Advance train ticket/flight delay

moreofthegoodstuff

I have won flights from Gatwick next year and I'm looking at train tickets to get to and from the airport, the advanced purchase rate is around £100 cheaper than an off peak return. The question I have is we fly back in at around 10am and I was looking at booking an advanced train for 2pm to give time in case of delay/no rushing around etc, but what happens if the flight is delayed longer than that? With not paying for the flight, I don't know where we would stand on train tickets as it would cost loads for new tickets on the day if we missed the advanced journey. Basically I'm just trying to weigh up whether I need to pay an extra £100 and get any time tickets?

I have just booked a hotel for the journey down so that's what got me thinking, and had I paid for my flight I know I could probably claim for the flight being delayed, but with it being a win I'm not sure? Just looking for some advice on what others would do?? Hopefully there would be no delays but knowing my luck the above would happen, trying to think of everything! :A

wealdroam

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

I have won flights from Gatwick next year and I'm looking at train tickets to get to and from the airport, the advanced purchase rate is around £100 cheaper than an off peak return. The question I have is we fly back in at around 10am and I was looking at booking an advanced train for 2pm to give time in case of delay/no rushing around etc, but what happens if the flight is delayed longer than that? With not paying for the flight, I don't know where we would stand on train tickets as it would cost loads for new tickets on the day if we missed the advanced journey. Basically I'm just trying to weigh up whether I need to pay an extra £100 and get any time tickets?

I have just booked a hotel for the journey down so that's what got me thinking, and had I paid for my flight I know I could probably claim for the flight being delayed, but with it being a win I'm not sure? Just looking for some advice on what others would do?? Hopefully there would be no delays but knowing my luck the above would happen, trying to think of everything! :A

Would you need Anytime tickets, or would Offpeak do?

How about staying a hotel at Gatwick on the return journey too?

Where is you train journey to/from?
What dates?

moreofthegoodstuff

Macclesfield to Gatwick, off peak would be fine, I thought about staying over but need to be back early for something the following day, we are travelling back on 6th May

Travelling down on 29th April.

wealdroam

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

Macclesfield to Gatwick, off peak would be fine, I thought about staying over but need to be back early for something the following day, we are travelling back on 6th May

Travelling down on 29th April.

Those are both Saturdays, and as you can't yet buy tickets for your dates I've used 7 and 14 January as an example of what might be available on your dates.
Offpeak tickets are valid on all trains on Saturdays.

Advance Singles are available at £26 each way per person - that's £52 per person for a return trip.
Alternatively an Off Peak Return can be had for £90.90.

So yes, if there are three of you travelling the extra cost is over £100.

It certainly doesn't make sense to buy Advance Singles out (£26) and Offpeak Singles (£89.90) for the return. That's a return journey cost of £115.90 per person.

Remember that train ticket prices usually go up in early January, so maybe budget for a little bit more.

moreofthegoodstuff

Thanks for having a look for me would you choose advanced or off peak return?

wealdroam

moreofthegoodstuff wrote: »

Thanks for having a look for me would you choose advanced or off peak return?

Me? I would buy the Offpeak return at £90.90.

You haven't said how many people are travelling, but if there are two of you, buy a Two Together Railcard.
It costs £30 but reduces that £90.90 fare by a third - down to £120.00 for two.
Or to put it another way, the return cost for two people, including railcard, reduces to £150.00 from £181.80.

You save more than the cost of the railcard on that one trip and the railcard is valid for a whole year.

If you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers, get that railcard for £15 of vouchers.