Ferry Travel Price Difference Query - Can I Do This?

charliemaine1bee

Hi - We are taking a short break to Ireland as foot passengers.
To book a return short break ticket is £84.
To book 2 'offer' day return tickets for the same dates (but not come back on the returns) £45.
Same ferries -Same travel times.
Big difference in price - Can i actually do this- new to ferry travel or will there be a hiccup in the process? thanks

DullGreyGuy

So you are going on the 10th coming back on the 14th but have spotted its cheaper to buy a day return on the two dates than to buy a normal return for the actual dates of travel?

I assume your second date you've looked at an Ireland to GB day return and so intend to use the outbound leg rather than a second GB to Ireland and so intending to use the return leg?

Ultimately you need to read the terms and conditions, certainly ensuring you are using the outbound both times makes it less risky as return tickets are often automatically cancelled if the outbound leg isnt traveled. Some may have rules to invalidate tickets when your seen to be gaming promotions but its a long slog and lots of complaints if you do so. 

Can always reduce the risks, given you talk about "we" travelling by booking 1 day return in one name and then the second on a separate transaction in one of the other travelers names.


There is naturally a risk in this though... if your ferry on the 10th is cancelled and you abandon your trip you will have no right to a refund for the tickets on the 14th from the ferry company. 

charliemaine1bee

Yes - Would only be using the outbound journey on each booking so would be 2 separate bookings.
I read in the terms that if the outbound trip not taken then full trip cancelled but as we are only using outbound then thats covered. 
Just seems silly to pay higher price for exactly the same journey- But yes see what you mean about cancellation risk. 

MilesT6060842

There will be risks;  ferry company is likely to be able to track the fact you haven't used the return portion and may exercise contractual conditions to retrospectively charge a single fare instead, settling the difference to the credit card used to buy the day tickets.

If you wanted to do this you would want to book the 2nd leg as a return starting from Ireland rather than UK so you are always using the outbound portion. Even better if you can split the legs across more than one ferry company to reduce risks of such fare arbitrage.  

Similar challenges for air fares, especially in a hub and spoke model where you exploit "hidden city" ticketing and don't fly all the legs of the return fare in sequence.

Less trackable/enforceable for rail fares (e.g. GA Hare fares)

outtatune

Will you be able to wait until after the outbound journey before booking the return?