Some links to products and partners on this website will earn an affiliate commission.

From 15 February 2016 and then continuing indefinitely, Star Alliance Gold members can get a free upgrade from Standard to Business First Class on the Heathrow Express.

The offer says that to benefit you need to show your Star Alliance Gold card, plus a “full fare standard class ticket”. This presumably means you can’t benefit from the offer when using the relatively very good value advance purchase tickets.

To be honest, when bought at standard rates, Heathrow Express is bordering on eye-watering (bear in mind this is a 15 minute journey). Conversely, the cheapest fare is a 90 day advance purchase which can be as low as £5.50 at weekends, one way.

Even First Class at weekends is just £7.50 if you buy online 90 days before travel.

The full list of fares is as follows:

In short then, well worth taking advantage of if you are travelling on a standard fare ticket. If you’re not, and are able to benefit from the hugely reduced advance purchase fares, then I would strongly recommend sticking to these.

The full terms and conditions for this free Heathrow Express upgrade are available here.