Getting "permission to travel on later train" after missing the one you're booked on

FloFlo

Can you book saver tickets in advance? I'm in the same position as above. I will be travelling from Newport to Gatwick and then the return journey from Gatwick to Newport at the end of the holiday.

dzug

FloFlo wrote: »

Can you book saver tickets in advance? I'm in the same position as above. I will be travelling from Newport to Gatwick and then the return journey from Gatwick to Newport at the end of the holiday.

You can, but there's little point other than a reserved seat - they are the same price on the day.

If there's more than one of you check if a 'Gatwick Flyaway' fare is available. You'll have to phone or go to the station - they don't sell them online. They have the advantage of being cheaper and having no peak hour restrictions, but only sold for 2/3/4 people.

FloFlo

dzug wrote: »

You can, but there's little point other than a reserved seat - they are the same price on the day.

If there's more than one of you check if a 'Gatwick Flyaway' fare is available. You'll have to phone or go to the station - they don't sell them online. They have the advantage of being cheaper and having no peak hour restrictions, but only sold for 2/3/4 people.

Thanks its for 2 adults and a child in August. Any idea of how far in advance you can book the flyaway fares. Which train companies sell them, does it make a difference who you book with? I haven't travelled by train for years.

dzug

FloFlo wrote: »

Thanks its for 2 adults and a child in August. Any idea of how far in advance you can book the flyaway fares. Which train companies sell them, does it make a difference who you book with? I haven't travelled by train for years.

Only First Great Western do flyaway tickets to Gatwick - originally it was only from former Thames Trains stations but I <think> they have expanded a little.

Don't know how far in advance you can buy them - they are available on the day though. You don't need to 'book'. You do have to be able to produce an air ticket/itinerary if they ask.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=1698

has some brief details. Best bet is to ring the number on the website above or toddle down to Newport station and ask. (I've assumed Newport Gwent btw)

FloFlo

You're correct, sunny SWales. I've looked at the link and it seems its going to be around £100 for 3 of us judging by the price of £90 for Bristol. Cheaper than airport parking.

dzug

FloFlo wrote: »

You're correct, sunny SWales. I've looked at the link and it seems its going to be around £100 for 3 of us judging by the price of £90 for Bristol. Cheaper than airport parking.

Yes it is £100 from Newport - plus £1 per child!

http://nationalrail.co.uk/promotions/f57a943fc35ce74101db9503cebaecbe.html

AngLangS

FloFlo wrote: »

Thanks its for 2 adults and a child in August. Any idea of how far in advance you can book the flyaway fares. Which train companies sell them, does it make a difference who you book with? I haven't travelled by train for years.

FloFlo

A tip if you are travelling via Gatwick:

It's usually cheaper to book rail travel to Gatwick using a Family Railcard than using the flyaway fares.

Book your rail tickets via London (go to Gatwick via Victoria). In addition book a couple of mega bus tickets (https://www.megabus.com), if you book in advance you can often get them for £1 single, mega bus departs from Victoria, then when you return, if you are delayed you just switch to the bus instead of the train. Sounds a bit like hard work, but it's not as difficult as it sounds.

Good Luck

silvercar

I had quite a good experience with Eurostar from this point of view; I arrived after the 30-min check-in cut-off point, but before departure, at Disneyland. It was entirely my fault for being late.

They wouldn't let me get on that Eurostar but they did convert my ticket so I could travel from Paris Gare du Nord for no extra cost (which would have cost a lot more had I planned to travel from there).

You were very very lucky. We did the same and the staff at the Disneyland station told us to get the metro to Gare d'Nord. When we got to Gare d'Nord, we could see a Eurostar train but they wouldn't let us board as we were passed the 30 minute cut-off time. They then said that we would have to buy new tickets as our tickets were only valid from Disney. To cap it all we had missed the last train so had to stay in a hotel at Gare D'Nord overnight.

One very expensive delay.