East Coast Rewards - Increase in Voucher Costs

[SickyNicky]

Just had an email from East Coast Rewards:

We're emailing you regarding the free East Coast Rewards return train tickets you have in your account. In the coming week we will be converting these into single tickets.

The reason for this is that we are making some improvements to the Rewards scheme following member feedback. One change we are making is to the free train tickets which will be switching from returns to singles.

Rewards members will be able to redeem single tickets at 300 Points for Standard and 500 Points for First Class. There will no longer be a 'ticket for two' option and the return tickets will become obsolete at the point the singles are introduced

So, by the back door, the cost of a rewards return trip goes from 500 to 600 in standard and 900 to 1000 in First. "Tickets for Two" (they were great value) are scrapped.

 

[calc7]

Time to go "cash in" points now then. Classic EC penny-pinching!

 

[The North Briton]

Sounds like a major PR own goal! Does the first paragraph mean that someone who has already redeemed the points for a return ticket will be issued with a single?? Could be a bit inconvenient!

 

[starrymarkb]

Hmm, sounds like what has been happening to a lot of Frequent Flyer Programmes - either the miles needed is increased or the earning rate is reduced to 25% for those in the back half of the aircraft

 

[snail]

Is this scheme based on mileage or amount spent? If it's spending then it is logical to increase the award threshold as prices rise. If you didn't then as ticket prices rise the number of trips to reach an award would gradually reduce over time.

 

[calc7]

Is this scheme based on mileage or amount spent? If it's spending then it is logical to increase the award threshold as prices rise. If you didn't then as ticket prices rise the number of trips to reach an award would gradually reduce over time.

A First Class return for 2 was 900 points when the scheme was first introduced 14 months ago. Now it's 2000. - so an increase of 122% if my mental maths serves me correctly.

Meanwhile First Advance and Open tickets, depending on the flow, will have risen by between 0% and 10%.

 

[Max]

Unbelievable, we were so close to 1400 points! What a scam.

 

[Failed Unit]

Yes, not impressed either, going to get a voucher now for 2 so it is converted to 4 singles.

I hope the flat rate for children stays. But 600 points (or £300 on first class tickets is a massive in increase.)

As another post points out ticket price have increased so you should get rewards quicker but not by that much. The increase on a single traveller isnt as bad.

 

[cjohnson]

Sounds like a major PR own goal! Does the first paragraph mean that someone who has already redeemed the points for a return ticket will be issued with a single?? Could be a bit inconvenient!

No - I think if you have already redeemed (but not yet booked) a return ticket, that will shortly be converted to two singles.

Good news is that they say :

We are also introducing a free fare finder tool which will enable you to check whether there is availability before you redeem your Rewards Points on a free ticket.

 

[Lee_Again]

My First Class for two is being converted to 4 singles.

Singles are better than returns in that they offer some flexibility. I am going to Scotland in February on the Sleeper so now I can use a single to get back rather than wasting a return.

However, 1400 for two First returns becomes 2000. A bit of a hike

 

[Goatboy]

At least you get rewarded - those of us who use other TOC's don't

 

[tbtc]

Classic EC penny-pinching!

Sounds like a major PR own goal!

Did anyone honestly think that the offer was going to continue forever (and at those rates)?

At least you get rewarded - those of us who use other TOC's don't

Precisely!

 

[DaveNewcastle]

I must say that I've enjoyed 3 or 4 Return Firsts from the scheme so far and didn't want it to stop, though there had been times when I had to, er, discard one leg of a return journey as the times available weren't convenient.

However, I converted 1400 points into another Return First for 2 on receiving the email today, expecing it to be 'converted' to four singles next week. It will take longer to accumulate enough points for a Rewards ticket, but the flexibility of mixing a Rewards and a purchased ticket could be useful.

I just wish they'd drop the ridiculous 'spin' which tops and tails the announcement, claiming "we are making some improvements to the Rewards scheme following member feedback" and "We really hope that you find the changes to be an improvement" as if the most significant change in the announcement, the substantial increase in rates, had ever been suggested by even just one passenger, and could ever be perceived by anyone as an improvement.

