Thanks for your thoughts...

What is concerning me is the following I found on the VS website T&C's:

3.2 Period of validity

3.2.1 Except as otherwise provided on the Ticket, in these Conditions of Carriage, or in any applicable Tariffs, (which may limit the validity of a Ticket, in which case the limitation will be shown on the Ticket), a Ticket is valid for:

3.2.1.1 one year from the date of issue;