Southwick to Gatwick

[tanyalbeck]

Hi,
We need to be at Gatwick airport arount 730ish on Thursday the 30th June for our flight and have just realised that the train fare for 2 adults and 2 kids with a family railcard at that time of the morning is nearly £32!!! We return on the 15th at 630am but can wait til after 9 to get the train back home.

Is there any way to beat this fare? Airport parking seems more expensive so we'd be better sticking to the train. Phew!

Thanks so much
Tanya

 

[dzug2]

Hi,
We need to be at Gatwick airport arount 730ish on Thursday the 30th June for our flight and have just realised that the train fare for 2 adults and 2 kids with a family railcard at that time of the morning is nearly £32!!! We return on the 15th at 630am but can wait til after 9 to get the train back home.

Is there any way to beat this fare? Airport parking seems more expensive so we'd be better sticking to the train. Phew!

Thanks so much
Tanya

Only thing I can see is an early train to Brighton (£9.30) and then the National Express coach at £21 - but then you have to get from the rail station to the coach stop. Is it worth the saving?

Alternatively a prebooked taxi from your home to the airport might not be wildy different from the train fare.

 

[cuccir]

Anytime singles are £18 for the way back if you travel off peak

But they can't use their railcard in the peak in the network railcard area.

 

[Mojo]

But they can't use their railcard in the peak in the network railcard area.

Hence why I said ''if you travel off peak''

The OP said ''but can wait til after 9 to get the train back home.''

 

[cuccir]

Hence why I said ''if you travel off peak''

Ah sorry - but they need to be there by 07:30!

EDIT

Did you edit your post? I'm sure it originally said they could do it for £36 return?

 

[Mojo]

Anytime singles are £18 for the way back if you travel off peak

 

[Mojo]

Ah sorry - but they need to be there by 07:30!

Hence why I said ''for the way back,'' as the OP is happy to wait until after the peak on their return trip.

Having had a look at the timetables, I presume the OP is getting the 06.17 Southwick to Hove, and the 06.31 Hove to Gatwick Airport.

I've tried a few obvious splits, and found nothing so far.

 

[tanyalbeck]

Thanks for replying everyone.. I think I'm going to book a taxi on the way there (£38) and will wait for off-peak times to get the train back.
Thanks again...
Tanya

 

[N Levers]

I wouldn't rely on a train to get to the Airport, only back home at the end.

Then again, last time I went abroad we only hit the tarmac at Gatwick 40 mins before the last train of the day home was due. And we were a North Terminal airline...

 

[MarkyMarkD]

You can park within a 20 minute walk (or 5 minute bus) ride of Gatwick free of charge. We do it every single time we fly from there (which is at least once a year).

Getting a taxi isn't very cost-effective given the park/bus alternative is about £3! (Drop the passengers and baggage off first, then park on your own and catch the bus or walk if you have the energy).

 

[class377man]

You can park within a 20 minute walk (or 5 minute bus) ride of Gatwick free of charge. We do it every single time we fly from there (which is at least once a year).

Getting a taxi isn't very cost-effective given the park/bus alternative is about £3! (Drop the passengers and baggage off first, then park on your own and catch the bus or walk if you have the energy).

Where is it you can park, exactly? I presume somewhere on the outskirts of Crawley?