Fly? Train?
Mar 26th, 2013, 08:40 AM
#1
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Fly? Train?
Why is it so much cheaper to fly around Europe then it is to take a train?
We looked into flying from Edinburgh to London and I got a rate of 31 euros
Then we looked into the same destination by train and got a rate of 216 euros!!!
Why is it soo drastically different?
We looked into flying from Edinburgh to London and I got a rate of 31 euros
Then we looked into the same destination by train and got a rate of 216 euros!!!
Why is it soo drastically different?
Mar 26th, 2013, 08:46 AM
#2
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Time of day, route, time of year, how far in advance you are booking, how popular the route is...
It may seem cheaper to fly, but dont forget to add in the charges for luggage, online check-in, getting to and from the airport (not to mention the time to get to and from the airport - trains are usually city centre to city centre), very strict rules for luggage and very hefty fees if over...you get the picture.
Sometimes it is cheaper even with all those extra costs - but make sure you look at the big picture before you make your decision and not just the base rate on the website.
It may seem cheaper to fly, but dont forget to add in the charges for luggage, online check-in, getting to and from the airport (not to mention the time to get to and from the airport - trains are usually city centre to city centre), very strict rules for luggage and very hefty fees if over...you get the picture.
Sometimes it is cheaper even with all those extra costs - but make sure you look at the big picture before you make your decision and not just the base rate on the website.
Mar 26th, 2013, 08:48 AM
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It all depends on what train you take and what sort of ticket you buy. If you take the direct train, but buy an "open" ticket just before you you travel, you will pay the top price. If you buy your ticket in advance and buy a ticket for an off-peak train several weeks before your date of travel, you will find the price is much lower.
Plane tickets work in much the same way, except that once a plane is fully booked, no more tickets are sold. You are probably seeing the difference between a peak-period open ticket on the train, and a plane ticket at an unpopular time bought well in advance.
In comparing the two prices, you also need to take account of the cost of getting to the airport, the time spent waiting at the airport before the flight, and the increased security required.
Plane tickets work in much the same way, except that once a plane is fully booked, no more tickets are sold. You are probably seeing the difference between a peak-period open ticket on the train, and a plane ticket at an unpopular time bought well in advance.
In comparing the two prices, you also need to take account of the cost of getting to the airport, the time spent waiting at the airport before the flight, and the increased security required.
Mar 26th, 2013, 08:52 AM
#4
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Without knowing what timing and flexibility conditions (or lack thereof) you're looking at, there's no answer to that. Headline airfares might not be the final price (depending on baggage charges, fuel surcharges and inflight catering). Train fares will vary depending on how far in advance you're booking, whether you're travelling in first class or in the peak business travel times, and whether you're willing to tie yourself down to specific trains.
As of today, for a Wednesday at the end of April, I'm getting airfares between £33 and £40 you've quoted, but for flights out of Stansted or Luton (add on £15 or so for travel to the airport, and who knows what in baggage charges), and train fares from £39.50 on the advance rate (i.e., committed to a specific train with no flexibility).
www.skyscanner.net
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Are you using some re-seller's website for the train fares?
As of today, for a Wednesday at the end of April, I'm getting airfares between £33 and £40 you've quoted, but for flights out of Stansted or Luton (add on £15 or so for travel to the airport, and who knows what in baggage charges), and train fares from £39.50 on the advance rate (i.e., committed to a specific train with no flexibility).
www.skyscanner.net
www.nationalrail.co.uk
Are you using some re-seller's website for the train fares?
Mar 26th, 2013, 09:35 AM
#5
For Edinburgh to London by train in early May I got £53 in first class. Would have been slightly cheaper to fly, but when you figure the train is city centre to city centre - the train is actually cheaper and faster.
Mar 26th, 2013, 10:38 AM
#6
janisj - and there's really no need to take first class - second class passengers arrive at the same time, lol. I bet those plane tickets weren't for first class, and not only do you get more leg room on the train, it's easier to get up and move around. Plus, there's even a view.
