Advance ticket prices drop on Cross Country

[whole diary]

[chuffed]

I booked 2 single journeys from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Paignton two months ago, and was charged ^17.55 each way with a disabled railcard. I now find the self same trains for this Sunday dep 1615 , and return from Paignton on Friday 23rd at 1007 priced at ^7.75 each way!!.

Can anyone explain what's going on please ? Is this, so unusual ??

[grahame]

I booked 2 single journeys from Bristol TM^‡(resolve) to Paignton two months ago, and was charged ^17.55 each way with a disabled railcard. I now find the self same trains for this Sunday dep 1615 , and return from Paignton on Friday 23rd at 1007 priced at ^7.75 each way!!.

Can anyone explain what's going on please ? Is this, so unusual ??

There appear to be 33 different advance fares from Bristol Temple Meads to Paignton ...

I would speculate that 2 months ago you chose a more popular Sunday / Friday, or you booked much closer to the date ... or are they starting to strengthen trains for summer and have more seats to fill?

[LiskeardRich]

Advance tickets are sold on a yield management system. There will be a set number of tickets at each advance ticket price.
When they sell out at each level the price goes up to the next category.

[ChrisB]

The only guarantee FGW^▸ (First Great Western) wiuld make me was that they'd never issue cheaper advance fares that those released at start of booking - i.e the cheapest fares that will be available on any service will always be released at the start date of booking for that service.

However, they did say that the allocation of seats at each price can be amended downwards at any time to reduce or remove that particular level. Usually if something popular happens on the date of the service within the 12 week booking period. Unlikely, but it can happen

[bobm]

If I am reading this correctly, the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) is saying he bought advance tickets two months ago for a train this weekend but now advance tickets for this train are cheaper even though it is only days away.

If that is what is being said, I can confirm it has happened to me before.  Apparently the train I had booked on was not selling as well as expected so prices were lowered.  Supply and demand in effect.

[chrisr_75]

Different train operator but I have recently experienced this with FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

[ChrisB]

I'd be interested in hearing the details as I said, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have categorically stated that they do not do this.

[grahame]

I'd be interested in hearing the details as I said, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have categorically stated that they do not do this.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Ticket-Types/Leisure-tickets

generally, the earlier you book, the lower the fare, but in some instances additional lower fare Advance tickets are made available where there is capacity on specific trains.

[ChrisB]

oooh, they've changed their policy....ought to have told the Panels....I'll take that up

[IndustryInsider]

I can understand the reasoning, but it does make buying a ticket for a train journey even more of a lottery.

[bobm]

oooh, they've changed their policy....ought to have told the Panels....I'll take that up

The case I mentioned was a train in July 2012, so it was certainly in place then.

[chrisr_75]

It has happened recently on some South Wales to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) services in first class - initial release of advance tickets were priced close or equal to the walk up fare, but subsequently they have released some cheaper fares - they seem to have been playing about a lot with advance ticket allocations as some previously cheap trains have shot up in price and vice versa

[JayMac]

oooh, they've changed their policy....ought to have told the Panels....I'll take that up

Or Customer Panel members could just as easily have looked on the website to see what FGW^▸ (First Great Western) were saying, rather than continuing to assume the policy remained unchanged and advising categorically thus.

[ChrisB]

And how often do you read the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website end-to-end? :-)

[JayMac]

When there is a specific matter I'm commenting on I do some research before posting. Rather like grahame did earlier in this thread, with the link and quote from the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) website.

Making an assumption by relying on received wisdom can leave one with egg on one's face. For those who are representing passengers' interests in an official capacity I'd suggest it's even more important to ensure their public pronouncements are accurate before making them.

There's a saying about the the word 'assume'...