 

[Failed Unit]

I agree with you on the spin bit DaveNewcastle, but I do see the advantage of the 2x singles as well, the gamble that when you are away for 2 weeks so you have a difference in ticket opening dates that the train you wanted on the outward may be sold out by the time you return opens.

Working it out with the increase in the cost of my ticket and the increase in points to get a voucher it is now 5.76 returns per journey compared to 4.66 (so just one). It is still a lot easier to get into then the former "GNER time" where I seemed to just miss getting the £1300 by 1 week. So on year spending nearly £4000 per year and I still missed out on the loyalty (under national express's ownership). Virgin was quite easy to join. Scotrails is the best of all but taking a quick look on FGW and East Midlands trains they don't see to offer anything. Virgins is closed to new members at the moment while the franchise is sorted.

 

[shinkansen1966]

I have a free EC rewards return ticket which needs to be redeemed before the end of March 2013.

Does this mean it will be replaced with a single ticket or 2 x single tickets ?

 

[calc7]

I have a free EC rewards return ticket which needs to be redeemed before the end of March 2013.

Does this mean it will be replaced with a single ticket or 2 x single tickets ?

2x single is my understanding.

 

[Failed Unit]

I have a free EC rewards return ticket which needs to be redeemed before the end of March 2013.

Does this mean it will be replaced with a single ticket or 2 x single tickets ?

2x singles, but redeem them now, if you only have 900 points you could lose out as you will need to redeem 1000 soon instead of 900.

 

[calc7]

I have 1250 points - I'd been saving for 1400 but looks like I'm gonna have to get a single FC return for 900 now.

 

[Lee_Again]

I have 1250 points - I'd been saving for 1400 but looks like I'm gonna have to get a single FC return for 900 now.

Or buy 2 First Advances for £50 each and get 150 points today.

Shame you can't transfer. I have 150 you could have had.

 

[calc7]

Or buy 2 First Advances for £50 each and get 150 points today.

Shame you can't transfer. I have 150 you could have had.

Yes that is a shame!

I need to find four friends who want to sign up to East Coast rewards...pronto.

 

[Lee_Again]

Yes that is a shame!

I need to find four friends who want to sign up to East Coast rewards...pronto.

And who buy tickets for greater than £22. The points only get added once they purchase.

 

[calc7]

And who buy tickets for greater than £22. The points only get added once they purchase.

I thought they only had to spend a fiver? Or has even that changed :-x

 

[Bungle73]

I thought they only had to spend a fiver? Or has even that changed :-x

Where did you read that?

The minimum spend is £22 with the exception of "certain East Coast tickets". It doesn't say which ones though.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/east-coast-rewards/

 

[calc7]

Where did you read that?

The minimum spend is £22 with the exception of "certain East Coast tickets". It doesn't say which ones though.

http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/east-coast-rewards/

No, not for reward points on one's own account - but for when one "invites" a friend to join the Rewards Scheme. In the past the friend has only had to spend £5 for you to receive 40 points.

 

[RochdalePioneers]

I have volunteered to buy tickets for my colleague whenever we travel on business. And as I am the boss I'm choosing train over car quite a bit for work reasons of course....

Sent from my Galaxy S2 using Tapatalk

 

[DaveNewcastle]

The minimum spend is £22 with the exception of "certain East Coast tickets". It doesn't say which ones though.

No, but I have a long list of accumulated points in my account which include as few as 2 and 3 points being 'earned' from advance standard class tickets on East Coast and on other operator's services (from tickets costing less than £4) when booked as part of a journey which includes EC.
Similarly, I 'earned' 13 points from a First Class ticket on EC costing £9.25 as one element of a single booking amounting to a massive £27, the other elements also 'earning' points.

 

[Failed Unit]

Or buy 2 First Advances for £50 each and get 150 points today.

Shame you can't transfer. I have 150 you could have had.

The thing is with that is that you may be able to buy the journey you want for £100 anyway. You can do Edinburgh - London for £100 if you are quick off the mark.

 

[Max]

Sorry, so just to confirm, a standard class return for two will be converted to four singles, correct?

 

[calc7]

Indeed, Max

 

[Max]

Excellent, I have cut and run!