Off-board fare purchase on bus systems

[MCR247]

It's really funny as a lot of the local bus stops are minutes walk if that from the hotels. A bit like Heathrow Express, these hotel buses seem a bit pointless as TFL covers all bases.

It’s all about convenience really. Why walk further than you have to? Even if it takes the hotel bus longer as it goes around the hotels, it doesn’t really matter as any time saved would either be spent waiting at the airport or waiting to leave the hotel for the airport. Plus let’s face it, London’s buses must be some of the least luggage friendly I’ve ever encountered with Metro newspaper holders taking up any space over the wheel arch and drivers that will start moving before you’ve even scanned your Apple Pay! That’s if the bus even stops as it might be full of airport staff getting to work and you’re at one of the last stops before the airport

 

[The exile]

It’s all about convenience really. Why walk further than you have to? Even if it takes the hotel bus longer as it goes around the hotels, it doesn’t really matter as any time saved would either be spent waiting at the airport or waiting to leave the hotel for the airport. Plus let’s face it, London’s buses must be some of the least luggage friendly I’ve ever encountered with Metro newspaper holders taking up any space over the wheel arch and drivers that will start moving before you’ve even scanned your Apple Pay! That’s if the bus even stops as it might be full of airport staff getting to work and you’re at one of the last stops before the airport

Also advantageous if you’re going to your hotel and have never been before.

 

[johncrossley]

Maybe it is age thing or maybe i am old fashioned but paper tickets have always been my preference.

Are you still young enough to pay full fare? If so, it can't be "an age thing".

Secondly using Bus Saver Tickets often saves me quite a bit of money.

A Bus Saver costs more if the journey involves interchange.

 

[philthetube]

It would have been a handheld Ticketer machine. Ticketer produce a handheld version. Transdev staff often use those at major stops during busy periods.

Also used on Blackpool trams.

Blackpool Transport allow paypoint for 7 and 30 day tickets.

 

[stadler]

What buses are they useable on? Is it all TfL sponsored routes or are some routes exclude that are TfL sponsored/included that aren’t

You can use the Bus Saver Tickets on any TFL bus routes. There are no exceptions. It includes ordinary bus routes and night bus routes and school bus routes. Anything that is a TFL contracted bus route is included. But they are not valid on trams.

 

[mangad]

London still has the Bus Saver Ticket which is an off bus ticket. Shops no longer sell them but you can still order them directly. They cost £1.75 each (same as what Contactless or Oyster costs) and the minimum order is 25 books of 6 tickets meaning £262.50 is the minimum order. I normally place one big order a year. You have to tear the ticket in half along the line and give one half to the driver and you keep the rest. Now that the cabs are sealed it means the driver has to open his cab door to take it so it is probably slower than using Contactless or Oyster payment. But it is still a very useful off bus ticketing option. The best thing about it is that they never expire so you can stock up before the bus fare increases which means you pay even less than the Contactless or Oyster fares.

Blimey didn't realise you could still get them. Last used one in 2011, when I found a few in a drawer and remember the driver mentioning he hadn't seen one for years!

 

[cumbrianbill]

I walked to the Airport Tavern from Bristol Airport and caught an Airdecker to Bath for £11.50 rather than the £17.50 advertised from the airport. On my return I tried to book to the Airport Tavern from Temple Meads, but got issued with a full £9.00 ticket, so stayed on the bus to the terminal. It was drizzling!

 

[mangad]

On busy days Stagecoach Cumbria will have staff out at places like Keswick and Windermere selling tickets from a machine mounted on a podium. Hadn't seen it for a while, but they were doing it at Keswick Bus Station last weekend. The member of staff selling the tickets was also trying to instil some order in the (very long) queues, presumably by separated the ticketed from the non-ticketed. But I wasn't sure as I was alighting.

 

[generalnerd]

On busy days Stagecoach Cumbria will have staff out at places like Keswick and Windermere selling tickets from a machine mounted on a podium. Hadn't seen it for a while, but they were doing it at Keswick Bus Station last weekend. The member of staff selling the tickets was also trying to instil some order in the (very long) queues, presumably by separated the ticketed from the non-ticketed. But I wasn't sure as I was alighting.

Sounds chaotic! Was anything going on or was it just busy?

 

[mangad]

Sounds chaotic! Was anything going on or was it just busy?

Sunny Saturday in the Lakes with the added extra of the Keswick Mountain Festival. Oh and late buses probably didn't help!

 

[generalnerd]

Sunny Saturday in the Lakes with the added extra of the Keswick Mountain Festival. Oh and late buses probably didn't help!

Ah I see. Are there any photos of the set up available online? Or is it just using any random pole to prop the machine up!

 

[mangad]

Ah I see. Are there any photos of the set up available online? Or is it just using any random pole to prop the machine up!

I don't have any, but it's a dedicated stand. Large rectangular box on wheels, with the machine mounted on top