Special Offers Discussion

[James H]

I bought an £8.05 ticket today. It gained me 80 points. These are worth 40p at Sainsbury's

40p is 5 per cent of £8

SWR normally give 2 points (1p) per pound spent (equal to 1%).

There's a Nectar symbol showing on SWR's MixingDeck on fares where the bonus applies

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Can I make a suggestion that clubcard and cashback offers are split off into a separate thread as they don't really count as "Special Offers" on rail tickets? It's so disappointing when you see a new post on this thread and instead of some £5 seat sale or whatever, someone has posted that if you spend hundreds of pounds on rail tickets you might get enough clubcard points to get 4p off your shopping at Tesco!

 

[pemma]

Can I make a suggestion that clubcard and cashback offers are split off into a separate thread as they don't really count as "Special Offers" on rail tickets? It's so disappointing when you see a new post on this thread and instead of some £5 seat sale or whatever, someone has posted that if you spend hundreds of pounds on rail tickets you might get enough clubcard points to get 4p off your shopping at Tesco!

That's exaggerating a bit. Even without any special promotions on a £400 spend you could get at least £8 back via Nectar/Cashback which for those who do need to buy a lot of tickets is better than a £5 off your next purchase promotion, limited for one per customer.

I've also seen Nectar promotions which give you £5 or more worth of points and don't have any minimum spend, you just need to book a ticket for a journey with the appropriate operator. In some cases that can lead to them effectively paying you to travel by train.

 

[cjp]

Can I make a suggestion that clubcard and cashback offers are split off into a separate thread as they don't really count as "Special Offers" on rail tickets? It's so disappointing when you see a new post on this thread and instead of some £5 seat sale or whatever, someone has posted that if you spend hundreds of pounds on rail tickets you might get enough clubcard points to get 4p off your shopping at Tesco!

I agree. Bargain train ticket prices rather than points bargains. Now if only East Coast Rewards were to return....

 

[AnkleBoots]

Nationwide Simply Rewards - they offer 10% cashback on a single Virgin Trains purchase. May be targeted. Am happy to refer you if you want to open a current account with them.

 

[route:oxford]

Nationwide Simply Rewards - they offer 10% cashback on a single Virgin Trains purchase. May be targeted. Am happy to refer you if you want to open a current account with them.

Will that stack with the usual 20% discount that Virgin has with various employers?

 

[AnkleBoots]

Will that stack with the usual 20% discount that Virgin has with various employers?

I think Yes if Nationwide/Visa recognises it as a Virgin Trains purchase rather than some third party..

 

[CaptainHaddock]

An offer at last from LNER but unfortunately only open to students.

https://www.lner.co.uk/special-offers/travel-savings/unidays/

"Time to get ready for a new term! To help you budget, we've teamed up with UNiDAYS, the home of student discounts, to give you a frankly gobsmacking 50% off Advance train tickets on selected LNER routes from 1 September to 14 October 2018, and a still very chunky 40% off from 15 October to 15 December 2018."

 

[pemma]

Nationwide Simply Rewards - they offer 10% cashback on a single Virgin Trains purchase. May be targeted. Am happy to refer you if you want to open a current account with them.

It's not in my offers. I've paid for transactions on virgintrains.co.uk using a Nationwide card before so perhaps it's only for 'new' customers?

I'm not sure if trying to get the £100 bonus for a Nationwide referral is within forum rules. Anyway the offers only usually last a week or two so they will have changed before anyone can have a new account set up and received the invitation to register for Nationwide rewards.

 

[pemma]

An offer at last from LNER but unfortunately only open to students.

https://www.lner.co.uk/special-offers/travel-savings/unidays/

"Time to get ready for a new term! To help you budget, we've teamed up with UNiDAYS, the home of student discounts, to give you a frankly gobsmacking 50% off Advance train tickets on selected LNER routes from 1 September to 14 October 2018, and a still very chunky 40% off from 15 October to 15 December 2018."

LNER do regularly do Nectar promotions if you linked a Nectar card to your LNER account and an account on nectar.co.uk. I don't just mean double the usual points or similar but things like £5 worth of points if you make a purchase before XXX which includes travel on a LNER service.

