Avanti cheaper on Fridays than Saturdays

[317 forever]

I have something to see to in London early in August. I looked up fares there (from Stockport) and got cheaper Advance fares for Friday 2nd than I would have done on Saturday 10th. I could not go on Saturday 3rd or Friday 9th due to work.

I have just looked up fares for Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. I am seeing fares suggested from £73.50 for Friday but from £80.00 on Saturday.

I suppose that business travel on a Friday in August will be comparatively minimal, but summer Saturday days out remarkably popular. I was still surprised though.

 

[Starmill]

Business travel and office commuting has been very soft on Fridays for a long time, and this is at it's most obvious quite early in the morning. The pandemic may have slightly hastened it but it was already a trend.

 

[pwharley]

I have something to see to in London early in August. I looked up fares there (from Stockport) and got cheaper Advance fares for Friday 2nd than I would have done on Saturday 10th. I could not go on Saturday 3rd or Friday 9th due to work.

I have just looked up fares for Friday 16th and Saturday 17th. I am seeing fares suggested from £73.50 for Friday but from £80.00 on Saturday.

Try the Forum's ticketing site.

The 07:44 Avanti to London on Friday 16th can get you to London for £21.80, by splitting tickets at Nuneaton.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Wouldn't an Off Peak Single (Stockport to London Terminals) at £75.90 not be more flexible/cheaper? (Or £108.90 for the return?)

 

[317 forever]

Wouldn't an Off Peak Single (Stockport to London Terminals) at £75.90 not be more flexible/cheaper? (Or £108.90 for the return?)

The fares I listed are for Advance singles in both directions, so effectively return fares.

Thank you for suggesting the Nuneaton split @pwharley

 

[Mcr Warrior]

The fares I listed are for Advance singles in both directions, so effectively return fares.

Thanks for so clarifying. The £108.90 Off Peak Return fare does, however, effectively place a cap on what can be charged for (there and back) Advance Singles when travelling on Fridays and Saturdays.

 

[Watershed]

Fridays, especially Friday mornings, are extremely quiet on Avanti. You can often get Advances at the lowest normal tier (V2X) even a day or two before travel, for trains that on other days of the week would attract highest-tier Advances (V2A) or Anytime Singles. There is a huge variation in demand by day of the week so I can't say I'm remotely surprised at this pricing.