LNER "Smart Save" split tickets

[AY1975]

I see from this report from The Independent that LNER is trialling "Smart Save" split tickets:

MSN

www.msn.com

"The UK’s leading state-run train operator, LNER, is taking on Trainline with its own version of “split ticketing” – the increasingly popular technique to cut the cost of rail journeys.

Because of Britain’s extraordinarily complex rail pricing system, travellers can save cash on many journeys by buying two or more tickets for a single journey. The practice is perfectly legal as long as the train stops at the intermediate station(s).

Several websites have sprung up to allow travellers to search online for the optimum combination.

Splitting tickets became mainstream when the independent retailer Trainline began to offer them routinely to users of its app with the “SplitSave” badge.

LNER, which runs trains on the East Coast main line from Scotland, northeast England and Yorkshire to London King’s Cross, is trialling a ticket category called “Smart Save”. Users of its app are sometimes offer a discount on the “point-to-point” price if a split ticket is cheaper.

Smart Save deals are available only for users of the LNER app, and can be presented as e-tickets on smartphones or printed at home.

The train operator’s version is more sophisticated than the “SplitSave” option offered by Trainline, because it allows the traveller to keep the same seat throughout the journey.

With Trainline and other providers of split tickets, the passenger is often faced with having to change places at the station where a split takes place."

There is already a now locked thread on LNER "Smart Save" from February of last year at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lner-split-ticketing-smart-save.213755/

I'm guessing that this means that either The Independent has only just picked up the story almost a year and a half after LNER's initial "Smart Save" trial, or that "Smart Save" tickets are now available to all LNER app users whereas in the original trial last year they were only offered to a small number of randomly selected users.

I have the LNER app, and if you try to book a journey for which Smart Save tickets are available, it tells you that it is a Smart Save fare. However, according to that story Smart Save fares have not yet been rolled out for all journeys for which combinations of split tickets would be valid; for example they are not offered for Peterborough-King's Cross with a split at Stevenage.

The note on the app says Smart Save fares are available via the LNER app or website, but in practice only the app seems to offer them, not the website.

So far the biggest saving that I've managed to find is King's Cross-Edinburgh on 14th July for £50.20 instead of £64.40, saving £14.20 (looked up today). Can anyone beat that?

I also wondered whether First Class or only Standard Class Smart Save tickets were available. I suspect it's Standard Class only at least initially.

 

[Alex365Dash]

So far the biggest saving that I've managed to find is King's Cross-Edinburgh on 14th July for £50.20 instead of £64.40, saving £14.20 (looked up today). Can anyone beat that?

King’s Cross to Inverness on the 12:00 direct tomorrow (17 June) shows a Smart Save Super Off-Peak Single for £128.70 rather than £192.60, saving £63.90 (checked today at 16:47).

Given that’s the longest LNER journey you can do, I’d be surprised if there’s better!

 

[Bletchleyite]

King’s Cross to Inverness on the 12:00 direct tomorrow (17 June) shows a Smart Save Super Off-Peak Single for £128.70 rather than £192.60, saving £63.90 (checked today at 16:47).

Given that’s the longest LNER journey you can do, I’d be surprised if there’s better!

That one will be because of single-fare pricing on London-Edinburgh but not London-Inverness. It'll be just £96.80 SSS once that is fully rolled out (which isn't terrible value for a flexible ticket for 500-odd miles!), and the split won't be cheaper for a return.

 

[STINT47]

Looking at the 12:00 London to Inverness tomorrow you can do -

London to Edinburgh super off peak single £82.20

Edinburgh to Inverness LNER advance single £20.30

Total £102.50.

Sorry to LNER but you'll need to do better than your current prices you want to win back my business.

 

[AY1975]

Looking at the 12:00 London to Inverness tomorrow you can do -

London to Edinburgh super off peak single £82.20

Edinburgh to Inverness LNER advance single £20.30

Total £102.50.

Yes, if you're in-the-know and happy to have to change seats on arrival at Edinburgh, as the app doesn't currently automatically offer this combination.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Yes, if you're in-the-know and happy to have to change seats on arrival at Edinburgh, as the app doesn't currently automatically offer this combination.

Or buy it on Trainsplit and use the seat selector.

 

[AY1975]

Or buy it on Trainsplit and use the seat selector.

If you use Trainsplit you get charged commission of up to 15% of the amount that you save by getting split tickets, meaning that this particular combination (looked up at 18.13 today) will cost a total of £116.02 (the LNER Edinburgh-Inverness Advance is now £20.30). It's still cheaper than the £128.70 quoted by the LNER app, though, and worth paying the 15% commission if it saves you having to change seats!