 

[HOMELESS]

Northern Rail £10 ticket offer
Has anyone heard anything about this coming back on after the summer holidays?
Normally a token collect in local newspapers.

 

[peri]

Northern Rail offer.
I think last year was 25/9 to 26/11 with a pause for half term.
Not seen anything yet, usually the Lancashire papers are a week earlier.

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/jpress

A quick search brought this page up so hopefully in the pipeline.

 

[A Challenge]

Here are the dates:

Paper

Spoiler: Papers

Yorkshire Evening Post (Daily)

• w/c Mon 24 September
• w/c Mon 1 October
• w/c Mon 8 October

Wakefield Express

• Fri 28 Sept
• Fri 5 Oct
• Fri 12 Oct

Pontefract & Castleford Express

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Halifax Courier

• Fri 28 Sept
• Fri 5 Oct
• Fri 12 Oct

Brighouse Echo

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Dewsbury and Mirfield Reporter

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Batley and Birstall News

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Hebden and Todmorden Times

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Spenbrorough Guardian

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Harrogate Advertiser Series

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Knaresborough Post

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Ripon Gazette

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Wetherby News

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Scarborough Evening News

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Bridlington Free Press

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

The Star

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

Sheffield Telegraph

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Doncaster Free Press

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Buxton Advertiser

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Worksop Guardian

• Fri 28 Sept
• Fri 5 Oct
• Fri 12 Oct

Gainsborough Standard

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Ilkeston Advertiser

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Blackpool Gazette

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

Lancashire Post

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

Wigan Post

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

Wigan Observer

• Tues 25 Sept
• Tues 2 Oct
• Tues 9 Oct

Chorley Guardian

• Tues 25 Sept
• Tues 2 Oct
• Tues 9 Oct

Burnley Express Tues

• Tues 25 Sept
• Tues 2 Oct
• Tues 9 Oct

Burnley Express Fri

• Fri 28 Sept
• Fri 5 Oct
• Fri 12 Oct

Nelson Leader

• Fri 28 Sept
• Fri 5 Oct
• Fri 12 Oct

Clitheroe Advertiser

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

The Visitor (Morecambe)

• Tues 25 Sept
• Tues 2 Oct
• Tues 9 Oct

Lancaster Guardian

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Lytham St Annes Express

• Thurs 27 Sept
• Thurs 4 Oct
• Thurs 11 Oct

Hartlepool Mail

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

Sunderland Echo

• w/c Mon 24 Sept
• w/c Mon 1 Oct
• w/c Mon 8 Oct

 

[nedchester]

Also:

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/reachplc

 

[furlong]

Also:

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/reachplc

Good luck to anyone trying to obtain a weekend rover! "Tickets available for sale from ... Saturday 12 May - Saturday 14 July 2018 (for Weekend Rover tickets). Tickets can be purchased up to three days in advance of travel."

 

[nedchester]

Good luck to anyone trying to obtain a weekend rover! "Tickets available for sale from ... Saturday 12 May - Saturday 14 July 2018 (for Weekend Rover tickets). Tickets can be purchased up to three days in advance of travel."

It's OK Northern don't do weekends...........!

 

[gazthomas]

I got an email yesterday from Virgin Trains - "Organising a trip, Gary? Steam ahead with Virgin Trains! Use this promo code for a brilliant discount."

It states "To bag your 20% off, simply book before 30 September and travel on any weekend between 8 September and 31 October 2018."

I have gone to book a simple trip to Bimingham New Street and when I put the promo code in it applies it but the price doesn't change. Any ideas?

 

[gazthomas]

I got an email yesterday from Virgin Trains - "Organising a trip, Gary? Steam ahead with Virgin Trains! Use this promo code for a brilliant discount."

It states "To bag your 20% off, simply book before 30 September and travel on any weekend between 8 September and 31 October 2018."

I have gone to book a simple trip to Bimingham New Street and when I put the promo code in it applies it but the price doesn't change. Any ideas?

