Kids-for-a-quid fares on ticketing site

[beanwalls]

Hi All,

I'm looking for the cheapest day return from Bromley South to Ashford International. One adult and one child, with a network railcard. The ticketing site here comes up with £26.40, but Trainline gives me £22.44 with this "Kids-for-a-quid Return". OR if I use the Greater Anglia site (the route I use most often) it's only £22.00.

Does anyone know why these aren't coming up on the forums ticketing site?

And can I use it to just come back with the child. I'm travelling down to collect them, so will be on my own on the outward journey but with child on the train back.

Thanks!

 

[Haywain]

And can I use it to just come back with the child. I'm travelling down to collect them, so will be on my own on the outward journey but with child on the train back.

In either of those cases, yes, your proposed usage is fine.

 

[beanwalls]

In either of those cases, yes, your proposed usage is fine.

Thanks!

 

[Adam Williams]

Does anyone know why these aren't coming up on the forums ticketing site?

The industry data for child flat fares that operators are responsible for leaves some .. significant room for improvement. Status quo today requires every TIS supplier to write their own logic to bodge it, unfortunately - lest they start selling the flat fares for unaccompanied children. Most of the supplementary fares lack correct RCS data as well, and train operators have shown little interest in actually fixing this, so existing retailers are bodging that as well in order to be able to offer them in E-Ticket format. The family-style group tickets (like LNER price on their flows) which are explicitly valid for a combination of e.g. 1 adult and 1 child are a much better implementation of this concept which don't require additional work from TIS suppliers and probably should've been used for this "Kids for a quid" concept instead of what has actually been done.

It's on the list to sort one day, but the above are the challenges that need to be contended with, along with proper support for mixing these into sets of split tickets to ensure the best value fares are offered.

Spoiler: Abbreviations

TIS => Ticket Issuing System, RCS => Retail Control Service (defines the fulfilment types permissible for each ticket type on each flow)

 

[beanwalls]

The industry data for child flat fares that operators are responsible for leaves some .. significant room for improvement. Status quo today requires every TIS supplier to write their own logic to bodge it, unfortunately - lest they start selling the flat fares for unaccompanied children. Most of the supplementary fares lack correct RCS data as well, and train operators have shown little interest in actually fixing this, so existing retailers are bodging that as well in order to be able to offer them in E-Ticket format. The family-style group tickets (like LNER price on their flows) which are explicitly valid for a combination of e.g. 1 adult and 1 child are a much better implementation of this concept which don't require additional work from TIS suppliers and probably should've been used for this "Kids for a quid" concept instead of what has actually been done.

It's on the list to sort one day, but the above are the challenges that need to be contended with, along with proper support for mixing these into sets of split tickets to ensure the best value fares are offered.

Spoiler: Abbreviations

TIS => Ticket Issuing System, RCS => Retail Control Service (defines the fulfilment types permissible for each ticket type on each flow)

So i this instance, I'm better off getting tickets via the train operator sites? As the forum ticketing site can't deal with those prices and so buying tickets or searching for best prices will always be better going direct.

 

[Haywain]

So i this instance, I'm better off getting tickets via the train operator sites? As the forum ticketing site can't deal with those prices and so buying tickets or searching for best prices will always be better going direct.

I think you should keep looking until you find one that tells you it's £21.55, which is the railcard discounted Off Peak Day Return (routed 'not HS1') and a Kids for a quid ticket.

 

[Bill57p9]

The situation is somewhat unsatisfactory: ScotRail keeps plugging buying tickets online or through their app yet neither support their own kids for a quid tickets - which are also extensively advertised.

 

[Adam Williams]

I think you should keep looking until you find one that tells you it's £21.55, which is the railcard discounted Off Peak Day Return (routed 'not HS1') and a Kids for a quid ticket.

I'd agree with this advice.

ScotRail keeps plugging buying tickets online or through their app yet neither support their own kids for a quid tickets - which are also extensively advertised

Yes, Scotrail are even worse! Basically just the ticket office, if I recall correctly.

 

[kkong]

Yes, Scotrail are even worse! Basically just the ticket office, if I recall correctly.

Yes, plus of course buy-on-board where there is no ticket office at the origin.

In practice, you have a reasonable chance of success asking to buy one on board even if there is a ticket office at the origin station.

 

[Adam Williams]

Yes, plus of course buy-on-board where there is no ticket office at the origin.

In practice, you have a reasonable chance of success asking to buy one on board even if there is a ticket office at the origin station.

Ah yes, you're less likely to be threatened with being thrown in jail up there

 

[beanwalls]

I think you should keep looking until you find one that tells you it's £21.55, which is the railcard discounted Off Peak Day Return (routed 'not HS1') and a Kids for a quid ticket.

Ah yes - that's my fault, I was looking from either Bromley South or Beckenham Junction and the £22 is BJ. You're right that Bromley South is £21.55!