MSE News: Split ticket app reveals hidden cheaper rail fares

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Trailblazing new tool hits the top 10 in the App Store in its first week ..."

Read the full story:
Split ticket app reveals hidden cheaper rail fares

Kushan

When will there be an android app?

jamesd

Is this really free? All commissions delivered to the ticket purchaser and none retained by the service provider? Or only sufficient retained to pay for the service development and operating costs?

For some idea of the ethical considerations involved here, take a look at this discussion in pure money, where one IFA suggested that another should be reported to a compliance officer for a "lie" that a service would be free if it was being paid for by commission.

None of this should be taken as me expressing a view that the concept is bad nor that any charges involved are excessive - my views on those things are more likely to be the opposite of that. It's purely about the ethics of the pricing claim if any commission, referral fee or similar is being retained.

I expect MSE to be at least trying to match the ethical standards expected of IFAs.

jamesd

It's nice to see this being done and it should help people to save a lot of money. Nice move!

dggar

I tried this today to find the best split for a journey from
Manchester to Whitby.

The most logical station is Middlesborough where there is a change of train operationg company.

the app came up with Stalybridge which, for those not familiar with Manchester, is the first stop on the Manchester-Leeds route about 7 miles out of Manchester.

Former_MSE_Dan

Kushan wrote: »

When will there be an android app?

Hi Kushan,

We have built a mobile optimised version for non-iOS smartphones - just go here:

http://splitticket.moneysavingexpert.com/

Dan

powershopper

MSE_Helen wrote: »

This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:

"Trailblazing new tool hits the top 10 in the App Store in its first week ..."

Read the full story:
Split ticket app reveals hidden cheaper rail fares

can I use this in my PC ?

Jeff_Bridges_hair

Once again you have mentioned 'Hidden fares'.

Can you please alter your thread title and your story to reflect this. Once again I have to inform you that the fares are NOT 'Hidden' they are all in the booking engines - the same ones that you use to find the splits your app uses.

Whilst your app is probably the first one that has seemingly cracked the difficulty of finding splits you are misleading the public who will use this app by stating that the fares are hidden.

Im quite dissapointed that even though you changed the original thread which had the app in you have gone again and claimed that the fares are 'Hidden'.

This is not true. And its not the sort of sensationalist journalism that I would expect from yourselves.


EDIT: Also I hope that when the full service with advances and returns goes live you will have the full list of restrictions clearly shown on the screen for the tickets that you are showing. And you fix the rather odd timing anomolies that are apparent with some searches i have done already

poppy10_2

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Can you please alter your thread title and your story to reflect this. Once again I have to inform you that the fares are NOT 'Hidden' they are all in the booking engines - the same ones that you use to find the splits your app uses.

They are effectively hidden as they are (deliberately) difficult to find using the standard booking sites. This app makes it much easier.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

poppy10 wrote: »

They are effectively hidden as they are (deliberately) difficult to find using the standard booking sites. This app makes it much easier.

No they are not. You enter you want to go from place A to place B it will show the fare for the journey you want.

You want to be split you ticket and go from A to B to C to D then you can easily enter them into any booking engine. Therefore they are not hidden.

In fact on most websites now - especially the National rail one you can actually open up the 'calling points' of the train you want and then do it yourself. Therefore the fares are NOT hidden.

Yes this app makes splitting tickets easier but that does not mean the fares are hidden and to claim they are is false.

Nath4n

Mental, the cost of a single from University to home is a very overpriced £31 - just punched it into this and it found me a split total of £16! That's even cheaper than the cheapest advance fare they do for the entire journey!

An 'on the day' open return is also slightly cheaper using the split (£28 v £33).

Great app thanks, looking forward to the possible inclusion of returns and maybe in the far future - advance fares.