London to Gatwick

[penaltyfines]

Hi,

There's 5 of us going from London to Gatwick at the end of August, travelling out at 4pm and returning on a Saturday morning at 1am.

Pax 1: BZ1-2 TC, Gold Card, 16-25 RCD
Pax 2-4: 16-25 RCD
Pax 5: No railcards/discounts

I know this is a bit complex, but I wondered if someone could come up with the cheapest ticket combination, as between buying Boundary Zone fares, group discounts, railcard discounts etc there must be a lot of combinations!

Also I'm not fussed about Gatwick Express unless there's marginal price difference.

Interestingly from Victoria to Gatwick the (presumeably) non-Gatwick Express fare is 'SOUTHERN ONLY' (not 'NOT GATWICK EXPRESS' as BZ2-Gatwick fare is routed) - as Southern own Gatwick Express does that (at least ambiguously) allow you to travel on Gatwick Express?

Thanks,

 

[clagmonster]

Is the outward journey on the Friday night before the Saturday morning or an earlier date? If the latter, would it be a weekday or weekend?

 

[island]

There could be a Groupsave viable here.

 

[dzug2]

It would be worth looking at Southern advance fares for the outward journey - the last train on which they are valid is normally the 1602 out of Victoria. Booking on Southern's website gives a 10% discount on them. They won't be available at the time you return.

as Southern own Gatwick Express does that (at least ambiguously) allow you to travel on Gatwick Express?

No it doesn't. Not in real life anyway.

 

[Deerfold]

as Southern own Gatwick Express does that (at least ambiguously) allow you to travel on Gatwick Express?

No it doesn't. Not in real life anyway.

It has been argued previously on here it should - it'd be hard to make that stand up in court - though they could make it less ambigous by making it "not GX" instead.

 

[Caped Crusader]

Just to clarify, are you travelling out on Friday, back on Saturday or going away for a few days?

If you are away for a few days, then there is no group save on the Anytime Return VIC-GTW (Southern Only) and no Off-Peak Return exists. It will probably be cheaper to buy with Gold Card discount, 2 singles all the way through and one to/from Clapham Junction.

Avoid advance fares for the return if flying, as plane delays and 'booked train only' tickets are not a great combination. Unless you can get them dirt cheap and are willing to purchase new tickets if you miss it or land early.

*Update*
Didn't read properly thought there were 3 not 5. Must clean glasses. Will get back to you with some prices. Sorry.

 

[snail]

Just to clarify, are you travelling out on Friday, back on Saturday or going away for a few days?

And from where in London? If it's from the north a ticket from St. Pancras to Gatwick will include the cross-London transfer (by tube or bus if Thameslink isn't running).

 

[dzug2]

It has been argued previously on here it should - it'd be hard to make that stand up in court - though they could make it less ambigous by making it "not GX" instead.

But that would imply availability on FCC (and FGW even) for that part of the journey that is possible with them so just as big an ambiguity.

I suspect it's an unintended consequence that will get put right if it ever becomes a big enough problem in reality to make it worth the effort.

 

[Deerfold]

But that would imply availability on FCC (and FGW even) for that part of the journey that is possible with them so just as big an ambiguity.

I suspect it's an unintended consequence that will get put right if it ever becomes a big enough problem in reality to make it worth the effort.

They could be from London VICTORIA instead of TERMINALS...

 

[island]

Or routed STHN NOT GATEXP...

 

[dzug2]

They could be from London VICTORIA instead of TERMINALS...

Still possible to use FCC or FGW for part of the journey. From East Croydon or Redhill.

 

[Deerfold]

Still possible to use FCC or FGW for part of the journey. From East Croydon or Redhill.

Island's latest covers that.