As not all train ticket vendors have updated their railcards to include 26-30, such as Expedia, would it be acceptable to select a 16-25 railcard in the drop down for buying tickets, or would I need to buy from a vendor that does have the 26-30 option? I normally use Expedia for the favourable cash back rates through Quidco/Topcashback.
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Buying ticket with 26-30 railcard using Expedia
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RailUK Forums
Yes that’s fine.
bb21
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Strictly speaking you need to have the correct Railcard shown on your ticket. If your chosen vendor does not make the option available, you need to use one that does,
I thought someone on here posted a briefing pack that had been issued to staff saying that tickets could have a 16-25 discount applied to 26-30 railcard holders as not all retail systems had been updated.
WelshBluebird
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That was my impression too: https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...d-from-spring-2018.154195/page-7#post-3211316.
Though I guess officially there is nothing provided to passengers to confirm that.
bb21
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BluePenguin
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That is a bit of a grey area. I would say it is fine although I am sure the rule says otherwise. Having the wrong railcard discount could lead to you being questioned about why. They might think that you didn't buy the ticket and could have picked it up off the floor instead.
On another note remember to navigate through to Expedia through TopCashback for your 4%!!
On another note remember to navigate through to Expedia through TopCashback for your 4%!!
You'tr 100% fine, I have a 26-30 railcard and it does say in the app: "When you buy tickets, select "16-25 Railcard" if you don't see a "26-30 Railcard"option. Some ticket machines and websites haven't been updated yet. Ticket inspectors know that 16-25 tickets are valid with a 26-30 Railcard."
Wallsendmag
Established Member
No grey area at all that was the instruction from RDG
BluePenguin
On Moderation
Oh dear. The post just above yours seems to say that it is okay after all.
Wallsendmag
Established Member
No grey area as in " If the 26-30 discount isn't offered please use the 16-26 railcard discount"
Andrew1395
Member
Because Expedia have a plan to eclipse Trainline in U.K. And European rail product retailing and have a number of ways of incentivising consumers with strategic partnerships. They bought silverrail technologies which provides many of the web based journey planning and ticket used by TOCs and in the past by Trainline itself.
That’s all well and good but doesn’t actually answer Wirewiper’s question.
Why would someone choose to buy a rail ticket from Expedia?
The cashback is matched elsewhere, the fees can be avoided elsewhere and their customer service is generally described on the internet as appalling.
Where is the cashback matched?
You’ve already answered that yourself in the Special Offers discussion
Only for TPE though.
Because some people may book their holidays/other travel with Expedia and see this as a way of gaining extra points and rewards from them and they have an app which can give even greater rewards https://www.expedia.com/rewards/howitworks
Whilst we all agree the internet never lies I think at times you need to take reviews with a pinch of salt because most people will moan rather than praise a company.
We see it on here all the time
BluePenguin
On Moderation
I have never been able to get my cashback if I buy through the app. I still get my Expedia appoints but miss out on the cashback
Which is why they probably have an app to prevent cashback but my point still stands as to why someone would book through them
BluePenguin
On Moderation
I haven't been able to work out which is more valuable. 4% cashback or Expedia points? They don't give you nectar points if you only buy train tickets annoyingly either
I think, (and it is important to note this isn't anything negative about any individual(s) especially not bb21 or any TOC) that this proves how difficult the entire system CAN be when something like this appears to be in force but folk that work within the industry are yet to be informed about it.
Personally if i fell into the category and had said railcard i would be happy to use it with the 16 to 25 discount on it given the information that is available, as i am happy to politely explain to anyone who wishes to challenge it the information and show them an example. I can however fully understand why people may be worried about doing so. There are topics on this forum where someone has accidentally booked a ticket with the wrong railcard and has been forced to purchase a new full price walk up ticket or face prosecution so it will be quite unsettling for people who aren't aware of the rules and often read stories about people facing fines of hundreds of pounds for what comes across as a genuine mistake.
It is unfortunate but it is possible there will be instances on the network, we may or may not get to hear of them where someone will be forced to purchase a new ticket because of this because a member of staff isn't aware.
Slightly OT. The other week i wanted to excess a day return with a routing restriction to one with a different routing restriction due to disruption it meant i would be home earlier than waiting. My tickets were with a two together railcard but the excess was done with a 16 to 25 railcard to "save time" according to ticket office staff at Leeds. Gateline staff at Leeds were a little bit funny about it but let us through as it was obvious but they did briefly point out it was wrong. I had no issue on the train but a strict guard with people less familiar with the railway could have lead to problems due to the excess being deliberately issued in error to save hassle by staff.
robbeech sums up all that's wrong with the rail industry and the way it handles ticketing. It's apparently fine for industry staff to knowingly provide the wrong ticket, but other industry staff have the power to land the innocent customer in court. A somewhat tongue in cheek question, but why shouldn't the ticket seller end up in court too? Sadly, "it's not fair" isn't a valid defence in UK courts.
Wallsendmag
Established Member
That's just plain lazy.
JBuchananGB
Established Member
I mentioned on a previous occasion the time when my wife & I showed our Senior railcards at Liverpool Central when buying tickets to Southport, only to be issued with tickets marked "2TOG". We did not meet any RPIs, no repercussions, but definitely wrong tickets issued.
RJ
Established Member
I sell tickets and I hadn't seen that brief myself. I actually wondered exactly the same thing when booking a Sleeper ticket on the sleeper.scot website yesterday.
RJ
Established Member
Seems unduly harsh to treat paying customers that way.
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RJ
Established Member
I'm interested in the answer for this too, because until I read the Expedia tip (and thank you for sharing that btw) I could only find cashback for 2.1% maximum for the tickets I wanted to buy online.
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