The phantom ticket scribbler returns

[Deerfold]

I have never been asked for one of these tickets so somebody can use it like that.

Do you check how people plan to use all the tickets you sell?

 

[Mojo]

I can't see ANY reason for giving the outward portion of tickets two or five days validity - it is an invite to fare Dodgers, nothing more.

Couldn't agree more. It's an outdated principle that shouldn't be needed by anyone anymore when the walk up fare is exactly the same and you can buy a ticket for any date you want to anyway.

I remember when the outward portion of an Open Return was valid for a month, just like the return. And at "simplification" when it was reduced to only being valid the same day, and increased to the present 5 days, presumably due to complaints.

I have taken advantage of the extended outward validities on an Open Return when travelling to the Airport. In order to avoid the hassle and cost of Airport hotels, I stopped off at Croydon overnight in a hotel there, before resuming the next day to Gatwick Airport. However I suspect many customers on these really expensive tickets or have much of a need to do that.

 

[wellwhatitis]

Do you check how people plan to use all the tickets you sell?

Have you got something useful to add to the discussion or do you just want to be personal and pedantic?

 

[Hadders]

I can't see ANY reason for giving the outward portion of tickets two or five days validity - it is an invite to fare Dodgers, nothing more.

Given the extortionate price of many of these tickets I see no reason why they shouldn't have two or 5 days validity.

Perhaps if there was to be a significant reduction in price then the period of validity could be reduced.

 

[Deerfold]

Have you got something useful to add to the discussion or do you just want to be personal and pedantic?

You appeared to be claiming to know what people do with these tickets. I do apologise for daring to question you.

 

[sheff1]

I remember when the outward portion of an Open Return was valid for a month, just like the return.

I remember when they were valid for three months.

There was one employer who sent a secretary down to the station to buy 10 at at time for use to London. When they got down to their last couple she would reappear to buy another 10. Of course, back then used tickets were routinely collected by inspectors sitting in booths at the exit from the station.

 

[MichaelAMW]

I remember when they were valid for three months.

There was one employer who sent a secretary down to the station to buy 10 at at time for use to London. When they got down to their last couple she would reappear to buy another 10. Of course, back then used tickets were routinely collected by inspectors sitting in booths at the exit from the station.

And ordinary returns had this validity for all journeys other than the "London area" and some other conurbations. So, e.g., an ordinary return from Guildford to Farncombe, a five-minute journey, was valid 3 months out and return.

 

[jon0844]

While I am fully aware of the nightmare situation with the carnet tickets, so clearly this couldn't work as is, why can't tickets valid for 5 days or a month have a requirement that the passenger validates the ticket before usage?

 

[DeeGee]

Of course, all of this would be completely moot if only we had to validate our own tickets in some kind of stamping machine before boarding each train. Then there'd be a complete audit trail of who boarded where and when.

 

[Deerfold]

Of course, all of this would be completely moot if only we had to validate our own tickets in some kind of stamping machine before boarding each train. Then there'd be a complete audit trail of who boarded where and when.

Although could be complicated if we retain BoJ rules as they are currently.

Or even on a 4-train journey.