Promotion: London Midland 'Great Escape'

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Don't think this has been flagged up before and I know we have a few regular London Midland passengers on the forum who might be interested.

^10 (^20 First Class) day ticket (half price for children) when you download a voucher (quota controlled) from the following link:

http://www.londonmidland.com/destinations/great-escape/?=

The promotion is running from tomorrow until 6th March.  Available for off-peak travel with a few easements and an afternoon upgrade possibility on Euston departures.

[Steve Bray]

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned on other posts, but LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) are running this promotion again this half-term, for those of you who are feeling spontaneous and want to travel on their network in the next week.

I used the promotion last week to knock off a couple of lines I've not travelled on before. LM were still operating a 150 on the Bletchley-Bedford line. I was comparing that line with the Trans-Wilts in so much as both stations link main lines at each end. Bletchley to Bedford takes 44 minutes; similar to Westbury to Swindon, though there are 16 round trips on Mondays to Saturdays. My 2 journeys in the early afternoon were on fairly lightly loaded trains with no more than a dozen or so passengers on board at any one time.

[Surrey 455]

Was going to use this yesterday to get to Burton on Trent (Change to Crosscountry at Tamworth) but it was very cold the night before and I didn't fancy wandering around in the cold.

It's gone up from ^10 to ^15 this time but still good value.

[JayMac]

And whilst it has indeed gone up, this time round railcard discounts are allowed.

[thetrout]

I am up in the midlands and decided that for 16.50 a First Class Ticket from Liverpool - London via Birmingham was a good idea. In fact it would be very flexible to my needs on Thursday as my travel plans may change at short notice.

Went through the Web Application and received the voucher code instantly. Except it said I needed to print the thing out. Well for starters I did it on my iPhone. Secondly being away I have no access to a printer.

Typical "What do I do if" tweet to London Midland who insisted the ticket office require the printed paper copy. I'm at a loss here as to why. I asked if I turned up with the voucher and code on my phone if that would be sufficient. No was the cut and dry response.

However, whilst I don't want to sound draconian. More towards devils advocate. Surely this makes the promotion unfair towards those who don't have a printer? Lets go further. Those who don't have a computer? (Yes that may be the case)

Whilst yes I'm an IT Guy with many pieces of equipment in my tool bag, a printer is not one of them. The contents of the bag would be 90% printer and 10% emptiness. A second bag would be required and I struggle with one as it is!

I digress as that is besides the point. Lets assume I did print off the paper copy. What's to stop me printing more than one? So it's not a fraud issue is it? Why is the paper medium necessary in this case? Paper to me is more susceptible to fraud IMO^▸ (in my opinion). Obviously I know the ticket machine would show the code as already being used. But can anyone see the inefficiency and paper waste here?

So looks like my great escape has been foiled before I've even got to the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line)

[ChrisB]

They are entitled to run offers how they like, with whatever T&Cs they choose.

For example, only sell the offer to those with a 7 in their age, provable by showing your passport at a ticket office. Wrong age, no passport, unfortunately, you are ineligible.

Life ain't fair. We all have to get over it

[thetrout]

I agree - life ain't fair. In fact it's very much the opposite.

But I think there is a bigger issue here. If a mobile phone can be used for tickets as in m-tickets... Why should the promotion be any different

/Mountain out of a molehill comment: I'm wondering if this is a breach of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.

I accept your comments but we're talking about the purchase of a ticket available to everyone here. Simply saying: oh we need the paper copy of the voucher isn't very customer friendly IMO^▸ (in my opinion). They offer to post you one. But that's no good to me whatsoever if I'm making the journey the next day

[ChrisB]

Its an offer, not a fare.

Therefore its as I stated. T&Cs can be what ever they like

[JayMac]

The printed vouchers may also need to be retained for audit purposes.

[thetrout]

Its an offer, not a fare.

Therefore its as I stated. T&Cs can be what ever they like

That I hadn't considered... And you're right.

[Brucey]

Can you find a local library to print the voucher?

[John R]

/Mountain out of a molehill comment: I'm wondering if this is a breach of Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations.

I very much doubt it. The conditions are clear and reasonable.

[eightf48544]

Can you find a local library to print the voucher?

Beat me to it although I was going to add Internet cafe.

Another thought to make it fairer why can't LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) trains print the voucher at the station?

I think it's lack of thought someone had a bright idea and didn't think through fully, like a lot of modern systems.

Bring back Systems Analysis and Operational Research

[swrural]

Mrs SWRural has told me that if you turn up for a Ryanair flight forgetting your printed-out boarding pass, they charge ^35 to print one out.    

I refuse to fly with them.

I'm with TheTrout and Brucey.  ^1 admin charge would be fair.  Can they do what one does with a TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) using your card and details (which you would hand over) in the booking office? 

[stebbo]

I would agree that LEGALLY they can put what they like in the Ts&Cs (within the limits allowed by legislation). But I agree that it's not consumer friendly - a charge of ^1 to print the voucher out at the station would be reasonable.

And on a related subject, don't get me started on Ryanair. Anyone see that, to my own mind, ridiculous advert yesterday with a picture of "O'Leary for Pope" in conjunction with a cheap fare to Rome?