How Does Virgin Advance Ticket Release Work?

i_love_it

Does anyone use these tickets regularly and undersatand their seemingly top secret system.

I've been trying to book for 29th jan warrington to london and have checked the website daily for advance (cheap) tickets

Finally today it seems my date of travel has been released, yet none are available to buy.

I called the telesales who say they haven't been released and to keep checking back every other day or in a week, could not tell me when they will be available.

Frustrated, I rang customer services who said there won't be any for my date as they would have been released by now. A lengthy debate led to me being to cut off.

I've no faith in any info i've been given.

Is it really this difficult to get an advance ticket, grateful for any help.

Livingthedream

Some of the routes/stations ain't released on the shown date apparently due to volume of tickets,
Warrington Bank Quay to London Euston Advance singles are up to 28th Jan
so would advise checking some time tomorrow or day after at the latest

dzug1

i_love_it wrote: »

Frustrated, I rang customer services who said there won't be any for my date as they would have been released by now. A lengthy debate led to me being to cut off.

Highly unlikely that for a midweek day in January that there will be no tickets available. I'd venture to say they will still be available a week ahead of travel if you are flexible on times. They are really not going to sell out the moment they are released. Popular weekends, maybe, but not midweek.

Just be patient and you will be rewarded.

Probably.

sarah_elton

i_love_it wrote: »

Does anyone use these tickets regularly and undersatand their seemingly top secret system.

I've been trying to book for 29th jan warrington to london and have checked the website daily for advance (cheap) tickets

Finally today it seems my date of travel has been released, yet none are available to buy.

I called the telesales who say they haven't been released and to keep checking back every other day or in a week, could not tell me when they will be available.

Frustrated, I rang customer services who said there won't be any for my date as they would have been released by now. A lengthy debate led to me being to cut off.

I've no faith in any info i've been given.

Is it really this difficult to get an advance ticket, grateful for any help.

I'm going to Liverpool in late Jan. Supposedly you can buy tickets 3 months in advance. I.e. 29th October for you. What I found though is that exactly three months beforehand they only had normal price tickets. The Advance ones randomly showed up about 3 or 4 days later. All I can suggest is keep trying online. Thing is, the regular priced tickets will stay the same price up until the day before you travel, so there's no point buying them now. Wait and see if some Advance ones do show up.

It does seem a little random.

Livingthedream

i love it. just to let you know that Warrington Bank Quay to London Euston Advance single tickets for 29th Jan have now been released.

:j

Sent you a PM aswell

omelette451

Strangely, the cheapest advance tickets often reappear close to departure, even for midweek, travel. An example: Wallasey (nr Liverpool) to London this week was just £5.95 booked the day before.

Livingthedream

Leaving advance tickets to the last moment is never a good idea, in fact on the majority of long distance journeys it could turn out very expensive if all the cheap Advance single have sold out and all your left with is an off peak or anytime option.

patrick0

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/booking_horizons.html is a good place to keep an eye on release dates.