Advanced train tickets - Southampton to Brighton

[HseagullsH]

Could someone help me out here as I'm pretty poor with this train lark

Right I'm going to uni in Southampton soon and am trying to find out how to get the cheapest possible ticket home. Most sites have Southampton to Brighton return at £25 with a student rail card but I've found one where it's only £14.

Now it seems to be £14 anytime return whether I book it tomorrow, a week or even two months in advance. Shouldn't it be even cheaper in advance?

I was hoping I could possibly get it even cheaper as I know what weekends I'll be home in November, December, etc...

 

[KneeOn]

14 quid? Get a day return and its 11.35! I know because I went on Thursday!

 

[Acker79]

Could someone help me out here as I'm pretty poor with this train lark

Right I'm going to uni in Southampton soon and am trying to find out how to get the cheapest possible ticket home. Most sites have Southampton to Brighton return at £25 with a student rail card but I've found one where it's only £14.

Now it seems to be £14 anytime return whether I book it tomorrow, a week or even two months in advance. Shouldn't it be even cheaper in advance?

I was hoping I could possibly get it even cheaper as I know what weekends I'll be home in November, December, etc...

If the £14 is a student deal, then it likely won't have additional discounts for advance booking. You don't often find "Buy one get one free" deals that are also 10% off.

The student deal is one offer, early purchse of a ticket is another, you're not likely to get both in one ticket.

 

[HseagullsH]

14 quid? Get a day return and its 11.35! I know because I went on Thursday!

I won't be returning on the same day. Will be Friday - Sunday...

If the £14 is a student deal, then it likely won't have additional discounts for advance booking. You don't often find "Buy one get one free" deals that are also 10% off.

The student deal is one offer, early purchse of a ticket is another, you're not likely to get both in one ticket.

Ok thanks that makes sense. I'm not complaining as £14 is VERY cheap for an open return but just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything even cheaper.

 

[sten_super]

If the £14 is a student deal, then it likely won't have additional discounts for advance booking. You don't often find "Buy one get one free" deals that are also 10% off.

The student deal is one offer, early purchse of a ticket is another, you're not likely to get both in one ticket.

Assuming by 'student' rail card he means a 16-25 card, you are wrong. They typically give 33% off the standard price of the ticket, rather than a specific flat rate. So by ordering an advance ticket you are able to take advantage of a cheaper starting price, and then claim another 33% off that cheaper price using the 16-25 card.

Having said that, I have no alternative suggestion of why he's been able to find one offer substantially cheaper than the others, unless he's looked at off-peak versus peak times, perhaps?

 

[Vatican Citys No.2 Keeper]

Having done the journey many times since starting Uni here last Year I am sure that the £14 deal is the best you can get

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Assuming by 'student' rail card he means a 16-25 card, you are wrong. They typically give 33% off the standard price of the ticket, rather than a specific flat rate. So by ordering an advance ticket you are able to take advantage of a cheaper starting price, and then claim another 33% off that cheaper price using the 16-25 card.

Having said that, I have no alternative suggestion of why he's been able to find one offer substantially cheaper than the others, unless he's looked at off-peak versus peak times, perhaps?

Fraid you are the one wrong here. You can only very rarely use railcards on advance fares.

 

[The Wookiee]

Could someone help me out here as I'm pretty poor with this train lark

Right I'm going to uni in Southampton soon and am trying to find out how to get the cheapest possible ticket home. Most sites have Southampton to Brighton return at £25 with a student rail card but I've found one where it's only £14.

Now it seems to be £14 anytime return whether I book it tomorrow, a week or even two months in advance. Shouldn't it be even cheaper in advance?

I was hoping I could possibly get it even cheaper as I know what weekends I'll be home in November, December, etc...

Depends what route you take, its cheaper if you go along the coast than it would be if you change at Clapham

 

[sten_super]

Fraid you are the one wrong here. You can only very rarely use railcards on advance fares.

Really? Not according to thetrainline. I also used to get trains between Bath and Cambridge a lot when a student 5 years back and it was definitely cheaper then with a railcard.

I've also found the t&cs on the national rail site which indicate that discounts do apply;
National Rail Enquiries - Advance Terms and Conditions

 

[Southwick_Seagull]

Having done the journey many times since starting Uni here last Year I am sure that the £14 deal is the best you can get

Go to Winchester and change at Southampton and 2nd this.

 

[keaton]

Are you going to get off early at Eastleigh?