|
Tim
|
 |
« on: March 29, 2016, 14:50:27 » |
|
For the last year, I have been making my online ticket purchases on the First Transpennine Express site. I chose this because I get 1.01% cashback with Topcashback, 1% of the ticket price back as Nectar points and because there are no booking fees or postage fees. 1% cashback, 1% back in Nectar points and 1% back from using a rewards Anex card, gets me an effective 3% discount on train tickets.
The Topcashback arrangement alone "earned" me about ^40 which is better than a poke in the eye - although they sometimes took up to 9 months to pay out. This has now come to an end and I see that there are various alternative ticket vendors available on TopCashBack. I wondered it the forum had any collective wisdom on which might be good to use.
Any credit card or booking fee is a no-no, which rules the likes of Trainline.com out. I'd prefer to have free postal delivery, but could live with free station pickup.
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ChrisB
|
|
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2016, 14:53:52 » |
|
Without knowing which vendors you see listed on TopCashBack, it's quite hard to post any opinion :-)
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Fourbee
|
|
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2016, 14:59:51 » |
|
I use First Hull Trains through Quidco for 2% (Topcashback restricts it to Hull Trains' bookings only) & the aforementioned nectar points, but they seem even slower than Topcashback (generally I prefer Topcashback over Quidco anyway as you can pay out in Clubcard points depending on the merchant which can then be doubled and used at Redspottedhanky. Despite its ^1 booking fee it can work out OK on larger/multiple transactions).
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
JayMac
|
|
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2016, 16:39:36 » |
|
Of those available on topcashback, the best currently appears to be Virgin Trains. Although I'm not a fan of their booking engine layout.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"A clear conscience laughs at a false accusation."
"Treat everyone the same until you find out they're an idiot."
"Moral indignation is a technique used to endow the idiot with dignity."
|
|
|
|
Tim
|
|
« Reply #4 on: March 29, 2016, 17:17:22 » |
|
Thanks everyone.
I thought Virgin trains looked OK, so BNM's recommendation is helpful.
As for cashback payment delays, I just think that that is par for the course with cashback sites.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Fourbee
|
|
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2016, 16:22:51 » |
|
Of those available on topcashback, the best currently appears to be Virgin Trains. Although I'm not a fan of their booking engine layout.
Thanks for the tip BNM, I agree regarding the layout (I am more used to the "mixing deck" style websites). I also forgot that trainline back end ones do a separate booking reference even if tickets are added to the same basket; oh well that's going to be the person behind me's problem! |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
TonyK
Global Moderator
Hero Member
Posts: 6595
The artist formerly known as Four Track, Now!
|
|
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2016, 17:39:09 » |
|
I buy through GWR▸ 's site, no matter which operator I am travelling with, and thus get Nectar points. These alone are not to be sniffed at, as my wife has just demonstrated during a "doubling up" period in the shops, coming home with all manner of decent swag paid for largely in accrued points.
I then pay for my ticket with my Santander 123 credit card, which gives me 3% cash back on, for example, my first class ticket from Bristol Temple Meads to Crediton (£6.60 with my newly-acquired Senior Railcard). Other cash-back credit cards are available (I have three others for where Santander isn't the best deal), and probably a cash-bach for west of the Severn Tunnel.
I love a bargain!
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: October 19, 2016, 19:58:06 by Four Track, Now! »
|
Logged
|
Now, please!
|
|
|
|
Brucey
|
|
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2016, 20:32:28 » |
|
I use Hull Trains, through whichever cashback site is offering the best rate at the moment. Nectar points are also earnt. 3.1% at imutual ( http://www.imutual.co.uk/first-hull-trains) - they're a much smaller site with more personal service. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
devon_metro
|
|
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2016, 21:49:51 » |
|
I buy through GWR▸ 's site, no matter which operator I am travelling with, and thus get Nectar points. These alone are not to be sniffed at, as my wife has just demonstrated during a "doubling up" period in the shops, coming home with all manner of decent swag paid for largely in accrued points.
I then pay for myy ticket with my Santander 123 credit card, which gives me 3% cash back on, for example, my first class ticket from Bristol Temple Meads to Crediton (^6.60 with my newly-acquired Senior Railcard). Other cash-back credit cards are available (I have three others for where Santander isn't the best deal), and probably a cash-bach for west of the Severn Bridge.
I love a bargain!
Certain operators e.g. VTEC, offer cheaper tickets on their own AP tickets by a few %, so it's worth using them if you ever use the East Coast (or at least did last time I used them). They also offer Nectar points. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Fourbee
|
|
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2016, 09:37:26 » |
|
There have been some reviews on Topcashback and Quidco regarding Virgin Trains declining purchases recently for no reason and I recently had a large purchase track then immediately decline.
I will probably go back to using one of the First branded websites.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
ChrisB
|
|
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2016, 09:43:45 » |
|
It's always worth checking prices on the TOCs▸ own website if looking for offers/Advance tickets as they sometimes offer a few % off these prices themselves. Then go to website of choice to compare prices/buy if the prices are the same.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
|
|
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2016, 10:05:58 » |
|
There have been some reviews on Topcashback and Quidco regarding Virgin Trains declining purchases recently for no reason and I recently had a large purchase track then immediately decline.
I will probably go back to using one of the First branded websites.
I've had a couple of Virgin cashback's decline on TCB▸ . It seems to be when I book tickets to collect from a machine and then delay in picking them up. Submitting a claim for this has always been successful. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
