National Express pricing

[cambsy]

I have just Booked on Tuesday 1st May for May 8th, Exeter-London Victoria rtn 04.30 out, and 19.00 back for 21 rtn, over the week before I booked, I kept an eye on the prices, which started 13-15 mark both ways, then climbed to 27.00 odd for the 04.30 and then this Tuesday 1st may, went down to 11.00 for 04.30 and 10.00 for 19.00hrs, which happy to book at, seems odd way to price as at over 40.00 for return, it put me off, as with Network Card I can do Exeter-Waterloo for just over 40.00 rtn, Is reason for this very sensitive quota pricing or glitch, as went up and down very quickly, just seems weird pricing, anyone else found this the case?

 

[pgfb1306]

The actual return fare on NX is £65.50, so fares lower than the single fare of £33 will be their Fun Fares which are yield managed to maximise the revenue take. So if NX know the 04:30 coach is selling well, they will increase the cost of the fare, up to and including the standard single fare.

I note that you use the Network Railcard for a train ticket on SWR, the earliest arrival in London would be 11:50 by using said discount. If you wanted to arrive as early as the coach you'd be looking at £131.70 day return on SWR's route. So I think the coach is pretty decent value, even when NX are maximising their revenue take.