eurostar Classes of Travel
Eurostar offers three travel classes: Standard, Plus and Premier
Eurostar Standard
- Seats arranged in a 2 + 2 configuration
- Food and drink are available from the buffet car
- On-board free Wi-Fi
- Flexibility to change your booking
- Ticket is refundable up to 7 days before travel, subject to an administration fee
- Generous luggage allowance (two pieces of luggage up to 85cm long, as well as one small piece of hand luggage)
Eurostar Plus
Think of Eurostar Plus as the train equivalent of an airline’s Premium Economy Class.
- Spacious carriages with comfortable seats arranged in a 2 + 1 configuration. Power sockets at the seat
- Complimentary light meal and drinks served at your seat
- On-board free Wi-Fi
- Flexibility to change your booking
- Ticket is refundable up to 7 days before travel, subject to an administration fee
- Generous luggage allowance (two pieces of luggage up to 85cm long, as well as one small piece of hand luggage)
Eurostar Premier
The seats and carriage in Eurostar Premier are the same as those in Eurostar Plus. You pay a (hefty) premium for enhanced services and catering.
Eurostar Premier offers the following extras:
- A four-course meal with champagne
- Use of the business lounge in London, Brussels and Paris (those in Paris and London have their own cocktail bar)
- Fully flexible tickets
- Refundable ticket with no fee up to 2 days before departure
- Fast-track ticket gates
- Boarding guarantee if you need to switch to another train
- More generous luggage allowance
My Eurostar Plus Review: London to Brussels
Security and passport control
Checking in for your train involves three queues: one for the automatic ticket gates, a second for security and a final one at Passport Control. Only those travelling in Premier benefit from Fast Track entry.
When I travelled, Eurostar was facing well-publicised challenges imposed by passport checks for non-EU citizens post-Brexit. This resulted in lengthy queues, which I experienced at London St. Pancras.
Nonetheless, passing through security was quicker than at many airports. Eurostar places no restrictions on liquids or luggage size and weight, meaning you don’t have to decant toiletries into teeny-weeny bottles.
Departure area
The departure area at London St. Pancras Eurostar terminal was rammed with people sitting on the floor. Once I bagged a seat, I was reluctant to vacate it.
If you are gasping for a coffee and a croissant, there is a small Pret.
On my return journey, Brussels wasn’t as busy.
Lounge access at both stations is reserved for those travelling in Eurostar Premier.
Boarding the train
An announcement was made when our train was ready for boarding, and this was also indicated on the screens in the departure area. Passengers in all three classes of travel on Eurostar board at the same time.
It was a short walk along a travelator to the platform level. At the door to the train carriage, a smiling attendant checked my seat number and ticked me off her list.
Eurostar Plus train carriage
For me, this is the main benefit of Eurostar Plus.
In Eurostar Plus, the carriage is far more spacious, its seats laid out in a 2 + 1 configuration compared with the 2 + 2 layout in Standard class. There are also single seats, perfect for those travelling alone or for business travellers wishing to crack on with some work.
The overhead storage easily accommodates a medium-sized suitcase. For larger pieces of luggage, there is a space at the end of the carriage.
Complimentary magazines are also available.
Eurostar Plus seats
The seats in Eurostar Plus are very comfortable, upholstered in brown fabric and offer lumbar support and a leather headrest. They are also wider and have more legroom than those in Standard Class.
There is a generous pull-down table, footrest, two seat pockets and a separate drinks holder. A power socket and USB charging point kept my devices full of juice for the journey.
There’s even a mirror with a flip-down cover on the back of the seat in front.
Eurostar Plus food
The complimentary meal service started as we glided out of Brussels Midi Station.
Although it was tasty, food portions have shrunk considerably since I started travelling on Eurostar (and they ditched the Champagne). Think of it as a better class of airline food.
From the choice of two mains, I opted for a leek quiche with beetroot salad. This was served with bread and washed down with a cheeky Bordeaux.
Dessert was a sticky date sponge, followed by a hot drinks service.
The Eurostar Plus menu varies with the time of day and route. You can take a sneak preview here.
Sadly, the two food services have been reduced to one on the four-hour London to Amsterdam journey.
Customer Service
I have travelled on Eurostar more times than I can count, and customer service has always been excellent, regardless of which class you are sitting in. This was no different on both legs of this journey, with friendly and helpful staff.
Is it Worth Upgrading to Plus on Eurostar?
For the marginal price that I paid (£20), upgrading to Eurostar Plus was well worth it. You can check ticket prices on Eurostar’s website.
It’s a twist of travel luxury on a budget.
This upgrade buys you a light meal served at your seat, a comfortable and spacious seat and lower passenger density. The reduced carriage occupancy also means that there is less competition for luggage storage space.
But I value the intangible benefits of Eurostar Plus. Its quieter, less frantic environment results in a more relaxed journey, and there is a feeling of exclusivity.
Ultimately, its value will depend on what is important to you. At £20, a Eurostar upgrade was a good use of my travel budget. But I may have felt differently if this were £50 or beyond.
Can you upgrade your Eurostar Standard ticket?
It’s easy to upgrade your Eurostar ticket to Plus after booking. Simply log in to your Eurostar and navigate to Manage a Booking. Then, click on the button to upgrade.
Alternatively, you can bid for an upgrade.
You may also be able to upgrade your ticket on the day of travel. Arrive at the train station a little earlier than usual and head to the Eurostar ticket office.
Eurostar does not offer upgrades to Premier class.
The Eurostar loyalty program
Eurostar has the equivalent of a frequent flyer program, Club Eurostar. For every £1 you spend on Eurostar travel, you’ll earn 1.2 points, which you can use for ticket discounts and seat upgrades.
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About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.
Great, informative and helpful review. I wish all were like this
Many thanks