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Avanti online booking app (and alternative apps)

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Howardh

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Does Avanti have an app? Nothing is showing on Google Play
 

Howardh

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OK - I've gone to booking - it won't do Bolton > Euston but will do Manchester > Euston; and (although I haven't actually booked) it looks like it will offer a specific seat (but can't guarantee).
 

Howardh

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Update - it will give you a seat with choices of window/aisle forward/backwards table etc - before you pay.... but won't show you that seat and offer you the alternative before you pay. I haven't paid so don't know if that option appears afterwards.
 

CrispyUK

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Update - it will give you a seat with choices of window/aisle forward/backwards table etc - before you pay.... but won't show you that seat and offer you the alternative before you pay. I haven't paid so don't know if that option appears afterwards.
I’ve booked a ticket through Avanti this morning and no option to change the allocated seat reservation. However I also never had a seat selector option available for the journey I booked a couple of weeks ago through VTWC.
 

Energy

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Something I find confusing is that the page for the app says the developer is Ceri Harris, head of smart ticketing for First. If you don't know then it looks like it isn't the official app.
 

Mathew S

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Something I find confusing is that the page for the app says the developer is Ceri Harris, head of smart ticketing for First. If you don't know then it looks like it isn't the official app.
Oh, is that who it is. I did wonder.
I presume that will be changed once someone notices.
 

Howardh

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Well, after a load of faffing around trying to book Manchester - London for a date in January; I've done a flight out + first class return for just over £70 which is about the same price (with railcard) as two first class returns; the booking experience is easy both on the site and app (now they are running) but one slight issue; the app uses the same booking app as northern yet won't accept my northern log-in details so had to register....so two apps doing exactly the same thing!!
 

Energy

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Well, after a load of faffing around trying to book Manchester - London for a date in January; I've done a flight out + first class return for just over £70 which is about the same price (with railcard) as two first class returns; the booking experience is easy both on the site and app (now they are running) but one slight issue; the app uses the same booking app as northern yet won't accept my northern log-in details so had to register....so two apps doing exactly the same thing!!
Lots of people use Trainline, and other apps, so they don't have to have an account for each operator and just accept that £1.50 isn't much if you are going for a long journey. The National Rail Enquires app is a bit different, it just redirects you to the operator's website.
 

Howardh

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Lots of people use Trainline, and other apps, so they don't have to have an account for each operator and just accept that £1.50 isn't much if you are going for a long journey. The National Rail Enquires app is a bit different, it just redirects you to the operator's website.
An observation; Avanti's site/app wouldn't allow Boton/Manchester as Virgin's did, hope that gets sorted out eventually. I don't think there is one, specific, national booking app?? As you say the only one re-directs you at others (some you have to pay to use).
 

brwmly

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the app uses the same booking app as northern yet won't accept my northern log-in details so had to register....so two apps doing exactly the same thing!!

Two different legal entities with probably different servers and T&Cs... You can't have your details transferred because of GDPR, etc.
 
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Lots of people use Trainline, and other apps, so they don't have to have an account for each operator and just accept that £1.50 isn't much if you are going for a long journey. The National Rail Enquires app is a bit different, it just redirects you to the operator's website.

I’ve started to use the TrainPal app (based on recommendations elsewhere) that doesn’t charge a booking fee and also integrates Split Ticketing. Plus I get the odd money of code from them too
 

Buspilot

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Unless you have an iPhone from a UK airtime provider and can accesss the UK App Store, you cannot download the App.
 

JaJaWa

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Unless you have an iPhone from a UK airtime provider and can accesss the UK App Store, you cannot download the App.
You can easily create an additional App Store account for the UK to access the UK store. I have UK, USA, China, and Hong Kong accounts as I use apps from all of those Stores. It doesn’t matter where your phone was purchased or what network it’s on.
 

Goldfish62

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I’ve booked a ticket through Avanti this morning and no option to change the allocated seat reservation. However I also never had a seat selector option available for the journey I booked a couple of weeks ago through VTWC.
That's odd. I booked a ticket last week and used the seat selector.
 

hawk1911

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Update - it will give you a seat with choices of window/aisle forward/backwards table etc - before you pay.... but won't show you that seat and offer you the alternative before you pay. I haven't paid so don't know if that option appears afterwards.
Things may have changed since earlier on, but I've just done a test 'purchase' and could see the offered seat numbers, without having to complete the transaction.
 

RealTrains07

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Any one know whats happening about the replacement for BEAM?

Riding my first avanti train today and was wondering if i can expect onboard entertainment??
 

Howardh

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Things may have changed since earlier on, but I've just done a test 'purchase' and could see the offered seat numbers, without having to complete the transaction.
Can you choose from several offered, or do you mean they simply offer you one seat and that's it?
 

Howardh

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Any one know whats happening about the replacement for BEAM?
Riding my first avanti train today and was wondering if i can expect onboard entertainment??
Brass band, dancers, maybe a comedian?? :lol:
Actually I'm not being THAT flippant, the whole start seems very low-key; I expected more - but on-board your entertainment will be the free wifi although how stable that will be remains to be seen!! Airlines tend to have screens at the back of seats and even though you can turn yours off, that still means you can see everyone else's. Horrible! I hope trains don't go down the same route, although if they can advertise on them they sure will :(
 

Energy

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I don't think there is one, specific, national booking app?? As you say the only one re-directs you at others (some you have to pay to use).
No, although operators don't usually charge a booking fee if you buy directly through them. I have heard that other apps like TrainPal but I'm a bit hesitant to use them.
 

hawk1911

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Can you choose from several offered, or do you mean they simply offer you one seat and that's it?
You are just allocated a seat, but at least you can see the seat offered before deciding whether or not to complete the booking.

I suppose you could keep dropping bookings into your basket, until you get a seat that is acceptable, then remove all the other ones from your basket; not that I'm advocating that of course.
 

DaveB10780

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10 Sep 2015
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You are just allocated a seat, but at least you can see the seat offered before deciding whether or not to complete the booking.

I suppose you could keep dropping bookings into your basket, until you get a seat that is acceptable, then remove all the other ones from your basket; not that I'm advocating that of course.
That is awful picking a seat is critical for me on this route. For example which side of the train to avoid the sun. Also where I have had seats automatically allocated then the system squashes them into a single carriage until it is full as far as I could see. Time to jump ship if Trainsplit can do this.
First rule of a new system - do not get rid of useful features.
 

RealTrains07

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That is awful picking a seat is critical for me on this route. For example which side of the train to avoid the sun. Also where I have had seats automatically allocated then the system squashes them into a single carriage until it is full as far as I could see. Time to jump ship if Trainsplit can do this.
First rule of a new system - do not get rid of useful features.
Especially when the trains only have plugs at table seats
 

RealTrains07

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According to a poster inside of the pendolinos, the new entertainment for avanti can be found at avantimedia.uk
 
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