16-25/26-30 railcard strategy

[Gaelan]

My current 16-25 railcard expires about a month before my 23rd birthday. What’s the optimal strategy to (1) maintain a railcard discount for as long as possible, and (2) spend as little as possible on railcards?

 

[Merseysider]

I’d suggest buying a 1-year 16-25 just before your 23rd birthday and then a 3-year 16-25 a week before your 24th birthday.

The 16-25 railcard has no £12 minimum fare in July & August whereas the 26-30 railcard does.

You will then be eligible for 26-30 railcards thereafter.

 

[Haywain]

My current 16-25 railcard expires about a month before my 23rd birthday. What’s the optimal strategy to (1) maintain a railcard discount for as long as possible, and (2) spend as little as possible on railcards?

As you do not qualify for the 26-30 Railcard that really does not enter into consideration yet. You have a choice of deciding whether railcard prices will increase before your 24th birthday, and by how much. If I were in your situation though, I would get the 3-year railcard this time round.

 

[redreni]

As you donot qualify for the 26-30 Railcard that really does not enter into consideration yet. You have a choice of deciding whether railcard prices will increase before your 24th birthday, and by how much. If I were in your situation though, I would get the 3-year railcard this time round.

Sounds ominous!

 

[Haywain]

Sounds ominous!

No knowledge of anything but a price increase hasn't happened for a long time and will inevitably happen sooner or later.

 

[Gaelan]

As you do not qualify for the 26-30 Railcard that really does not enter into consideration yet. You have a choice of deciding whether railcard prices will increase before your 24th birthday, and by how much. If I were in your situation though, I would get the 3-year railcard this time round.

I mentioned the 26-30 because (eventually) I want to get a 26-30 at the last possible moment for the longest validity possible, and was wondering if it was worth setting up my railcard cycle to align well with this; but I've just noticed that there's no 3-year 26-30 railcard, so this is less of a consideration.

 

[Haywain]

I mentioned the 26-30 because (eventually) I want to get a 26-30 at the last possible moment for the longest validity possible, and was wondering if it was worth setting up my railcard cycle to align well with this; but I've just noticed that there's no 3-year 26-30 railcard, so this is less of a consideration.

In any event, there's nothing to stop you holding overlapping railcards of the same or different types if helps you to extend the overall validity by buying your last one as late as possible. Therefore the optimum time to buy the last of those railcards is the day before you cease to qualify for them (as long as you're not buying a physical railcard online).

 

[Hadders]

It makes sense to try and align your railcard expiry date to two days before your birthday. The optimum time to purchase your final 16-25 railcard is the day before your 26th birthday (which will expire two days before your 27th birthday).. Same strategy required as you approach your 31st birthday.

As there's a gap of around a month will you be travelling in the month between your railcard expiring and your birthday? If not delay the purchase of your next railcard to get the expirt date closer to your birthday and cut the month gap down.