Confusing Southern Rail Prices

[Sheepyaidan]

Hi all.

As usual if this is in the wrong place, do as you will.

I've just got back from a holiday at Butlins in Bognor Regis. My mother was asking me questions about the fares to get from Bognor Regis[BOG] to Brighton[BTN].

So I went on the national rail app to look up the return fare for 3 Adults and 2 Children. To my surprise the fare was only £36.35! (Sorry, this seemed cheap. I live on the south west mainline where train prices are awful.)

Breakdown:
2x Child - Off-Peak Day Return --- £12.20
3x Adult - Off-Peak Day Return --- £24.15
And with GroupSave we saved £12.45

So we thought this was great, so we walked on down to the train station, got to the ticket office and too our surprise it only came too £28.15. So I inspected the tickets as you would to make sure it was correct and they were.

Breakdown:
1x Child - Off-Peak Day Return --- £2.00 (2 we got)
1x Adult - Off-Peak Day Return --- £8.05 (3 we got)
Unsure of the groupsave.

So I was very confused by this. There was no public adverting around the station for these discount child fares.

Can anyone explain this?

Thanks

//Aidan

 

[bb21]

"Kids for £2" offer is explained on Southern's website.

 

[Hadders]

I assume this was an off-peak day return? If so the normal adult price is £12.20

Using Groupsave 3 adults travel for the price of 2 so the adult fares become £8.05, a total of £24.15.

Southern run a Kids for £2 offer where accompanied children can travel for £2. You ought 2 of these tickets totalling £4.

Total price of £28.15

 

[Impey0711]

That looks like a southern day save ticket

 

[Hadders]

That looks like a southern day save ticket

A Daysave is £17.90 or £35.80 for a group of 3 or 4 adults with kids an extra £2 so I don't think it's that.

 

[MikeWh]

That looks like a southern day save ticket

I don't think you can buy daysave tickets on the day or at a station.