Cheaper to split GN season ticket?

[dcs34]

Recently started work on a temporary basis (10 weeks), commuting from Potters Bar to Moorgate with "Great" Northern.

As it wasn't 100% at the start I'd be based in Moorgate, I initially bought a week season ticket (£52), and then following that a 9 week season ticket (£399.40).

However, when I originally looked at getting a 10 week season ticket (covering the same time period), the cost quoted to me was more expensive than the two tickets I actually bought (£453.00 instead of £451.40)

It's obviously only a minor difference (in my favour! ) so I'm not too bothered, but I was just wondering whether anyone here can explain why buying a longer season ticket didn't guarantee better value (in the same way buying a return on National Express isn't always cheaper than two separate singles...)?

 

[Hadders]

The following season tickets are available from Potters Bar to London Terminals (Kings Cross or Moorgate at the appropriate terminals for Potters Bar):

7 Day £52.00
1 Month £199.70
Annual £2,080.00

£399.40 is the price for a season ticket lasting 2 months so I think this is what you were sold but depending on what months we're talking about 2 months could be the best part of 9 weeks.

You might be interested to know that you can buy monthly season tickets with additional odd days added. For example you could start a season ticket on Monday 3rd July and it to finish on Friday 4th August. This would be 1 month and 2 days and would cost £213.20. You would then start your next ticket on Monday 7th August etc. This way you don't travel for travel at weekends and it can be beneficial if you can work around holidays etc. You can add any period of odd days to a monthly season ticket and they're charged at the pro-rata monthly rate.

An Annual Season ticket will usually be most cost effective (and comes with Gold Card benefits) but using odd period monthly periods can come a close second if you don't need to travel at weekends and holidays or if you cannot afford the outlay of an annual.

 

[RJ]

Recently started work on a temporary basis (10 weeks), commuting from Potters Bar to Moorgate with "Great" Northern.

As it wasn't 100% at the start I'd be based in Moorgate, I initially bought a week season ticket (£52), and then following that a 9 week season ticket (£399.40).

However, when I originally looked at getting a 10 week season ticket (covering the same time period), the cost quoted to me was more expensive than the two tickets I actually bought (£453.00 instead of £451.40)

It's obviously only a minor difference (in my favour! ) so I'm not too bothered, but I was just wondering whether anyone here can explain why buying a longer season ticket didn't guarantee better value (in the same way buying a return on National Express isn't always cheaper than two separate singles...)?

The price anomaly may have arisen because the number of days in each month varies, but season prices aren't adjusted to reflect this.

For example;
30th June to 6th September will be 2 months and 8 days (£453 as per your quote).
1st July to 7th September will be 2 months and 7 days (£446.20)

Can I presume your weekly ticket covered the end of June? If so then you'd be slightly up as a 2 month ticket (£399.40) covering July and August would cover two 31 day months.

 

[island]

Recently started work on a temporary basis (10 weeks), commuting from Potters Bar to Moorgate with "Great" Northern.

As it wasn't 100% at the start I'd be based in Moorgate, I initially bought a week season ticket (£52), and then following that a 9 week season ticket (£399.40).

However, when I originally looked at getting a 10 week season ticket (covering the same time period), the cost quoted to me was more expensive than the two tickets I actually bought (£453.00 instead of £451.40)

Season tickets are priced based on full months and full days rather than weeks, so if there are more 31-day months in the ticket's validity it may result in small differences.

 

[dcs34]

Ah yes thanks guys, seems to be the difference is the 9 week one misses off the last Sunday, whereas my full 10 week one included it (I used the specific dates thing on their website to get the exact prices).

Certainly makes more sense than National Express' pricing!