Buying WCML tickets after First Trenitalia takeover

[MrCheese]

I've always bought Lon->Manchester tickets direct from Virgin and am a Traveller reward member. With Virgin losing the franchise should I assume that the Traveller program will end and where do people think is the best place to buy tickets? I can't find any way of buying tix direct from First Group which one would assume is the cheapest way. Given that the franchise handover is in a matter of weeks it all seems rather quiet....

 

[Bletchleyite]

I've always bought Lon->Manchester tickets direct from Virgin and am a Traveller reward member. With Virgin losing the franchise should I assume that the Traveller program will end and where do people think is the best place to buy tickets? I can't find any way of buying tix direct from First Group which one would assume is the cheapest way. Given that the franchise handover is in a matter of weeks it all seems rather quiet....

I suspect Traveller will indeed end. For now, tickets are best purchased from VTWC. First Trenitalia will launch their site on the day of taking over.

 

[Wallsendmag]

LNER site every time for me

 

[Bletchleyite]

Basically, don't use Trainline, as you'll pay fees on top of the exact same ticket.

Otherwise...does everywhere do the Saver Half tickets properly now?

In any case, if you use the VTWC site you can use the seat selector which is good enough for me. I hope First retain this.

 

[yorkie]

Basically, don't use Trainline, as you'll pay fees on top of the exact same ticket.

Otherwise...does everywhere do the Saver Half tickets properly now?

You mean Off Peak Single (Online) tickets The split ticket sites (Loco2, Trainsplit etc) offer them, along with Trainline but many sites don't.

In any case, if you use the VTWC site you can use the seat selector which is good enough for me. I hope First retain this.

At present only the VT site has a seat selector but that may not be the only place for much longer....

 

[Starmill]

LNER site every time for me

Why would the OP be well advised to buy tickets for travel with VT from LNER?

They will be the same price, except that VT will offer them nectar points and you won't.

 

[30907]

Why would the OP be well advised to buy tickets for travel with VT from LNER?

They will be the same price, except that VT will offer them nectar points and you won't.

Think Wallsendmag is loyal to his employer and/or has tongue firmly in cheek?

 

[Starmill]

Think Wallsendmag is loyal to his employer and/or has tongue firmly in cheek?

Or even buying specific types of ticket that he's eligible for that the OP isn't. Either way it seems not to answer the OP's request for advice.

 

[cuccir]

They will be the same price, except that VT will offer them nectar points and you won't.

LNER do offer nectar points.

I tend to buy tickets from the operator I'm travelling wherever possible as I think that in the event of problems, as you're making your life simpler by reducing the number of parties involved and you're more likely to get eg seat selection. The only exception would be if I was buying Advance tickets that I know there's a risk of needing to amend, and then I might go to CrossCountry, though I think some other TOCs now offer that?

 

[FQTV]

LNER do offer nectar points.

Only for tickets valid on, or restricted to, their own services.

 

[stanthedog]

It seems that there are no standard class advance tickets available for the west coast route that I use weekly post the end of the Virgin franchise. I'm hoping these will get released else I'm looking at a significant cost increase. There has been little to no information at all from either Virgin or First Italian or whatever they are called?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It seems that there are no standard class advance tickets available for the west coast road that I use weekly post the end of the Virgin franchise. I'm hoping these will get released else I'm looking at a significant cost increase. There has been little to no information at all from either Virgin or First Italian or whatever they are called?

Can you be more specific? There may be other reasons.

 

[stanthedog]

Can you be more specific? There may be other reasons.

Trying getting an advance Bangor Gwynedd to London Advance on the 0514 or 0618 in December after Virgin vacate the route

 

[Bletchleyite]

Trying getting an advance Bangor Gwynedd to London Advance on the 0514 or 0618 in December after Virgin vacate the route

Like this?

 

[DaveB10780]

From my local station via Stockport to London advances are all the same as normal - i have checked up to Dec 18th.