 

[STINT47]

On this particular journey tomorrow the system isn't giving the option to make a reservation on the London to Edinburgh part of the journey so it looks like you'll be swapping or standing at some point anyway

 

[westv]

There is already a now locked thread on LNER "Smart Save" from February of last year at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/lner-split-ticketing-smart-save.213755/

I'm guessing that this means that either The Independent has only just picked up the story almost a year and a half after LNER's initial "Smart Save" trial, or that "Smart Save" tickets are now available to all LNER app users whereas in the original trial last year they were only offered to a small number of randomly selected users.

"Smart Save" tickets have been available on the app for several months at least now.

 

[yorkie]

Looking at the 12:00 London to Inverness tomorrow you can do -

London to Edinburgh super off peak single £82.20

Edinburgh to Inverness LNER advance single £20.30

Total £102.50.

Sorry to LNER but you'll need to do better than your current prices you want to win back my business.

The harsh reality is that I don't think LNER particularly want anyone's business on that train as it will already likely be pretty full; the railways aren't really run as a public service.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2022 ==

If you use Trainsplit you get charged commission of up to 15% of the amount that you save by getting split tickets, meaning that this particular combination (looked up at 18.13 today) will cost a total of £116.02 (the LNER Edinburgh-Inverness Advance is now £20.30). It's still cheaper than the £128.70 quoted by the LNER app, though, and worth paying the 15% commission if it saves you having to change seats!

Yes in this case Trainsplit is cheaper than LNER, including commission.

On this particular journey tomorrow the system isn't giving the option to make a reservation on the London to Edinburgh part of the journey so it looks like you'll be swapping or standing at some point anyway

The trick is to board early and head for Coach C.

The train will be extremely busy though and LNER probably want to deter anyone else trying to travel on it.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jun 2022 ==

Where LNER really falls down is that most people have connections to make.

If we look at Reading to Scarborough, you're paying a huge premium to book with LNER:


In this case, using Trainsplit without a Railcard yields a similar price to a Railcard holder booking with LNER.

(Image shows Reading to Scarborough in two weeks time, departing 1148, arriving 1606; the overall fares are £60.11 on Trainsplit and £88.50 on LNER)

 

[Haywain]

I don't think LNER particularly want anyone's business on that train as it will already likely be pretty full;

I'm sorry, but that is a ludicrous statement. The train being full suggests the business is wanted and is being successfully attracted.

 

[yorkie]

I'm sorry, but that is a ludicrous statement. The train being full suggests the business is wanted and is being successfully attracted.

But do LNER want to attract more customers to a train that is already fully booked?

If the aim was literally to transport as many people as possible, there would be more trains running, and cheaper fares. But that isn't the aim and to be fair it's out of LNER's control.

The complaint was that the fare for the train is too high; I don't want to disagree with that complaint but the reality is that LNER are hardly going to lower the price for a train that is already fully booked, surely?

 

[Haywain]

The complaint was that the fare for the train is too high; I don't want to disagree with that complaint but the reality is that LNER are hardly going to lower the price for a train that is already fully booked, surely?

As you appreciate and acknowledge that the capacity is outwith LNER's control, it is wrong to say that the business is not wanted. LNER are pretty good at filling the available seats and if seats are full then higher fares are all that will be available - within the confines of the existing fares structure. Are fares too high? The consensus is that they are and I am not going to argue with that, but more capacity is what will alleviate that.

 

[yorkie]

As you appreciate and acknowledge that the capacity is outwith LNER's control, it is wrong to say that the business is not wanted.

I'm not saying all business isn't wanted, but a train that is full (or going to be full) is inevitably going to be priced in a manner that most people would interpret as high enough to deter people from travelling on it.

LNER are pretty good at filling the available seats and if seats are full then higher fares are all that will be available - within the confines of the existing fares structure. Are fares too high? The consensus is that they are and I am not going to argue with that, but more capacity is what will alleviate that.

Indeed though at this point we'll need to discuss anything further in a new thread!

But suffice to say, given the current provision and structure, then on a Friday anyone wanting to go from London to Inverness on the Highland Chieftain is either going to have to pay what many consider to be a very high price, or book very far ahead (e.g. Friday 2nd September is currently £52.50, but nearer the time there will be no Advance fares available and the price will be well into three figures); whether that's right or wrong, and if it is wrong, whose fault it is, is a matter for a separate debate but I doubt we are in disagreement on that point!

 

[ServerHoster]

Or buy it on Trainsplit and use the seat selector.

Does the LNER website not have a seat selector?

 

[gabrielhj07]

Does the LNER website not have a seat selector?

It does (at least the app does)

 

[Wallsendmag]

Does the LNER website not have a seat selector?

Yes it does