Rail Travel: Tips on Cheap Tickets

epm-84

inamar wrote: »

hi,thank you for the advice!!!
Where can I find those tickets please?
Please ALL can you give me the name or the link...Any coupons, codes, cashback...
Sorry still newbie...THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TU:)

Go to Topcashback, register if you're not already registered and search for TransPennine Express, click through to the site from there and you'll get 3% cashback on any rail ticket or 10% on TransPennine Express only tickets. You may notice the trainline offer 3.5% cashback, but they charge an additional booking fee so it's not worth doing for 0.5% cashback unless you're buying very expensive tickets.

miller

epm-84 wrote: »

Go to Topcashback, register if you're not already registered and search for TransPennine Express, click through to the site from there and you'll get 3% cashback on any rail ticket or 10% on TransPennine Express only tickets. You may notice the trainline offer 3.5% cashback, but they charge an additional booking fee so it's not worth doing for 0.5% cashback unless you're buying very expensive tickets.

I was doing a trawl on Quidco today and noticed TransPennine has been added. I guess it must be a recent addition. Topcashback beats the % offered there anyway. This looks like a fairly juicy offer.

JulieElvisFan

i have got some great deals from sites such as thetrainline, and I know you can split them online, but it takes ages.

On two ocassions, I just went down the station and got the ticket man to work it out for me -

June: Tring to Birmingham
Everywhere online = £65 each return x 2
Ticket salesman broke it down to singles for £30 for both return!!

July - Tring to Sheffield
Everywhere online = £250 each return!!! (daylight robbery)
Ticket salesman = £125 each return (so half price)

These were both on South Midland and Virgin combined.

Not bad deals, or maybe they are just great at Tring station!

kayl

I have booked 3 nights in London for myself, and my daughters of 16 and 11 starting on Monday 18th October, on a strict budget. I have a Family and Friends Railcard and have been patiently waiting until today to book as it is now 12 weeks. I am disappointed, as the cheapest direct trains are still £150 - has anyone any tips to get this cheaper?

Livingthedream

kayl wrote: »

I have booked 3 nights in London for myself, and my daughters of 16 and 11 starting on Monday 18th October, on a strict budget. I have a Family and Friends Railcard and have been patiently waiting until today to book as it is now 12 weeks. I am disappointed, as the cheapest direct trains are still £150 - has anyone any tips to get this cheaper?

The cheap tickets have been released, but if you want really cheap then book via the East Coast Website and travel on their trains and get a 10% discount on the Advance single fare.

This might help as well, if your daughter was 15 when you bought your family and friends railcard then she entitled to travel on a child ticket with the railcard, see t&c's here, thanx to Dzug1 for the info

With this info then try this;
Glasgow Central to London Kings cross 18th 06.50 or 07.50 £13.50 1x adult 2xchild & Railcard
London Kings Cross to Glasgow Central 21st 09.00 or 11.00 £19.05 1x adult 2xchild & Railcard

Total Return £32.55

epm-84

kayl wrote: »

I have booked 3 nights in London for myself, and my daughters of 16 and 11 starting on Monday 18th October, on a strict budget. I have a Family and Friends Railcard and have been patiently waiting until today to book as it is now 12 weeks. I am disappointed, as the cheapest direct trains are still £150 - has anyone any tips to get this cheaper?

Are you trying to go on peak trains? There are adult advance singles available for £17.50 for selected trains on those dates.

As one of your daughter's is 16 she's treated as an adult and if you try to pass her off as a child and are unsuccesful you'll be made to buy a full price ticket on the day (£143 Anytime Single!) - so that's definetly not worth the risk.

epm-84

Livingthedream wrote: »

Glasgow Central to London Kings cross 18th 06.50 or 07.50 £13.50 1x adult 2xchild & Railcard
London Kings Cross to Glasgow Central 21st 09.00 or 11.00 £19.05 1x adult 2xchild & Railcard

It's not 2 x child and 1 x adult - it's 2 x adult and 1 x child. See my above post and note increasingly conductors are asking to see proof of age even for 13-14 year olds unless they're in school uniform on a school day.

Livingthedream

epm-84 wrote: »

As one of your daughter's is 16 she's treated as an adult and if you try to pass her off as a child and are unsuccesful you'll be made to buy a full price ticket on the day (£143 Anytime Single!) - so that's definetly not worth the risk.

That slightly incorrect, quote from the T&C's of the family railcard

'Special notes regarding children’s tickets

Children aged under 16 at the time that the Railcard is purchased may still travel at the discounted child’s fare throughout the validity period of the Railcard, even though they become 16 years old during that time'

So there is a chance she could travel on a child fare

epm-84

Livingthedream wrote: »

That slightly incorrect, quote from the T&C's of the family railcard

'Special notes regarding children’s tickets

Children aged under 16 at the time that the Railcard is purchased may still travel at the discounted child’s fare throughout the validity period of the Railcard, even though they become 16 years old during that time'

So there is a chance she could travel on a child fare

OK I didn't know there was a special exception but I assume the mum would need proof that her daughter was 15 when the railcard was last renewed and we don't know whether she was 15 or 16 when the railcard was renewed, so we actually need more information from the person who posted the question then.

kayl

Thanks for your help so far - older daughter was 16 when I bought the card, so we will have to travel as 2 adults plus a cjild