No return fares on Avanti for Maunday Thursday return Good Friday

[AC47461]

Hi, a friend is trying to book to travel from Oxenholme on the Afternoon of Thursday 28th March to Euston, and return the following day (no specified time, and he is aware of the significant disruption) but is not getting any standard return ticket prices, everything is singles.
Can anyone tell me why this is please? Is it because of the disruption? Is Thursday counted as peak because of the Easter weekend?
Thanks in advance

 

[Bletchleyite]

Looks OK to me, any screenshots or anything?

 

[Haywain]

Is Thursday counted as peak because of the Easter weekend?

No, but it is generally an exceptionally busy day and Avanti operate a compulsory reservation system so if all available reservations are taken up it won't be possible for booking sites to offer tickets.

 

[AC47461]

Looks OK to me, any screenshots or anything?

He's a screen shot for the dates he actually wants. You can see at the bottom there are no returns available. This is actually from Greater Anglia's site as that's who I tend to use (it shouldn't make a difference).



And this one is for a couple of weeks later, same times, just different dates, the fare he most often pays is now quoted at the bottom.

 

[Buzby]

I found this too - but Trainsplit found me an ‘open jaw’ compromise that was cheaper than the Advance Singles on offer. I didn’t even notice it was Easter!

 

[Bletchleyite]

OK, I can see what's happening there. On Easter weekend itself the WCML south of MKC is closed, with bus replacements via Bedford (I think). Because it's quicker that's sending you via Chiltern (which will be super busy), but because you put Euston it's coming up with fares from Zone U1 for the return and thus not able to find a relevant return.

Select London Terminals/London (Any) or the Open Return option (if you're not bothered about reservations for the return) and it'll come up (£129.20).

 

[Haywain]

On Easter weekend itself the WCML south of MKC is closed, with bus replacements via Bedford (I think).

Good spot, and thanks for the heads up about busier Thameslink services!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Good spot, and thanks for the heads up about busier Thameslink services!!

Thameslink at least have 12 car EMUs (and while they could short form to 8 they can at least not do 4).

It's Chiltern I would avoid like the plague. It's going to be horrendous.

 

[AC47461]

OK, I can see what's happening there. On Easter weekend itself the WCML south of MKC is closed, with bus replacements via Bedford (I think). Because it's quicker that's sending you via Chiltern (which will be super busy), but because you put Euston it's coming up with fares from Zone U1 for the return and thus not able to find a relevant return.

Select London Terminals/London (Any) or the Open Return option (if you're not bothered about reservations for the return) and it'll come up (£129.20).

That's brilliant. Just checked it and it works. Can't say I'm that impressed though, it shouldn't really happen should it??!!

 

[Bletchleyite]

That's brilliant. Just checked it and it works. Can't say I'm that impressed though, it shouldn't really happen should it??!!

It's a bit of a compromise. It used to be that if you put a specific terminal it'd also do other terminals, and then people would get narked at having to pay the Tube fare. It now includes it, but it isn't sophisticated enough to do the return and a separate Tube single.

It does mean some people will be overpaying (and will be, to use the same term, "narked" when they get to Marylebone and find that 1000 people want to get into a 2-car DMU which I'm sure they'll have out in force as ever) though. Not sure what the best way to handle that is other than to make sure you always put London (Any) and not a specific terminal.

 

[Haywain]

Thameslink at least have 12 car EMUs (and while they could short form to 8 they can at least not do 4).

That's true but they can still be remarkably busy on Saturdays.

 

[AC47461]

It's a bit of a compromise. It used to be that if you put a specific terminal it'd also do other terminals, and then people would get narked at having to pay the Tube fare. It now includes it, but it isn't sophisticated enough to do the return and a separate Tube single.

It does mean some people will be overpaying (and will be, to use the same term, "narked" when they get to Marylebone and find that 1000 people want to get into a 2-car DMU which I'm sure they'll have out in force as ever) though. Not sure what the best way to handle that is other than to make sure you always put London (Any) and not a specific terminal.

Bit late in the day, but my friend managed to book his ticket succesfully (returning via Marylebone), and was able to get to the meet up ok. He passes on his thanks @Bletchleyite