Fare Query - Digby & Sowton > Gatwick Airport Return - January 2016

[whole diary]

[Bob_Blakey]

I would be most grateful for confirmation (or otherwise!) from the resident forum ticketing gurus that I can't do any better than the following:

2 Adult Passengers

Outward 14/01/16
DIG 1141
EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) 1155 / 1217
RDG^‡(resolve) 1420 / 1434
GTW 1551

Return 18/01/16
GTW 1403
RDG 1519 / 1533
EXD 1733 / 1753
DIG 1806

With a Two Together Railcard the booking sites offer ^25.10 out & ^31.00 back Advance tickets, giving a total of ^56.10, which seems pretty good to me.

I have looked at travelling DIG > EXC > CLJ > GTW but no Advance tickets are offered between DIG or EXC and CLJ so this seems like a non-starter.
The flight departure / arrival times are 1740 & 1155 so I have included a generous delay allowance (for both outbound train & inbound plane!)

Thanks in anticipation.....   

[John R]

I'm not sure I would regard 1 hr 50 mins from arrival to flight as an overly generous margin on your outward journey. One cancelled train or a suicide closing the line for an hour and you will likely have missed the flight. Also, if you miss the connection at Reading It will be very tight.

[ChrisB]

Agree - 14 mins on the outward to Gatwick is a lot tighter than I'd run it...

[LiskeardRich]

I would aim to arrive Gatwick at least an hour earlier than that. Having experienced Gatwick last month, I arrived exactly 2 hours before my flight and it was cutting it fine (travelling with a 3 year old)

If you flying from north terminal allow longer as you need to use the shuttle from south terminal to North terminal which easily adds 10 mins on.

Security is likely to be tightened at the current times

[Adelante_CCT]

I agree with the above posts, you should definitely allow more time on your outbound journey. I would at least catch the 11:12, arriving EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) 11:22, depart 11:39, arrive RDG^‡(resolve) 13:16, depart 13:34, arrive GTW 14:50.

Yes this does cost an extra ^11.90 total, but the added benefits of only leaving D&S 29 minutes earlier, an extra 4 minutes at Reading and getting to Gatwick an hour earlier.

Admittedly prices before the 11:12 then become ridiculous.

[dzug]

Rather more expensive - but still cheaper than an anytime fare - is a flyaway two  (or three or four) at ^140 total for the group

Main advantage is no peak hour restrictions and no advance booking needed. Must use the Reading - Guildford-Gatwick route

[rogerw]

The other thing to consider when using advance tickets is that if your return flight is delayed such that you miss your booked train you will have to pay again

[basset44]

hi Bob,

Have a look at route from Dig to Southampton and then to Gatwick, couple of more changes but you can get advances to Southampton starting earlier seen 2 on the 8.13 arrive Southampton 11.04 for 22.00. Then you can get 2 off peak singles 2 together R/C for 20.10 which is an Off peak return and the same coming back so have slightly more choice of trains but limited Advance choice from Southampton.

Hope this helps
Basset

[TonyK]

The other thing to consider when using advance tickets is that if your return flight is delayed such that you miss your booked train you will have to pay again

But if it isn't, you get to spend an hour or two at Gatwick station in drizzle and 12C heat, wearing shorts, flip-flops and a sombrero, because your jumper and coat are in your suitcase, somewhere in Sharm el Sheikh.

[bobm]

Airports - pah!

Give me the Isle of Wight ferry any day.

[JayMac]

Isle of Wight for me next year for a short holiday. Queen are headlining the festival. Probably my last ever go at camping and a pop/rock festival, but not missing the opportunity.

[bobm]

I was too old for camping at 14. But I do remember being on the Isle of Wight during the 1970 pop festival and my parents trying desperately to distract my attention from the nude hippies on the beach by suggesting we built sandcastles.

[Trowres]

Curious that GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) set the fares for Digby-Gatwick, and provide routeing options such as via Westbury/Salisbury and via Honiton. These are ^60 and ^80 respectively for a SVR (before railcard) and the time restrictions are, well, not very restrictive from the Exeter area.

[TaplowGreen]

There are 10 or so direct National Express coaches daily from Exeter coach station to Gatwick Airport, I'd say that'd be a much better option, no faffing around worrying about missed connections or carting luggage between trains.

[Bob_Blakey]

Thanks to all for your input - I will have a look at the 'via Southampton' and SVR options.

I am afraid that the final suggestion from TG cannot be considered because I hate long distance coach travel and would not use such services unless there was absolutely no alternative.