My first-ever train ride on Eurostar in Premier Class was smooth and productive, through not quite what I expected.
First Impressions Of Eurostar Premier From Brussels To Amsterdam
Sometimes I like walking into new experiences (trains, planes, hotels) without knowing what to expect. I know it’s a bit ironic considering a large part of this blog is geared at sharing about my travel so that you know what to expect…but part of me likes the surprise of something new.
For years, I’ve heard about the famed Eurostar…the “luxury” train line that connects London and Paris via the “Chunnel” and I’ve always wanted to try it. While searching for my return ticket from Brussels to Los Angeles, I stumbled upon an Air France/KLM Flying Blue award ticket for only 60,000 miles that included not only Amsterdam to Los Angeles in KLM World Business Class, but also a train segment on Eurostar from Brussels Midi to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
My ticket indicated that I would be in “business class” on the train, but Eurostar doesn’t have a cabin it labels business class. The Air France/KLM Air&Rail page says:
If you’re flying with KLM Economy Class, you’ll be in Eurostar’s Standard class. With a KLM Business Class ticket, you’ll get the Premium experience with Eurostar.
What is the “Premium experience” on Eurostar? That’s also not a class…Eurostar offers three classes of service:
- Eurostar Standard
- Eurostar Plus
- Eurostar Premier
While hoping for Premier, I was expecting Plus…however when I checked in the agent confirmed I would be traveling in Premier.
There’s a Eurostar Lounge in Brussels, but it does not open until 6:00 am, which was not helpful for my 5:53 am train.
Stepping onboard, it felt like stepping into an old-school TGV first class cabin than the sort of spacious, modern cabin I was envisioning. Granted, that’s not a complaint, but it just felt much older (and a bit more beat up) than I was expecting.
We took off on time and an attendant appeared to welcome me onboard (and the only other passenger in the cabin) and offer us breakfast…a choice between a cheese and deli plate or fruit plate, served with yogurt, a croissant, juice, and coffee. For example, my footrest was broken…
It wasn’t much, but the fruit was good and the coffee wasn’t bad either…I enjoyed the breakfast.
Internet was available onboard and worked well, so it was a very productive two-hour journey to AMS.
I could have flown out of BRU for the same price, but was very glad to try Eurostar and found the catering onboard much better than the slop KLM serves on intra-Europe flights.
I’ll post a full review of this train journey at some point with a lot more pictures, including of some of the other carriages.
Yes!! Choo-choos, rock! Have you reviewed the NexGen Acela yet? I see your First Class review from 2022 (https://liveandletsfly.com/amtrak-acela-first-class-review/) Frecciarossa? I see Ben at OMAAT did a German First Class review in 2020… (https://onemileatatime.com/deutsche-bahn-ice-first-class-review/)
Our first and only time using Eurostar was in 2024 from SPX to BRU. We were in Eurostar Plus (I could not justify the added cost for Eurostar Premier), and we enjoyed a pleasant trip, high quality complimentary food (a night and day difference from the atrociously processed food served on the Amtrak Surf liner), and beautiful country side views as we transited the continent.
My general preference is to earn BA Tier Points, but on this occasion, Eurostar made the most sense as we were in central London (did not feel like schlepping it to LHR again) and there were no non-stops from LCY to BRU.
I was on a chunnel trip in 2024. I didn’t expect my plus cabin to be that much different than first class on a TGV, and it wasn’t. Quite adequate. I love the 1-2 seating arrangement as a solo pax. I didn’t need the more elaborate food service of the top tier.
Yeah, those are the “old” TGV trains that Eurostar uses. They also use more modern “ICE” trains, which are very nice from the inside. I have taken them often between France and the UK, and loved it. City centre to city centre Mondays at 6 am, with a breakfast while shooting through France and the channel, then a 6ish arrival in London. Splendid!
Side note: Thalys, now part of Eurostar, also uses the same train type seen above.
Too bad you didn’t get to use the lounge though I find the difference between plus and premier to be minimal and really not worth the price. The cost of a plus ticket between London and Paris is about 120 bucks premier is 400 or more. The lounge is pretty bad in the morning with just croissants granola, coffee, and juice. The cocktail bar doesn’t open until later in the afternoon.
In the past, they’ve also offered the ability to check in your luggage to your final destination at Midi by 1700 or so the day before your trip, so you don’t have to lug it through the airport. I’ve done it. It ensures your bag will make the connection at CDG or AMS, but you have to retain your toiletries. Don’t know if they still offer that.
A pleasant, worry-free, and direct rail journey of approximately 2 hours between Bruxelles-Midi and Amsterdam-Centraal. Greetings to dear Eurostar!
For rail enthusiasts → The Eurostar trainset No. 4535, featured in the article photo, is a high-speed TGV PBA electric multiple unit built by Alstom. Originally operated by Thalys International starting in January 1996, it transitioned to the unified Eurostar brand following the corporate merger in 2023, receiving Eurostar’s updated red exterior livery. The veteran unit consists of two power cars and eight intermediate passenger trailers.
totally love trains but here’s the problem
the eurostar and especially the chunnel is prohibitevly expensive compared to standard ticket, not lcc
i know the counter arguments about taxis etc
but if you truly care about climate change offer an affordable train,
dont sell it off to the highest bidder who will milk the public
London to Paris/Brussels is regularly available for $68 on limited departures, and very widely available for $99. Is that not reasonable?
it seems we have very different idea of whats true
anyway flights are cheaper always, thats a fact
Glad I just stuck with Plus earlier this year doing this route. Not sure how they justify the big premium for…Premium. Exact same seats and pretty unappealing meal. I think Amtrak’s new Next Gen Acela may actually offer a better “first” service than this
If you have the chance, you should Check out the Deutsche Bahn DB Premium Lounge at Cologne which is newly renovated. Also nice: Frankfurt & Berlin & Hamburg . (Other locations: Hannover/Mannheim/Munich).
The DB Premium Lounges offer à la carte service including. Bee and wine and the menu is changed every three months. It’s also nice to have clean toilets at a train station.
Access rules: DB First Class Flex Ticket or Platinum Status. While it’s (very) expensive to travel from Munich to Berlin, some short routes are cheaper. Pro tip would be a Rail&Fly First Class Ticket (or Platinum Status 😉 ).
Also, I find the 1. Klasse on the ICE underrated: the seats are comfy in a 1-2 setting and you can order food to your Seat Drinks via the online Portal (well, you still have to pay but prices are reasonable).
Deutsche Bahn also Partners with Star Alliance – your Star Gold Status would also Cube YouTube Lounge Access on an eligible Ticket.
LALF should review the high speed rail lounges, too. There is one in AMS (pretty limited food and drink) as well as a very nice one at the Rome termini.
Yes, totally agree. I do not know the Roma lounge but it might be good (?) due to the competition between Trenitalia and italo trains.
I have been to some ÖBB lounges in Austria which are okay – especially considering that you can buy the access for 10 EUR when traveling in 2nd class.
The MAV Lounge at Budapest Keleti is interesting as it offers both complimentary drinks/snacks and a paid premium menu.
The SNCF lounges I visited are underwhelming.
Do tour research! Lol
As previous comments have said – this is an old style Thalys train and whilst just merged with Eurostar – I wouldn’t call it a Eurostar myself!
As for the luxury train between London and Paris – who has said this?
For Americans – this is probably luxury compared to your trains but Eurostar is more functional over luxury. Its only a few hours – its not the Orient Express!