Mar 26th, 2013, 11:23 PM
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<i>Why is it soo drastically different?</i>
At a guess you aren't comparing like with like. Or you aren't using the UK train websites
In the UK cheap inflexible train fares become available a maximum of 12 weeks before date of travel so if your travel date is after that the only tickets available will be the full price totally flexible, totally changeable, totally refundable ones.
Your plane ticket will be for that specific flight, if you don't use it you lose it as it's non-refundable. You also have to take into account the cost of travel to & from airports which in some cases could be more than the cost of the train to Edinburgh. If you want the equivalent air ticket then you will be paying several times the cost of the cheapest ticket
Oh - we don't use Euro in the UK, it's Pound Sterling, as it's been for a millennium or so, if you are seeing prices in Euro then you aren't using a UK website
At a guess you aren't comparing like with like. Or you aren't using the UK train websites
In the UK cheap inflexible train fares become available a maximum of 12 weeks before date of travel so if your travel date is after that the only tickets available will be the full price totally flexible, totally changeable, totally refundable ones.
Your plane ticket will be for that specific flight, if you don't use it you lose it as it's non-refundable. You also have to take into account the cost of travel to & from airports which in some cases could be more than the cost of the train to Edinburgh. If you want the equivalent air ticket then you will be paying several times the cost of the cheapest ticket
Oh - we don't use Euro in the UK, it's Pound Sterling, as it's been for a millennium or so, if you are seeing prices in Euro then you aren't using a UK website
Mar 26th, 2013, 11:24 PM
#11
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<i>I Know 2nd class is absolutely fine. But w/ the lunch/drinks, first class came in not much more than 'cattle' class</i>
Indeed, on a recent trip the 1st class fare was lower than the 2nd class one - and I was fed & watered to boot (as well as having free wi-fi)
Indeed, on a recent trip the 1st class fare was lower than the 2nd class one - and I was fed & watered to boot (as well as having free wi-fi)
Mar 27th, 2013, 06:11 AM
#12
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Thank you so much for the feedback!
janisj: where did you find that rate?!
We are traveling in the middle of June, so I am gathering I should purchase the ticket within a couple of weeks if by train?
janisj: where did you find that rate?!
We are traveling in the middle of June, so I am gathering I should purchase the ticket within a couple of weeks if by train?
Mar 27th, 2013, 06:22 AM
#13
Do you know this site?
http://www.seat61.com/index.html
It has all the info you need on how to buy train tickets for the UK, and most other places too.
http://www.seat61.com/index.html
It has all the info you need on how to buy train tickets for the UK, and most other places too.
Mar 27th, 2013, 07:07 AM
#14
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The UK train system pricing is such that the earlier you buy for major routes like Edinburgh/London, the more likely you are to get a better price. So the earlier you can buy, the better. Tickets go on sale about three months ahead, so they're selling for June already. The cheapest tickets commit you to a specific train, as others have noted.
Which site are you using for trains? As Patrick recommended, nationalrail.co.uk has links to the companies directly along with the schedules from all the companies, so you'll get the best prices there. I plugged in a one-way ticket from Edinburgh to London on June 13 and got £19.10 for the cheapest price, direct city center to center. Not sure if the link will work, but here goes:
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/servic...30613/0915/dep
Which site are you using for trains? As Patrick recommended, nationalrail.co.uk has links to the companies directly along with the schedules from all the companies, so you'll get the best prices there. I plugged in a one-way ticket from Edinburgh to London on June 13 and got £19.10 for the cheapest price, direct city center to center. Not sure if the link will work, but here goes:
http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/servic...30613/0915/dep
Mar 27th, 2013, 07:42 AM
#16
I booked on the east coast rail site . . .
http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/
Definitely book as soon as your dates are bookable - and be a bit flexible about which train. If we took an early morning train it would have been much more expensive than the 10:30 AM train we booked. But our flat in London won't be ready until 3 PM anyway so it was the best timing for us.
http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/
Definitely book as soon as your dates are bookable - and be a bit flexible about which train. If we took an early morning train it would have been much more expensive than the 10:30 AM train we booked. But our flat in London won't be ready until 3 PM anyway so it was the best timing for us.
