Ticket help for multiple journey

[M2008]

I have the following travel plans on the same day using a Family & Friends Railcard (2 adults + 2 kids).




Plan 1 (Sunday)

• Route: Heathrow → London Zone 1 (sightseeing) → Brighton → Return to London Zone 1
• Question: Is there a way to combine a Travelcard and Brighton return ticket into one?
• Current Option: Zone 1-6 Travelcard + Brighton return ticket

Plan 2 (Tuesday)

• Route: Stratford → Watford Junction → Return to London Zone 1 (sightseeing)
• Question: Is there a way to combine a Travelcard and Watford Junction return ticket into one?
• Current Option: Use an Oyster card

Thanks In advance

 

[drueberflug]

For Plan 1, you should know that travelcards from Brighton should be considered return tickets from Brighton to London, and they are not available the other way around, instead, just get Off-Peak Day Travelcards for zones 1-6.
Unfortunately, the flat-fare ticket for children on GTR and GA wouldn't work for the Brighton part, as you can't combine that with the F&F Railcard.
Instead, get the cheapest Off-Peak or Super Off-Peak Day Return tickets you can find that suit your plans, but be aware that there are tickets available that are only valid on Thameslink services.
For your information, East Croydon to Brighton tickets are equal in price or cheaper than Boundary Zone 6 to Brighton tickets due to the larger selection of fares.

For Plan 2, if you'd want to avoid getting everyone an Oyster card, you should buy Off-Peak Day Travelcards for zones 1-6, and combine those with Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction Off-Peak Day Return tickets.
Once again, travelcards from London to somewhere else are not a thing.
You can easily buy Boundary Zone tickets on Avanti's website.
This works out £17 cheaper than using Oyster or Contactless, as the F&F Railcard can be used here.

Be reminded that the F&F Railcard is not valid in the morning peak on journeys fully within London and the South East.

 

[Haywain]

Plan 1 (Sunday)

• Route: Heathrow → London Zone 1 (sightseeing) → Brighton → Return to London Zone 1
• Question: Is there a way to combine a Travelcard and Brighton return ticket into one?
• Current Option: Zone 1-6 Travelcard + Brighton return ticket

Your best bet for this is probably to buy an Off Peak Day Travelcard with the F&F discount, and then Day Returns from East Croydon or Boundary Zone 6 (fare is usually the same from both) to Brighton, also with F&F discount. If it's cheaper the child flat fare would then be applied for the second child for the Brighton ticket.

Plan 2 (Tuesday)

• Route: Stratford → Watford Junction → Return to London Zone 1 (sightseeing)
• Question: Is there a way to combine a Travelcard and Watford Junction return ticket into one?
• Current Option: Use an Oyster card

A lot depends on what time you are starting from Stratford. If it's all after 09:30 you can use Off Peak Travelcards and I think the best combination is Stratford to Zones 1-6 with F&F discount, and then a Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction Off Peak Day Return, also with F&F discount. If you are intending starting before 09:30 it gets a lot more complicated.

 

[Watershed]

Day Returns from East Croydon or Boundary Zone 6 (fare is usually the same from both) to Brighton

It's considerably cheaper to buy from East Croydon, if you go for a "Thameslink only" fare - £11.30 vs £18.00 for the adults.

If it's cheaper the child flat fare would then be applied for the second child for the Brighton ticket.

I believe both children should be able to benefit from the flat fare; see the following excerpt from the terms and conditions for flat fares:

They're available where the adult passenger is holding one of the following tickets, that is valid for the journey being made:

• Season or Travelcard Season ticket
• Single or Return tickets
• One Day Travelcards
• Advance tickets

These include tickets that are discounted with a Railcard (including those that give a discount on child fares, such as Family & Friends or Network Railcards), GroupSave or other discount card.

However, online retailers won't offer a mixture of fare types, with the adults on Family Railcard discounted regular tickets and the children on 'undiscounted' flat fares, for the journey. Since you can't buy the flat fares on their own, you would have to go to a ticket office to get the best price in this instance.

A lot depends on what time you are starting from Stratford. If it's all after 09:30 you can use Off Peak Travelcards and I think the best combination is Stratford to Zones 1-6 with F&F discount, and then a Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction Off Peak Day Return, also with F&F discount. If you are intending starting before 09:30 it gets a lot more complicated

It would be marginally cheaper to buy a Cheshunt to London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard, routed "Also valid in Zones 7-8". That could then be combined with a Bushey to Watford North Off-Peak Day Return for £11.85 + £3.05 = £14.90 per adult and £3.35 + £1.00 = £4.35 per child, making for a total of £38.50.

That compares with £11.00 + £4.30 = £15.30 per adult and £3.20 + £1.20 = £4.40 per child for the Stratford to Zones 1-6 and Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction combination, which costs a total of £39.40.

 

[M2008]

Thanks all for your suggestions.

 

[drueberflug]

A lot depends on what time you are starting from Stratford. If it's all after 09:30 you can use Off Peak Travelcards and I think the best combination is Stratford to Zones 1-6 with F&F discount, and then a Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction Off Peak Day Return, also with F&F discount. If you are intending starting before 09:30 it gets a lot more complicated.

I am not too sure, but do you think one could use Avanti services on an Off-Peak Day Travelcard paired with a Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction ticket?
(Update: I forgot WFJ is set-down/pick-up only for AWC)

 

[miklcct]

It's considerably cheaper to buy from East Croydon, if you go for a "Thameslink only" fare - £11.30 vs £18.00 for the adults.


I believe both children should be able to benefit from the flat fare; see the following excerpt from the terms and conditions for flat fares:


However, online retailers won't offer a mixture of fare types, with the adults on Family Railcard discounted regular tickets and the children on 'undiscounted' flat fares, for the journey. Since you can't buy the flat fares on their own, you would have to go to a ticket office to get the best price in this instance.


It would be marginally cheaper to buy a Cheshunt to London Zones 1-6 Off-Peak Day Travelcard, routed "Also valid in Zones 7-8". That could then be combined with a Bushey to Watford North Off-Peak Day Return for £11.85 + £3.05 = £14.90 per adult and £3.35 + £1.00 = £4.35 per child, making for a total of £38.50.

That compares with £11.00 + £4.30 = £15.30 per adult and £3.20 + £1.20 = £4.40 per child for the Stratford to Zones 1-6 and Boundary Zone 6 to Watford Junction combination, which costs a total of £39.40.

Is it still possible to buy a Travelcard which includes Watford Junction within the zones covered? It was possible from LU ticket machines but I have heard that they have been withdrawn, is that true?

 

[miklcct]

If you want to save money, you can use a London bus, such as 142 from Stanmore, to Watford Junction with your Zone 1-6 Travelcard, which covers all London buses regardless of where they go (buses don't have zones).