London to Luton airport - a cheaper option?

rainbow_carnage

This morning, I had to go from London (St Pancras) to Luton for work. A single off-peak ticket cost £6.

A ticket to Luton Airport Parkway costs £12.50, plus £1.50 for the bus to get you from the station to the airport. Luton is actually one stop further from London and £6.50 cheaper.

I know that I cannot buy a ticket to Luton and just get off one stop early for the airport. It's ridiculous but true. However, what's to stop me from buying a ticket to Luton, plus a ticket from Luton to Luton Airport Parkway for £2.40, and just getting off a stop early? That would come to a total of £8.40, instead of £12.50.

What am I missing?

richardw

The barrier at Parkway may alert staff that you didn't start your journey at Luton if there is a barrier at Luton.
Not sure if it would matter though.

DirtyDick

If you buy the Luton-Luton Airport ticket in Luton for that price it would work. I assume
the London-Luton Airport price is higher because it'd be a good moneyspinner. Doubtless there's some T&C's about not getting off certain routes en route, but I've never encountered it - I frequently stop-off in London if going by train.

karenmay33

richardw wrote: »

The barrier at Parkway may alert staff that you didn't start your journey at Luton if there is a barrier at Luton.
Not sure if it would matter though.

you don't put the ticket in the barrier at luton airport parkway, as your bus ticket is included to get you to the airport, call the guard on the gate show him you ticket and he will let you through.... i've done this loads of times as it saves a fortune.. IF YOU DO PUT YOUR TICKET IN THE BARRIER AT LUTON PARKWAY YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BUS TO GET TO THE AIRPORT

MarkyMarkD

The only fares I can see are £12.50 to Luton Airport and £12.90 to Luton itself. Where are you getting this £6 fare from?

Generally speaking you CAN break journeys on single tickets, so if there was such a price differential it would be worth stopping short with a Luton ticket. There is no restriction on break of journey on the off-peak single to Luton.

rainbow_carnage

Now I am confused. Are you saying that I can buy a single ticket, St Pancras to Luton, and just get off one stop earlier? I thought that you had to have a ticket terminating where you're getting off. Otherwise you can't get through the barrier. Is that wrong? Can I buy a £6 ticket to Luton, get off at Parkway and pay £1.50 for the bus? £7.50 is a much more appealing price than £14.

@MarkyMarkD - I didn't buy yesterday's ticket, but that was the price on it. I've also checked several random dates in October. A single ticket from St Pancras to Luton at 11pm is £6. Probably more expensive if you're buying on the day.

MarkyMarkD

Ah, well, if you are talking about an Advance ticket then you are quite right that you cannot get off early. You said it was an Off-Peak Ticket.