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All too often in the value travel game, there are deals which seem too good to be true – and prove exactly that. Very occasionally though, you’ll find a truly great value deal which delivers precisely what it promises. Thankfully, this was my experience with Virgin trains superb First Class offer.

I am going to review a hotel in Edinburgh later on next month and need to travel up on the Saturday and back on the Sunday. A flight with British Airways is coming in at about £155 and, thanks to their new catering policy (which we have covered elsewhere), I am loathe to give them any money at the moment, even noting the fact that the new policy does not start until January.

So, I decided to look at the trains.

The East Coast Main Line is one that I have travelled up and down fairly regularly for the last 12 years, but haven’t since the franchise was taken over by Virgin. The website is fairly easy to navigate, and I quickly found First Class return tickets on my dates at my preferred times for £198.50:

For this, I would get access to the lounges in London and Edinburgh, a larger seat, free wifi and at-seat catering. The menu is slightly reduced on the weekend and there is no complimentary alcohol, but the rest of the offering is fairly decent.

However, at almost £200, the fare is too much to justify. Even the cheapest Standard Class tickets on the same train was £119.50.

But Virgin are currently running a fantastic offer, which will save me a small fortune!

Plane Relief is a promotion from Virgin Trains aimed at increasing their market share from people who would usually fly up north. Click on the link and enter details of a flight that you have taken or will take, and you will be emailed a special code. Enter the code in the booking website linked from the email and you will be able to book trains for £15 one way in Standard and £30 in First Class.

I looked for the same dates as in the example above and was show the options below:

As you can see, ALL the trains are included in the offer and on the return, it is less than half price to go in First than Standard! I was able to book a return for £60 which was selling on the main website for £198.50 – a saving of £138.50!

I still get lounge access, free wifi, a larger seat and catering. I will also earn Virgin Flying Club miles on the purchase.

To take advantage of this amazing deal, you need to get your code before 3rd November, book by 10th November for travel until 16th December 2016.

There are only 20,000 codes available – so act fast.

It is only valid on Virgin Trains East Coast services only between Edinburgh Waverley, Haymarket, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Dunbar, Inverkeithing, Kirkcaldy, Leuchars, Dundee, Falkirk Grahamston, Stirling, Gleneagles and Perth and London King’s Cross.

Whilst the T&Cs ask for ‘evidence’ of the flights, you don’t actually have to show any – all it required was dates and operators, which is easily found on an airline’s website.

I cannot remember a better deal on the trains so would grab it whilst it is still available. Even if you are not sure of your plans,  it wont cost you anything to sign up and book later to take advantage of this excellent offer.