Trainline admin fee - WFH

soolin

If I might just add to this thread that it serves as  a timely reminder to make sure we don't slip into lazy habits when booking things. 

I travel a lot by train and have rather got into the habit of popping onto my trainline account and buying tickets - it's quick and convenient. I'm travelling again tomorrow and as I had this thread in mind I actually worked out (using trainline) which train company was operating the fast train I wanted - opened an account with them and have booked direct. The tickets were exactly the same price but going direct I also saved the trainline booking fee (£1.50 from memory?) 

I didn't find the SouthEastern train site quite as browser friendly as Trainline- but it all seemed to work ok and I can collect my tickets from today from my local station as normal - and haven't paid a booking fee.

Off topic but I also booked my hotel direct with their own website rather than through a third party, I saved a few pounds but also on their own website I got to choose exactly what room I wanted as they are all slightly themed.

CKhalvashi

soolin said:

If I might just add to this thread that it serves as  a timely reminder to make sure we don't slip into lazy habits when booking things. 

I travel a lot by train and have rather got into the habit of popping onto my trainline account and buying tickets - it's quick and convenient. I'm travelling again tomorrow and as I had this thread in mind I actually worked out (using trainline) which train company was operating the fast train I wanted - opened an account with them and have booked direct. The tickets were exactly the same price but going direct I also saved the trainline booking fee (£1.50 from memory?) 

I didn't find the SouthEastern train site quite as browser friendly as Trainline- but it all seemed to work ok and I can collect my tickets from today from my local station as normal - and haven't paid a booking fee.

Off topic but I also booked my hotel direct with their own website rather than through a third party, I saved a few pounds but also on their own website I got to choose exactly what room I wanted as they are all slightly themed.

This has offered me an unrivalled level of flexibility in the last year, including several cancellations and other amendments I'd otherwise have had to pay for with both apartment-style accommodation and traditional hotels.

For a work trip in January I've booked with someone I'd consider almost a friend, and have somewhere that isn't officially open to myself in a city centre for less than £10/night. That's going to be impossible through one of the booking sites.