Boundary Zone tickets

[Edvid]

Until recently I haven't taken much notice of Boundary Zone tickets. I had an Off Peak Day Travelcard (R1256) and planned to buy an Off Peak Day Return (St Mary Cray - Sevenoaks) the other day, but the ticket clerk sold me a ticket starting from Boundary Zone 6, which was actually cheaper (kudos to the ticket seller for that).

With that in mind, I've checked out BZ tickets in more detail and I would like to know if I could catch a non-stop service from Luton Airport Parkway to London (and back) with a combination of Off Peak Day Return (Luton Airport Parkway - BZ6) and an Off Peak Day Travelcard (R1256). I ask because it appears that BZ tickets are usually sold for the second half of outward journeys and not the first half.

 

[clagmonster]

Yes, that would be allowed, with the prices being as follows:
Luton Airport Pw-Boundary zone 6 £6.50
All zones travelcard: £7
Surprisingly, according to Avantix, this is cheaper than buying a day travelcard from Luton Airport.

 

[glynn80]

Until recently I haven't taken much notice of Boundary Zone tickets. I had an Off Peak Day Travelcard (R1256) and planned to buy an Off Peak Day Return (St Mary Cray - Sevenoaks) the other day, but the ticket clerk sold me a ticket starting from Boundary Zone 6, which was actually cheaper (kudos to the ticket seller for that).

With that in mind, I've checked out BZ tickets in more detail and I would like to know if I could catch a non-stop service from Luton Airport Parkway to London (and back) with a combination of Off Peak Day Return (Luton Airport Parkway - BZ6) and an Off Peak Day Travelcard (R1256). I ask because it appears that BZ tickets are usually sold for the second half of outward journeys and not the first half.

Technically the rules disallow that on the basis that you cannot actually buy a Luton to BZ6 you can only purchase a BZ6 to Luton. From Luton you would be sold a Luton to R1256. The reason for this as the Boundary Zone ticket is a Travelcard excess for those who already hold a Travelcard.

You can however in practice just purchase your Travelcard before you purchase your BZ6 ticket and then once in possession of that present that to the booking office and purchase the BZ6 ticket. You would have to use the return portion first and then the outward portion on your return. This is technically not allowed but in reality no one can really pull you up on this issue.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

I would think the Office staff at Parkway would refuse to sell you the BZ6 to Luton Parkway ticket on the basis you are not in London and you have no ticket to get there. They may even refuse to sell the travelcard on the same basis.

I tried to buy a travelcard at Luton a few years back and they wouldn't sell me it, even though I requested a priv return to Elstree with it!

 

[dan_atki]

I would think the Office staff at Parkway would refuse to sell you the BZ6 to Luton Parkway ticket on the basis you are not in London and you have no ticket to get there. They may even refuse to sell the travelcard on the same basis.

I tried to buy a travelcard at Luton a few years back and they wouldn't sell me it, even though I requested a priv return to Elstree with it!

Indeed, I think that a travelcard has to be presented in order to obtain boundary zone tickets much like Eurostar tickets to get a return to London CIV (though that is another matter).

I have certainly had no problems buying an R1256 'in-zones' travelcard starting at Elstree from Luton before. I thought under regulations they weren't allowed to ask how you were getting to Elstree and had to sell what you asked for - i.e. any ticket that can be issued on their system? What was the reason they gave as to why they couldn't issue it? After all it really isn't their problem as to how you get to Elstree and if, in the process, you commit fare evasion then that's up to you!

Saying that, though, I have had only one instance of the clerk not selling me a 'remote origin' ticket as they are known - and that was at Charing Cross. I think he was about to book up and just wanted to get home though so as to not mess about...

 

[glynn80]

Indeed, I think that a travelcard has to be presented in order to obtain boundary zone tickets much like Eurostar tickets to get a return to London CIV (though that is another matter).

I have certainly had no problems buying an R1256 'in-zones' travelcard starting at Elstree from Luton before. I thought under regulations they weren't allowed to ask how you were getting to Elstree and had to sell what you asked for - i.e. any ticket that can be issued on their system? What was the reason they gave as to why they couldn't issue it? After all it really isn't their problem as to how you get to Elstree and if, in the process, you commit fare evasion then that's up to you!

Saying that, though, I have had only one instance of the clerk not selling me a 'remote origin' ticket as they are known - and that was at Charing Cross. I think he was about to book up and just wanted to get home though so as to not mess about...

I think conflicting information is given to ticket office staff, they are to sell the ticket demanded by the customer but must also be vigilant they do not knowingly contribute to passengers fare evasion. Their training I doubt is as concise as we'd like!