Unable to Book a Northern F&F - Help Please!

[Whisky Papa]

Hi,
I am currently trying to book a couple of adult Northern F&F tickets for tomorrow. I have a number of promo codes issued in both 2023 and 2024, but I am constantly getting a 'No tickets available, please refine your search' error box whichever code I have entered.

I recall I struggled last November but did eventually get it to work once I was sent a link to the most up to date version of Northern's website, which I am using now, and I can't see what I am doing differently this time. The You-Tube link is down, not that I suspect that would hold the answer.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Kite159]

Is there any date limit on those F&F codes?

 

[Whisky Papa]

Is there any date limit on those F&F codes?

It says not in the accompanying blurb, although when I last tried to do one in November I was trying to use even older codes and my contact at Northern suggested that they might no longer be valid; a 2023 one eventually worked then. AFAIK the 2024 ones will be the most recent issued.

I've even tried on the Northern app, and while it is happy to accept everything as the instructions show, it simply does not find any tickets - you get one revolution of the 'busy clock' and then it just goes back to where you started.

It really is a pain, and particularly annoying given I am actually retired booking office staff, so you might think I should be able to issue a ticket to myself! Frankly, it worked much better with a paper voucher and a visit to the booking office.

 

[skyhigh]

I presume you are using the correct origin and destination, rather than the journey you're actually making?

The 2023 codes haven't expired, I've just tried one and it worked first time.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I presume you are using the correct origin and destination, rather than the journey you're actually making?

The 2023 codes haven't expired, I've just tried one and it worked first time.

Yes, in fact the F&F page on Northern's website has them pre-filled with Northern Origin and Northern Destination. I've also tried inputting them on the app, as I said it accepts them but won't then find the tickets!

The instructions say 'Ignore train times' - does that mean leave it at the default time shown? I can't recall what I did differently in November to mark it work (once I was using the correct website page and a 2023 code).

 

[skyhigh]

Yes, in fact the F&F page on Northern's website has them pre-filled with Northern Origin and Northern Destination. I've also tried inputting them on the app, as I said it accepts them but won't then find the tickets!

The instructions say 'Ignore train times' - does that mean leave it at the default time shown? I can't recall what I did differently in November to mark it work (once I was using the correct website page and a 2023 code).

Just to check (with the app) you're putting:

From: Nth Origin
To: Nth Destination

The correct date of travel (time doesn't matter) and the code you've been given in the "Promotions" box?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2025 ==

The F&F page rather unhelpfully on mobile prefills the origin and destination but doesn't allow you to enter any code so won't work.

 

[Whisky Papa]

Just to check (with the app) you're putting:

From: Nth Origin
To: Nth Destination

The correct date of travel (time doesn't matter) and the code you've been given in the "Promotions" box?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2025 ==

The F&F page rather unhelpfully on mobile prefills the origin and destination but doesn't allow you to enter any code so won't work.

Yes, exactly that. The fare box above is on 'single' as the instruction said. 2 adults, no railcards, promo added. (a 2023 one)

When I press the blue 'search live times and price' button I get a couple of circuits of the 'busy clock' then I'm back to where I started. Sorry, I'm no expert on the app, in fact I'd rather not use it TBH but I was getting nowhere on the website on my laptop.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Mar 2025 ==

Thanks for your help @Kite159 and @skyhigh, alas I'm no clearer with what the problem is but I'm giving up. My travel partner for tomorrow is happy to pay the normal fare which is fortunately not a huge amount more than the F&F would have been.

I have emailed Northern's dedicated Perks contact centre, perhaps I will get an answer from them at some point.

 

[skyhigh]

The only thing I can guess is that the code has been used already (perhaps whoever gave you them gave them to others too?).

There have been lots of complaints that the new system is hard to use so you're not alone in struggling with it.

 

[Whisky Papa]

It is a possibility, I guess. Would that not bring up a message of 'invalid promo code' or something similar?

 

[skyhigh]

It is a possibility, I guess. Would that not bring up a message of 'invalid promo code' or something similar?

I'm pretty sure it doesn't, the only indication is that it can't find any fares.

 

[Whisky Papa]

I'm pretty sure it doesn't, the only indication is that it can't find any fares.

Hmm - it's perhaps a pity it doesn't specify 'invalid promo code', because I think I've found the problem - if so, it is almost beyond embarrassing!

I have swapped some emails with Northern's dedicated Perks help facility, but I am now having problems with email this morning so I am trying here first. Please can you confirm that the whole code including NORTHERNFF is required to be inputted, because - for some reason I cannot fathom - I was only using the six alphanumeric characters.

 

[skyhigh]

Please can you confirm that the whole code including NORTHERNFF is required to be inputted, because - for some reason I cannot fathom - I was only using the six alphanumeric characters.

Yes, you need the whole code.

 

[Whisky Papa]

Yes, you need the whole code.

I did get a reply from Northern's Perks helpdesk yesterday confirming this. I was perhaps unlucky that I didn't get a reply from them until Tuesday when I had bought alternative tickets; if I'd enclosed a screenshot as requested the problem would have presumably been instantly apparent to them.

It was weird that the penny dropped the moment I reopened the email from my Northern contact with the codes attached yesterday, but it had eluded me for several hours on Monday! Anyway, hopefully I will remember for next time - and at least if anyone else ever asks for help with these, it may be something to check, even at the risk of insulting their intelligence .

Thanks for your time, @skyhigh.