Advance fare availability differing by company selling the ticket?

[jwb133]

I bought some advanced tickets from Bradford-on-Avon to Paddington through TransPennine Express. I needed to change them to a different day. I tried to do this on their website, but when searching for a new train, it said none were available on that day and time. This is not true - I can find advance tickets on the date/time I am searching on from e.g. Nationalrail and Crosscountry.

I contacted TransPennine via Whatsapp, and the person I contacted said "Unfortunately the availability of advanced tickets for that route, on TransPennine Express, must have been reached, and that is the reason that ticket type can not be seen on our website or app".

Is it really the case that different companies selling tickets may have different availability of advance fares for a given route, date and time? I thought the tickets you could buy were always the same irrespective of the company selling you them? I was also surprised TransPennine were not able/willing to change me to an unregulated fare on the desired day either, since this is what Crosscountry's website would let me do historically.

Grateful for any insights!

Jonathan

 

[Watershed]

What is the cost of your original Advance ticket and what date/time are you trying to change it to?

The availability of Advance tickets should be the same across all retailers, with some limited exceptions such as promotional fares that a train company only offer through their own website.

 

[jwb133]

Many thanks.

My existing tickets are for 5th January. Outbound BOA to PAD departing 07:48 arriving 09:34, cost £25.

The same train on 19th January I can see on Crosscountry for £25. but if I search for this on TP, all it shows is an anytime single £113.40.

It's strange because I have booked a number of Advance tickets for this route with TP for February and March at or around £25, and if try searching on these same dates all it shows are Anytime singles. It's as if all their Advance fares have suddenly disappeared (at least for this journey).

 

[Sleepy]

This is interesting, If you search 22nd December Norwich to Liverpool Street on GWR mixing desk no Advance tickets show, If you look on the Greater Anglia website they are available ??

 

[alistairlees]

This is interesting, If you search 22nd December Norwich to Liverpool Street on GWR mixing desk no Advance tickets show, If you look on the Greater Anglia website they are available ??

I see that on GWR.com there are no Advance fares from Norwich to Liverpool Street, or from Diss to Liverpool Street, on any date that I check (happy to be corrected!).

Most likely this means that GWR / Worldline have not added the Greater Anglia Advance ticket types to their whitelist (which means list of ticket types they can sell).

 

[yorkie]

Many thanks.

My existing tickets are for 5th January. Outbound BOA to PAD departing 07:48 arriving 09:34, cost £25.

The same train on 19th January I can see on Crosscountry for £25. but if I search for this on TP, all it shows is an anytime single £113.40.

Our ticketing site also has the £25 fare.

I contacted TransPennine via Whatsapp, and the person I contacted said "Unfortunately the availability of advanced tickets for that route, on TransPennine Express, must have been reached, and that is the reason that ticket type can not be seen on our website or app".

This is incorrect, however is exactly what I would expect a train company representative to say.

You could try going back to TPE, showing screenshot evidence that other sites sell the ticket, and ask if you can have a refund of the original (minus the admin fee) if you are able to buy elsewhere.

In future, consider an alternative retailer; you would likely have a better experience using the forum site (but if an issue like this did occur, we could contact the people behind the site directly, to quickly resolve it!)

 

[Willie Bee]

you would likely have a better experience using the forum site (but if an issue like this did occur, we could contact the people behind the site directly, to quickly resolve it!)

I have bought many tickets from the forum and have great service. The ability to add extra time between trains is a useful feature.

I have never had to change an advance ticket, but if I had to, is there a fee with the forum's site ?

I think I have seen on this forum GWR don't charge a fee, although I have never booked with them

 

[yorkie]

I have never had to change an advance ticket, but if I had to, is there a fee with the forum's site ?

I think I have seen on this forum GWR don't charge a fee, although I have never booked with them

GWR say £10, however I believe they are only allowed to charge £5; this may be out of date edit: apparently changes can incur a £10 fee (see post below)

Change your train ticket | Train ticket changes and amendments | Great Western Railway

Plans changed? Find out how you can change your GWR train ticket, including changes to your travel dates, times, and destination.

www.gwr.com

• A £10 admin fee may apply to Advance ticket changes

The forum site is £5.

Advance tickets are non-refundable but amendable by rebooking. The amendment process involves rebooking the journey before the departure of your first booked train. Ensure you rebook before your first train leaves the station to retain the ticket's value. Refunds, subject to a £5 admin fee, can be requested after rebooking.

I'm not sure how GWR works, but with the forum site you re-book and refund the original. This can be preferable, as sites that make you do a "change" in one go may add additional restrictions, and you wouldn't be able to do things like request additional interchange time.

Generally speaking, sites that don't charge change fees tend to need to cut their costs in areas such as features, or customer service, as there is very little commission available for ticket sales these days.

 

[Willie Bee]

GWR say £10, however I believe they are only allowed to charge £5

Change your train ticket | Train ticket changes and amendments | Great Western Railway

Plans changed? Find out how you can change your GWR train ticket, including changes to your travel dates, times, and destination.

www.gwr.com

The forum site is £5.


I'm not sure how GWR works, but with the forum site you re-book and refund the original. This can be preferable, as sites that make you do a "change" in one go may add additional restrictions, and you wouldn't be able to do things like request additional interchange time.

thanks !

 

[Wallsendmag]

Refunds are £5 changes to Advance tickets are still £10

 

[Haywain]

I have never had to change an advance ticket, but if I had to, is there a fee with the forum's site ?

There is and if your new ticket involves a saving through split fares being found you will incur the "share of saving" fee again.