Mar 27th, 2013, 08:07 AM
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Why is it so much cheaper to travel around Europe by train than by plane?
I just went to Easyjet.com, and looked up the air fare for a flight from London to Edinburgh leaving today in an hour's time, and they wanted £170!!!!
I went online to www.eastcoast.co.uk and looked up a train in 2 months' time, and it was just £18 !!
Amsterdam to Paris by train from €35, www.thalys.com
Paris to Nice by train, from €25, www.tgv-europe.com
Paris to Venice by sleeper train from €35, www.thello.com
Amsterdam to Berlin by train from €29, www.bahn.de/en
Berlin t Prague by train from €29, www.bahn.de/en
Prague to Vienna by train from €19, www.bahn.de/en
Vienna to Rome by sleeper train from €39, www.oebb.at
- always book direct with the train operator, not a third party.
- Book ahead, just as you would with a cheap flight.
I just went to Easyjet.com, and looked up the air fare for a flight from London to Edinburgh leaving today in an hour's time, and they wanted £170!!!!
I went online to www.eastcoast.co.uk and looked up a train in 2 months' time, and it was just £18 !!
Amsterdam to Paris by train from €35, www.thalys.com
Paris to Nice by train, from €25, www.tgv-europe.com
Paris to Venice by sleeper train from €35, www.thello.com
Amsterdam to Berlin by train from €29, www.bahn.de/en
Berlin t Prague by train from €29, www.bahn.de/en
Prague to Vienna by train from €19, www.bahn.de/en
Vienna to Rome by sleeper train from €39, www.oebb.at
- always book direct with the train operator, not a third party.
- Book ahead, just as you would with a cheap flight.
Mar 27th, 2013, 08:11 AM
#18
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What I'm 90% certain is happening here, you looked up train fares further ahead than the 12 week booking horizon, so only say the flexible fares not tied to a reservation.
Advance tickets start to appear within 12 weeks of departure, London to Edinburgh from €18.
Centre to centre, no baggage fees, no check-in fees, no booking fees.
And remember, with EasyJet or Ryanair, you also have to pay for a train ticket from central London to Luton or Stansted Airports, which costs £14.
So, £18 London to Edinburgh, or £14 just to get to the airport!
Advance tickets start to appear within 12 weeks of departure, London to Edinburgh from €18.
Centre to centre, no baggage fees, no check-in fees, no booking fees.
And remember, with EasyJet or Ryanair, you also have to pay for a train ticket from central London to Luton or Stansted Airports, which costs £14.
So, £18 London to Edinburgh, or £14 just to get to the airport!
Mar 27th, 2013, 05:48 PM
#19
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Jent: It's amazing how much the price goes up in just one week.
I clicked on your link for June 13th, then plugged in the actual date we need (June 19th) and its an extra 222 pounds!!!
Unless I'm doing something wrong
Before the rest of you comment on Us going during peak season....I am a teacher and can't just pick and choose when I go n vacation. Have summers off. So we had to plan for June.
I clicked on your link for June 13th, then plugged in the actual date we need (June 19th) and its an extra 222 pounds!!!
Unless I'm doing something wrong
Before the rest of you comment on Us going during peak season....I am a teacher and can't just pick and choose when I go n vacation. Have summers off. So we had to plan for June.
Mar 27th, 2013, 07:27 PM
#20
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£222 more for one person? I'm seeing £125.70 for that date, which is obviously quite a bit more but not that much more. Maybe wait a week? The tickets I saw for 6/13 were "Advance" whereas the ones I'm seeing now are "Off-Peak"; I believe off-peak are typically a little more expensive. Maybe the Advance tickets aren't quite on sale yet? The 19th is the last possible date right now. I'm not sure - perhaps one of the British posters can chime in there.
