Trainsplit.com more expensive than VTEC website

[Nick66]

Either I am doing something drastically wrong or there is something up with the trainsplit.com website. Trying to book for 1 adult and 2 children NCL-KGX 6 April 11:29 return 10 April 14:30 and VTEC is offering me £148.10 wheras trainsplit.com wants £200. I suspect trainsplit.com is not factoring in the small group discount. Am I right? If so, would it be a fair assumption that split ticketing is unlikely to be a viable option in such cases?

 

[Romilly]

One other possibility if the tickets you found on VTEC were Advances is that they were the last at their price level, that they were still in your VTEC basket when you looked on new.trainsplit.com, and that therefore trainsplit could only offer the next price-level up.

EDIT: that said, I agree on looking at particular journeys that you are right that it is to do with trainsplit not showing the small-group discount. One other thought, would it not be even cheaper with a family & friends railcard, rather than the small-group discount, even after you've paid for the railcard?

 

[SickyNicky]

Sorry about that. Our ticketing partner is not currently allowed to sell these group discounts. We're working with them to get the required accreditation, and it shouldn't be too long.

 

[yorkie]

. One other thought, would it not be even cheaper with a family & friends railcard, rather than the small-group discount, even after you've paid for the railcard?

Yes. And the Railcard may come in handy in the following 12 months of its validity.

 

[Wallsendmag]

The Small group discount is a VTEC specific discount available on the Web , Travel Centres and TVMs.

 

[yorkie]

The Small group discount is a VTEC specific discount available on the Web , Travel Centres and TVMs.

Just to clarify, this is a discount that is intentionally available exclusively to passengers who book direct with VTEC and not intended to be available through any other supplier, is that correct?

 

[Wallsendmag]

No should be on most web sites but only our TVMs and Travel centres and only on our Advance Tickets

 

[Romilly]

I can't find any other websites that offer the small-group discount on VTEC Advances, and I've been looking at journeys for which the VTEC website is offering the discount.

 

[John @ home]

Just to clarify, this is a discount that is intentionally available exclusively to passengers who book direct with VTEC and not intended to be available through any other supplier, is that correct?

That is what VTEC advertise here:

If you’re travelling with a group of 3-9 people, prepare to become their hero. With our small group savings, you can get all of them 25% off Virgin Trains East Coast Advance tickets. ...
You can only book our special low cost group fares online through this site for groups of 3-9 people.

https://www.virgintrainseastcoast.com/special-offers/travel-savings/savings-for-small-groups/

No should be on most web sites but only our TVMs and Travel centres and only on our Advance Tickets

This appears to be incorrect, and contradicts VTEC's statement quoted above.

I can't find any other websites that offer the small-group discount on VTEC Advances, and I've been looking at journeys for which the VTEC website is offering the discount.

This is correct. VTEC's statement above confirms that it is a deliberate action by them.

 

[MarlowDonkey]

That is what VTEC advertise here:

VTEC seem keen to attract bookings to their site. They were also offering unlimited wi-fi to Standard class passengers when booked with them.

 

[Altnabreac]

Was going to ask a qestion about these group tickets but will piggy back on this thread as it appeared so conventiently.

Does anyone have any experience of using these when the group size is slightly uncertain at time of booking? I realise no one can travel separately but if I book six tickets and only five people turn up on the day, presumably I won't be penalised for having overpaid so long as I have all six tickets with me?

 

[Wallsendmag]

That's fine.

 

[Altnabreac]

That's fine.

Ta.

 

[Romilly]

I think I would worry more if it was a group being reduced by illness/oversleeping etc to a group of less than 3 as then you are not meeting the basic pre-condition for the discount, but even then (if it's a group of adults) you will have paid more than you would have had to pay for just those who actually travel.