Virgin Trains - price gouging 2 months in advance?
Apr 7, 2014, 5:53 pm
#1
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Virgin Trains - price gouging 2 months in advance?
I tried looking for a cheap oneway ticket from London to Manchester for Sunday June 1st. I thought that tickets , if bought in advance, especially on a weekend, would be relatively cheap. I wanted a train after 6pm.
But no, the 'special' is going for about 70 quid in 2nd class.
What is going on?
But no, the 'special' is going for about 70 quid in 2nd class.
What is going on?
Last edited by Guy Betsy; Apr 7, 2014 at 5:59 pm
Apr 7, 2014, 8:54 pm
#2
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Can't answer your question about why but it seems they've got the demand for the pricing.
Megabus takes longer but is priced at 6 GBP and has 18:00 and 18:30 departures.
Megabus takes longer but is priced at 6 GBP and has 18:00 and 18:30 departures.
Apr 7, 2014, 9:43 pm
#4
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Monday, May 26 is a bank holiday, and that whole week is spring holiday for English schools. So there will be a lot of leisure travelers wanting to get home on Sunday night after visiting London.
Given the complicated pricing structure for British trains, it may be cheaper to buy two tickets: one from London to an intermediate point, and another one from there. I know you used to be able to do this without actually breaking your journey--I don't know if that's still true. There's a website devoted solely to recommending how to do this on various routes, but of course I forget the name and don't have it bookmarked. Sorry. I'd guess that one of the British FTers would know.
Given the complicated pricing structure for British trains, it may be cheaper to buy two tickets: one from London to an intermediate point, and another one from there. I know you used to be able to do this without actually breaking your journey--I don't know if that's still true. There's a website devoted solely to recommending how to do this on various routes, but of course I forget the name and don't have it bookmarked. Sorry. I'd guess that one of the British FTers would know.
Apr 8, 2014, 1:05 am
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I tried looking for a cheap oneway ticket from London to Manchester for Sunday June 1st. I thought that tickets , if bought in advance, especially on a weekend, would be relatively cheap. I wanted a train after 6pm.
But no, the 'special' is going for about 70 quid in 2nd class.
What is going on?
But no, the 'special' is going for about 70 quid in 2nd class.
What is going on?
It often used to be cheaper to buy a return instead of a single. I did a quick check on Virgin's website and it still is. If you travel LON-MAN on Sun 1 June after 6pm and book your "fantasy" return for MAN-LON the following Sat, your total ticket price will be £52.35, saving you around £25 on the single fare.
Apr 8, 2014, 7:54 am
#6
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The last time that I took this trip I stopped in Stafford and it was way cheaper (plus I had business there), looking at the day you are wanting (leaving just before 6pm, nothing later unfortunetly) I found this:
London Euston - Stafford (17:50 - 20:18) £23,50
Stafford - Manchester Picadilly (20:37 - 21:40) £7,20
It takes 3 hours 50 (almost double the time that the direct Virgin train takes). You can try other connection points, to look into the timetables and prices I find it quite easy to use The Train Line but they do charge you to buy the tickets so you should buy them elsewhere.
London Euston - Stafford (17:50 - 20:18) £23,50
Stafford - Manchester Picadilly (20:37 - 21:40) £7,20
It takes 3 hours 50 (almost double the time that the direct Virgin train takes). You can try other connection points, to look into the timetables and prices I find it quite easy to use The Train Line but they do charge you to buy the tickets so you should buy them elsewhere.
Apr 8, 2014, 9:48 am
#7
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Just saw that it could actually be cheaper to fly instead:
Virgin Atlantic from LHR to Man is £53,30 on that day, you have a flight leaving at 17:05 and one at 20:45 (flight time is planned at 1 hour)
Virgin Atlantic from LHR to Man is £53,30 on that day, you have a flight leaving at 17:05 and one at 20:45 (flight time is planned at 1 hour)
Apr 9, 2014, 6:51 am
#8
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Advance fares haven't been released for that date yet - I suspect VT are still waiting for confirmation of engineering works from Network Rail. What you're seeing is the walk-up, off-peak fare.
I'd suggest looking at http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/tickets-offers/ and clicking on "Find out when to buy Advance tickets". This will tell you when they are released - this is typically on a Friday morning (BST).
I'd suggest looking at http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/tickets-offers/ and clicking on "Find out when to buy Advance tickets". This will tell you when they are released - this is typically on a Friday morning (BST).
Apr 24, 2014, 8:52 am
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Thanks guys. I found out a way though... bought a oneway from London to Crewe for £23 and a oneway from Crewe to Manchester for £9 on same train.
But now I see they have dropped the prices and the oneway to Manchester is available for £35.
I usually take the bus. But I would have just spent the whole day in a seminar near Euston station and can't face the bus (especially Megabus).
But now I see they have dropped the prices and the oneway to Manchester is available for £35.
I usually take the bus. But I would have just spent the whole day in a seminar near Euston station and can't face the bus (especially Megabus).