Group tickets (10 or more) - any good experiences?

Jurg

Looking at arranging a group trip in a few months time, I checked Chiltern Railways website for info on group tickets. It told me they have special discounts for groups of 10 or more. There was a link supposedly to a PDF form to fill, scan and send, but the link was broken. No number to call, just an email address.

So I sent an email, including the date of travel and asking for a quote for a group of 10 for return travel from Leamington Spa to London. I got a, very quick, response back from Chiltern. The speed was the only thing that impressed me.

There response was that I should buy two groupsave tickets each for 4 people and two full price tickets. They also gave me the number of their booking line to book the tickets.

Now, I spend a fair amount of time organising travel for my friends and I. I know how groupsave tickets work. I also know that in a few weeks time advance tickets will be available that will cost much less than the tickets they told me to buy. What they tried to sell me isn't going to be the cheapest fare I would be able to get as an ordinary Joe using a ticket booking website, let alone a special discount for a group.

In short, I was pretty cheesed off with the service I got. I emailed back saying this and asking if that's the best they can do. But that was on Friday afternoon shortly before they were due to go home for the weekend.

Anyway, has anyone here had a positive experience booking group travel with Chiltern, or any other TOC for that matter? What sort of deals can they do? Anything nearly as cheap as advance tickets? Thanks in advance for any help.

dzug1

Group travel discounts are rarely as good as those available on advance fares so yes you are better off waiting. I suspect 10% is the best you'd do now

Jurg

But I could get 50% off with groupsave, which is a walk up fare. Odd.

The_Groat_Counter

Jurg wrote: »

But I could get 50% off with groupsave, which is a walk up fare. Odd.

Just to note that GroupSave has changed, and now only offers a 1/3 discount.

www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr354fdc0a0400020101fea1769fbf60.aspx

www.daysoutguide.co.uk/group-save.aspx

jbuchanangb

I have just made enquiries of Abellio greater Anglia for group of 5 adults and 15 young people under 18. My first surprise was that under 18 counts for a child fare, not the usual under 16. Advance single fares not available on the route. 5 of my group are 16 or 17.
The normal adult off peak day return is £12.50. In the group £9.75.
The normal child off peak day return is £6.25. In the group £4.75
Maybe if the group comprised of adults only, Groupsave would be better, but with the young people included, group travel seems to be a good deal.