Query about stopping short on National Express

[Butts]

Travelled on the 210 from T5 London Heathrow tonight at 1940 and the Driver wouldn't let us get off at Birmingham International (Airport) instead of Birmingham Coach Station which our tickets were to.

Before I put a complaint in, is this normal that you are not allowed to "stop short" on services ?

Without a case in the hold we could have just got off, but I did ask him before the journey commenced.

A couple of weeks ago we did just the above on the same service with no hassle whatsoever.

 

[markymark2000]

Travelled on the 210 from T5 London Heathrow tonight at 1940 and the Driver wouldn't let us get off at Birmingham International (Airport) instead of Birmingham Coach Station which our tickets were to.

Before I put a complaint in, is this normal that you are not allowed to "stop short" on services ?

Without a case in the hold we could have just got off, but I did ask him before the journey commenced.

A couple of weeks ago we did just the above on the same service with no hassle whatsoever.

NatEx drivers are apparently told not to let people 'stop short' especially with Airport services because normally this means that you have paid a lower fare in comparison to the inflated prices at Airports (partly due to the airport fees). As such, I know it's been said a few times on various forums/social medias that the policy is that drivers should not permit alighting early. As you say though, if you have no luggage, no one would ever know.

 

[Butts]

NatEx drivers are apparently told not to let people 'stop short' especially with Airport services because normally this means that you have paid a lower fare in comparison to the inflated prices at Airports (partly due to the airport fees). As such, I know it's been said a few times on various forums/social medias that the policy is that drivers should not permit alighting early. As you say though, if you have no luggage, no one would ever know.

Thanks for clarifying that it was a legitimate course of action by the driver.

ironically my case was a cabin sized article which had to go in the hold due to having wheels on. My sons holdall was bigger but with no wheels allowed onboard.

 

[CyrusWuff]

NatEx drivers are apparently told not to let people 'stop short' especially with Airport services because normally this means that you have paid a lower fare in comparison to the inflated prices at Airports (partly due to the airport fees). As such, I know it's been said a few times on various forums/social medias that the policy is that drivers should not permit alighting early. As you say though, if you have no luggage, no one would ever know.

Which contradicts their Conditions of Carriage, which state:

You may leave the Service at an earlier stop where you:

(a) tell the driver when you board the Service that you wish to do so (so that your Luggage can be placed in an appropriate location in the luggage hold) unless that earlier stop is one at which unloading of Luggage is restricted if you are travelling with Luggage in the hold; and

(b) you pay the driver or other National Express Representative any additional fare payable as a result of you leaving the Service at an airport stop rather than the booked finish point of your Journey.

 

[JonathanH]

Which contradicts their Conditions of Carriage, which state:

Not permitting leaving a coach at an airport if that isn't the place they have booked to, and requiring an additional fare to be paid if passengers do so are tantamount to the same thing. Did the travellers offer to pay the 'supplement' for leaving at the airport?

I wonder how often drivers actually allow passengers off and collect the relevant surcharge.

 

[gray1404]

It's a shame you had to leave a bag in the hold due to its size. You could have just got off otherwise and said nothing, not even on boarding. Did you book through to Birmingham because you noticed the fare was cheaper?

Your only complaint really could be that you were not given the option of paying any additional fare. Reality is though the driver could not have stopped you getting off but then your case would have been in the wrong section of the hold.

 

[philthetube]

An issue for the driver is where the luggage was located; the driver may have needed to unload half the cases to find yours. Did you ask before your case was loaded?

 

[Deerfold]

an issue for the driver is where the luggage was located, the driver may have needed to unload half the cases to find yours, did you ask before your case was loaded.

Without a case in the hold we could have just got off, but I did ask him before the journey commenced.

 

[Butts]

Thanks for that DF - also there were only about 10 people on the Coach !!