Rover Tickets

[antharro]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at getting a Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 ticket. I'd like to pay for this using rail vouchers. However, one of the vouchers expires in early January, and I'm not able to go on the journey until March.

How far in advance is it possible to book one of these tickets?

Thanks!

 

[221129]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at getting a Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 ticket. I'd like to pay for this using rail vouchers. However, one of the vouchers expires in early January, and I'm not able to go on the journey until March.

How far in advance is it possible to book one of these tickets?

Thanks!

12 months

 

[_toommm_]

I believe the old rule book was only three days in advance for some TOCs, and some were one month, so some staff may object to issuing it that far in advance.

You may have to shop around.

 

[cactustwirly]

However you can book it online via GWR.com, you may want to book before the 29th to avoid a postage fee...

 

[_toommm_]

However you can book it online via GWR.com, you may want to book before the 29th to avoid a postage fee...

Not bookable online with National Rail vouchers though

 

[cactustwirly]

Not bookable online with National Rail vouchers though

Really?
I thought you could type in the voucher code, before the payment page

 

[_toommm_]

Really?
I thought you could type in the voucher code, before the payment page

Not AFAIK unless GWR let you. It's normally a case of booking it through Telesales and posting off the vouchers

 

[221129]

Really?
I thought you could type in the voucher code, before the payment page

No that is not the case and never has been.

 

[Silver Cobra]

I believe the old rule book was only three days in advance for some TOCs, and some were one month, so some staff may object to issuing it that far in advance.

You may have to shop around.

LNER are an example of a TOC who can only sell rovers up to one month in advance. I tried purchasing an ALR for August at their office in Stevenage back at the start of June, but they could only sell them for up to early July (they even showed me their screen to prove it, even though I didn't question them). I was able to get the seat reservations I wanted with no issue, and just purchased the ALR through GWR's website.

 

[Hadders]

Generally speaking there’s no point in purchasing a rover ticket ahead of travel in case your plans change (although I note that the OP wishes to use a RTV).

I agree with the comments about Stevenage Travel Centre. When I did an ALR I booked my seat reservations and sleeper berths with them a couple of months ahead of travel and then purchased the actual ALR from them on the day of departure.

 

[Wallsendmag]

LNER are an example of a TOC who can only sell rovers up to one month in advance. I tried purchasing an ALR for August at their office in Stevenage back at the start of June, but they could only sell them for up to early July (they even showed me their screen to prove it, even though I didn't question them). I was able to get the seat reservations I wanted with no issue, and just purchased the ALR through GWR's website.

Really ? I'll look into that.

 

[[.n]]

Hi folks,

I'm looking at getting a Freedom of the South West 3 in 7 ticket. I'd like to pay for this using rail vouchers. However, one of the vouchers expires in early January, and I'm not able to go on the journey until March.

How far in advance is it possible to book one of these tickets?

Thanks!

Unless I am missing something obvious here, surely the point of this type of rover is that you write in your 3 days of travel within the 7 day period, so why does it matter so much when you buy it? Or is automatically day 1 filled in and indicator of validity for the reaming 2 days?

I shall answer my own query tomorrow probably as planning to get a 3in7 Freedom of Severn/Solent

 

[gnolife]

Unless I am missing something obvious here, surely the point of this type of rover is that you write in your 3 days of travel within the 7 day period, so why does it matter so much when you buy it? Or is automatically day 1 filled in and indicator of validity for the reaming 2 days?

I shall answer my own query tomorrow probably as planning to get a 3in7 Freedom of Severn/Solent

Suppose I was intending to do a rover starting on the 1st of December. If I buy it today and fall ill, I'll have lost my money, whereas if I buy it on the day, I won't be out of pocket.

 

[cuccir]

It's somewhat sneaky I guess, but if you purchased a ticket with your rail vouchers, and then obtained a refund, would the refunded vouchers have validity up to March? Would the refunder be able to access the expiry date of the original voucher?

 

[[.n]]

So to answer my own question, when buying a rover it gives you an expiry date (in my example of 7 days time)

 

[_toommm_]

So to answer my own question, when buying a rover it gives you an expiry date (in my example of 7 days time)

Yep. If you buy it on the day it's assumed that you want that day to be the start of the period of validity, but if it's an x-in-y day rover it doesn't automatically Mark it as the first day.

The only advantage to buying in advance is to beat the queues, or if you knew the price was going to go up...

 

[antharro]

Thanks for the replies and the conversation - very interesting! I've had it confirmed that it's a year with SWR, so I should be absolutely fine to buy them in January.