I think I've worked it out, it doesn't cover advances involving a connection that isn't Virgin.

 

[pemma]

I think I've worked it out, it doesn't cover advances involving a connection that isn't Virgin.

That's normal for VT discount codes.

 

[gazthomas]

That's normal for VT discount codes.

Thanks for the clarification

 

[_toommm_]

Don't know if this has already been posted (apologies if so), but anyone with a 16-25 Railcard booking and travelling direct with TPE, they give you 50% off with your railcard as opposed to the normal 33.3....% off, so in total you could save up to 75% (up to 50% off advances, then another 50% off with your railcard).

This is available on the app by using the discount code 'TPESTUDENT', or through the 'Buy Now' button on this link:
https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/student-train-tickets

There is no opportunity to enter the code online, so bookings must be made through this link or through the aforementioned app.

 

[skifans]

Don't know if this has already been posted (apologies if so), but anyone with a 16-25 Railcard booking and travelling direct with TPE, they give you 50% off with your railcard as opposed to the normal 33.3....% off, so in total you could save up to 75% (up to 50% off advances, then another 50% off with your railcard)

Its a great scheme I take full advantage of. But to add, the extra discount only works if you book via: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/student-train-tickets irritatingly I have also noticed that it doesn't seem to be possible to only use the offer if you want to travel one way on TPE and return with Northern (or another toc with advance tickets) as the booking form only shows TPE services. Making 2 separate bookings has always worked fine though.

 

[_toommm_]

Its a great scheme I take full advantage of. But to add, the extra discount only works if you book via: https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/special-offers/student-train-tickets irritatingly I have also noticed that it doesn't seem to be possible to only use the offer if you want to travel one way on TPE and return with Northern (or another toc with advance tickets) as the booking form only shows TPE services. Making 2 separate bookings has always worked fine though.

Booking it seperately still doesn't apply the 50% - it'll downgrade to the normal 33% as its physically impossible for it to be applied to a non-TPE service.

 

[skifans]

Booking it seperately still doesn't apply the 50% - it'll downgrade to the normal 33% as its physically impossible for it to be applied to a non-TPE service.

Yeah your right, its just a very minor gripe. I don't expect the discount to be applied for non tpe services. But it isn't possible to select the discount in 1 direction only which means going through the payment page twice and dealing with two separating booking numbers.

 

[_toommm_]

Yeah your right, its just a very minor gripe. I don't expect the discount to be applied for non tpe services. But it isn't possible to select the discount in 1 direction only which means going through the payment page twice and dealing with two separating booking numbers.

Aah I get you now. And the fact they make you wait three minutes between purchases - longest three minutes ever!

 

[Rail Ranger]

A new Arriva Trains Wales Club 55 offer started on 3rd September until Monday 1st October for outward travel, return travel up to 9th October. The price is £27 return. The add-on fare for Northern is £3.50. The usual conditions apply: not before 0930 on Monday to Friday and no restrictions at weekends. Return travel must be within 8 days of the day of outward travel. The ticket can be purchased on the day of travel and break of journey is allowed. More details are at: https://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/club55/.

 

[BigCj34]

Cashback rates have gotten a little better with Topcashback, with Greater Anglia offering 3.15% (nothing is mentioned stating that it must be only be on a GA service) and ebookers is at 3%. The Ebookers interface looks just like Expedia's.

Topcashback is offering an additional £3 bonus on all purchases over £10 until 23:59 tonight.

 

[pscotty]

Sadly, the option to exchange your Tesco clubcard vouchers for redspottedhanky vouchers is finishing. From the Clubcard site:-

"You can exchange your Clubcard vouchers for this partner until 31 January 2019. Any vouchers you receive must be redeemed within 6 months; the expiry date will be shown clearly on your vouchers."

 

[Cletus]

Damn. Just as they’d gone from 2x to 3x.
Damn again. Currently RSH is the only place I redeem my Clubcard vouchers.

 

[alexf380]

Regarding the Northern £10 offer; is anyone else having trouble downloading the PDF form? All I seem to get is an Error 404 message.