London 2-for-1: Using an "unused" Train Ticket
 

Hi all...

I realize that my question may have an ethical component...but please bear with me and answer anyway.

Background: In earlier trips we had flown into Gatwick (from Philadelphia). A paper return train ticket on Southern Railway did the trick for 2-for-1 qualifications.

Our last trip (and our upcoming trip) deposits us at LHR -- USAir no longer flies PHL-LGW -- so we have a problem. (Train tickets from LHR do not qualify).

Last trip we bought a paper travel card at the train station. However, I prefer the convenience of our Oyster cards for our 7-day travel card and some pay-as-you-go cash loaded.

The Plan: Buy a couple of paper return tickets to Victoria from a close station (such as Clapham Junction @ 6.40 GBP each) and not use them to travel -- only as "documentation" for 2-for-1. It's a small price for the convenience of using our Oyster cards the entire visit.

My Questions:

Would a return ticket from such a close station still qualify for 2-for-1?

Do the tickets have to be actually used -- i.e., will tickets that are unused (I naturally assume one can tell by looking at the ticket) cause our 2-for-1 coupons to be rejected?

Thanks.
SS

You can't necessarily tell if the train tickets have been used. Ticket inspectors sometimes make a biro scrawl on them when they inspect the tickets on the train, but sometimes not. It's also not uncommon for there to be NO ticket inspection at all on the train. Then there's the return ticket which you obviously wouldn't have used in any case prior to visiting an attraction. I don't think you'll have any problem at all.

Nor an ethical one either, you paid your money and did not use it. Since we are not talking multiple movement price discounts here then it looks straight as a die to me.

I don't think there's any ethical/moral issue here - as long as you have bought tickets that qualify you to use the offers that's all that matters. The fact you didn't use them on the train shouldn't make any difference whatsoever.

Ssander, I had the same thought:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...4-1-offers.cfm

In the end, we had actually used train tickets for three days and grouped our voucher sites accordingly. I don't remember anyone giving more than a passing glance to our rail tickets. Have a wonderful time and you'll save so many GBP!

I don't see any 'ethical' issue . . . you'd be <i>donating</i> money to the train company and not using the service. They are ahead and you are ahead.

I don't think there's any ethical/moral issue here - as long as you have bought tickets that qualify you to use the offers that's all that matters. The fact you didn't use them on the train shouldn't make any difference whatsoever.>

I would certainly do that but to say there is nothing unethical about it mystifies me - I thought the 2 for 1 was to encourage people to go to attractions by train and if you do not go by train then you are sidestepping the purpose of the scheme. That said if they let folks do it then why not?

Don't be so ridiculous. The offers are an enticement to get you to buy expensive train tickets - its not some govt sponsored green scheme designed to get everyone off the roads.

Well, Janisj, I have to ask:

You say "They are ahead and you are ahead." in response to ssander's post but to my (nearly identical?) post your reply was "-- but doesn't makes sense cost-wise . . . ."

Perhaps I'm missing a subtle difference? Thank You.

What Is The 2 For 1 Scheme ?
Essentially its a scheme sponsored by lots of local rail operating companies in the UK to encourage people to travel to attractions all around the UK by train including London.

well RM - perhaps I'm confused by this wording - to encourage folks to travel by train (and presumably not car) - you interpret it diferently than I do and I'm not sure who is right or wrong - if you don't travel by train it aborts the real reason it seems.

Of course in London most folks travel by Tube which is a train.

I think you cn interpret that two ways.

Nothing subtle about anything. It <i>doesn't</i> make sense 'cost-wise' . . . but if you or the OP want to spend the extra $$/££ . . . there is no "ethical' issue, which is what I addressed.

ethics mean different things to different folks - it's very subjective and if there are no checks to prevent wanton abuse I would certainly do it too - even though to me at least it is unethical - my ethics are of course mine and others have different takes on what is ethical or not.

janisj...

It is definitely a matter of opinion, but in my case, it does make sense cost-wise...What I am paying an extra few pounds for is the <strong>convenience</strong> of using my Oyster card (7-day travel card and pay-as-you-go funds) the entire trip instead of a paper 7-day travel card (my visit is 9 days) ...yet still taking advantage of the 2-for-1 offers all 9 days (which have saved me over $100 on every past trip to London.)

It may not make sense to some folks, who don't think the convenience of the Oyster card for is worth 6 pounds...but to me it is. It's just a matter of priorities...no way is right or wrong. I wouldn't criticize anyone who thought it wasn't worth it and I respect their choice.

I have found that I don't even have to take my Oyster card out of my wallet most of the time...just hold my wallet near the sensor. (Unless things have changed since I was in London last.)

Digression: The 2-for-1 website is much better than the early days when you could only select 3 attractions at a time; then print them; then go back and select 3 more, over and over again. Now you can put them all in your "basket" and print them all at once after you've made all your selections.

SS

ssander: I meant you are spending money you don't need to spend. It isn't a huge amount of money but it IS extra money, so simply 'cost-wise' it doesn't make sense.

A 7 day paper travel card plus an Oyster loaded w/ the PAYG for your extra days would cost less than an Oyster loaded a 7-day travelcard+ PAYG + the extra, unused paper train ticket.

I never said it didn't make sense period -- just that it doesn't make sense <i>cost-wise</i>. It does cost extra -- but might be more convenient (depending on where you are staying and the location of the nearest train station.

Hi ssander. Did you end up doing the Clapham Junction to Victoria ticket? If so, did it work?

If it did, I am thinking about doing the same thing. I was wondering if you purchased your tickets in advance online?

Thanks!

Why on earth would anyone buy a ticket from Clapham to Victoria in advance online?

You can't get through the barriers without a proper ticket, so you've got to queue up at a manned desk or machine to turn your order into a gate-friendly ticket, there's no cost saving and if you believe the seats can be reserved you've got a sad discovery to be made. And no: you can't use the electronic order confirmation for the 2 for 1.

So what's the point?

I was asking because I wasn't sure. I have never been to London before.

Mike5055...

If memory serves, it turned out that I was unable to buy a round-trip ClapJnct to Vic ticket. You buy individual tickets that are only good for the day you buy them and the next day (I think).

That's the bad news.

The good news is that -- at least in my case at the Courtauld Gallery, the only place I used it -- they did not check any dates; just glanced at the ticket.

So, in my case, mainly because it turned out we only went to one 2/1 sight, it was barely worth it.

I can't guarantee this will happen everywhere. Maybe you can buy a round-trip ticket for a ride from a further out destination. It would still be worth it if you used it on some really expensive sights (like the Tower).

SS