Buying a ticket to Underground Zone 3

[sushiuk]

I'm going to be travelling from Ascot to Southfields (Underground zone 3). What's the best (cheapest) ticket to buy?
Travelling on a Monday arriving by midday and returning later in the afternoon. I have a Network railcard.
My preference is to travel from Ascot to Putney and use the OSI to get on the tube at East Putney.
I can't seem to get a through ticket when trying various websites - including the Forum's. The best I've managed so far is an Ascot to Putney off-peak return (£14.65 with railcard) plus 2 x zone 3 contactless at £2.10 each.
Any help appreciated....

 

[redreni]

There is an off-peak day return Ascot to Zones U34 priced at £15.35, but it has a "via Kew Gardens" route restriction, which presumably rules out using it via Putney and explains why the forum's site doesn't offer it.

The separate tube fare is always going to seem like poor value if you're only going one stop. The 39 bus would be a slightly cheaper alternative.

Or you could try asking at Ascot ticket office - I believe it is still possible for them to 'bodge' U-zone fares that haven't been specifically priced up. So maybe worth asking them for Ascot to Zone 3 via Putney and see if they offer you anything better than the other options as above.

 

[MrJeeves]

Or you could try asking at Ascot ticket office - I believe it is still possible for them to 'bodge' U-zone fares that haven't been specifically priced up.

It might be possible, but they shouldn't do this as it's no longer allowed by internal guidance.

This is what TrainSplit and other sites powered by it used to do until a TOC got a bit annoyed about it, and pushed for this to be removed from TISes.

 

[MikeWh]

The best I've managed so far is an Ascot to Putney off-peak return (£14.65 with railcard) plus 2 x zone 3 contactless at £2.10 each.

I can get slightly cheaper but at the cost of several changes (Ascot - Twickenham - Barnes - Putney etc) so I think this is your best bet.

There is an off-peak day return Ascot to Zones U34 priced at £15.35, but it has a "via Kew Gardens" route restriction, which presumably rules out using it via Putney and explains why the forum's site doesn't offer it.

I'm not convinced that that would be valid because via Kew Gardens also means via Earls Court in zone 2.

 

[Bread & cheese]

I'm not convinced that that would be valid because via Kew Gardens also means via Earls Court in zone 2.

Indeed it would not be valid.
Ascot to Zones U34 via Kew Gardens would only be valid to Turnham Green, and to other stations in Zone 3 reached via Turnham Green, such as Chiswick Park.
(You could also use it to Gunnersbury, but Gunnersbury has its own fares.)