Euston to Glasgow -- tickets with open-ended times?

[Bletchleyite]

Sorry if I'm reading you wrong but you do understand that buying in advance isn't the same thing as an 'Advance' ticket type, yeah? You don't need to buy at Euston when you walk up, you can buy flexible ones well in advance (that aren't actually called advance).

Though if it's a weekday other than Friday (is it?) the OP may need to choose between Anytime and Off Peak. You can of course excess but that takes longer as only a human can do it, and while you can theoretically do it on board the "gateline dragons" are unlikely to let you through if you have an Off Peak at Anytime times.

 

[Watershed]

The Elizabeth line had been waiting for a long time for data equipment to be installed which will feed the on-train free Wi-Fi. I think that this equipment is all in use now, and the free train WiFi is available in all of the tunnels including to Heathrow Airport and through Central London? My experience is that this connection is stable even on full trains, albeit that you may not find it the fastest service you are used to. It does not just randomly drop out on you in tunnels any more.

The hardware is also capable of providing connection to the four mobile data providers' myriad of users. I am not sure if this functionality is yet in use.

My understanding is that the WiFi at Heathrow Airport covers nearly everywhere, and is of a good speed for public WiFi despite being free.

WiFi is also provided free at London Euston and onboard Avanti West Coast. I would be far more circumspect about the quality of that connection however.

The on train WiFi is now available on all Elizabeth line trains and works throughout the entire route as there are 'leaky feeders' in the various tunnels. In fact I often find that the WiFi (and mobile data, which it relies on) is quicker in the tunnels.

 

[tram21]

wait an extra 45 or 55 minutes at Euston

Don't worry, it won't take long!

 

[yorkie]

LNER are doing a trial of tickets that are flexible within a 140-minute window. This has been heavily derided on this forum but seems pretty well suited to this sort of situation, at least in principle (I don't know what the actual prices look like). This would mean getting a ticket from King's Cross to Edinburgh and a separate Edinburgh-Glasgow ticket, though.

Planea can be delayed a lot more than that; I've twice been delayed by Ryanair for around 14 hours.

Getting two tickets can result in two sets of fees, on some retailers, even if booked in one transaction (our site would only charge on fee).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Apr 2025 ==

Here's where the "simplicity" factor comes into play: When I first land at Heathrow, I won't yet have a data plan/cell coverage/UK SIM card on my mobile phone, so I won't be able to access the internet on the train ride to Euston or in the station -- unless I go to the hassle of buying an overpriced SIM card at the airport, or try to fiddle around with possible available wifi networks, etc. And even if I did have a data plan, I'll be wrangling some heavy luggage, so trying to deal with two people's luggage on a crowded train while going in and out of tunnels interrupting the connection while frantically trying to buy a ticket on my phone -- overall, just seems to cause a lot of stress. For simplicity's sake, weighing the pros and cons, I think I'd rather take the 10% chance that I'd have to wait an extra 45 or 55 minutes at Euston than have the stress of trying to deal with SIM cards/Internet/web sites/ticket-buying/credit cards with one hand while guarding several pieces of luggage with the other hand on a crowded train.

Heathrow airport has WiFi. Heathrow Express (and EL, as mentioned above) also has WiFi.

Also you can get an e-SIM in advance, or a data plan (depending on your provider).

If travelling long haul, I have found the coat is typically the same on BA to a domestic destination. I book this and take it if convenient, and don't take it if there is a more convenient option.

 

[mmh]

If travelling long haul, I have found the coat is typically the same on BA to a domestic destination. I book this and take it if convenient, and don't take it if there is a more convenient option.

You mean e.g. San Francisco to Glasgow being the same price as San Francisco to Heathrow?

That can be true (or actually a lower price some times), but there's a huge caveat. If you've got hold luggage, you can't bail out at Heathrow - your luggage will be checked through to Glasgow. In the reverse direction if you don't show up at Glasgow you'll be down as a no-show for both legs.

My personal experience of this is asking BA check-in at San Francisco if my luggage could be checked to Heathrow on my 2-leg ticket rather than the ticket destination. They refused, so I had to take the 2nd leg when I'd rather not have done.