Best place to buy tickets

[thames]

I am wondering where best place to buy train tickets is from. I want to maximimise buying from any sites that give cashback to bank account or where the trips add up. I have LNER account but despite booking many times via them have never had any rewards

 

[Watershed]

There are usually a couple of retailers where you can get cashback on Topcashback or Quidco, but the tracking is often unreliable and it takes months to get your money in my experience.

Many banks and credit card lenders offer cashback for specific retailers based on using your payment card. NB you typically have to activate or add the offer for it to become effective. A popular one of late has been with LNER, with many people getting offers of between 5-10% back (whether you are buying tickets for LNER or not).

I have also seen offers on my cards for Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express at various times. Given that you have the ability to raise a complaint and ultimately take it to the Financial Ombudsman if the cashback is not paid, I would regard this as a much more reliable option. I have never had any problems or delays with card-based cashback offers.

 

[thames]

There are usually a couple of retailers where you can get cashback on Topcashback or Quidco, but the tracking is often unreliable and it takes months to get your money in my experience.

Many banks and credit card lenders offer cashback for specific retailers based on using your payment card. NB you typically have to activate or add the offer for it to become effective. A popular one of late has been with LNER, with many people getting offers of between 5-10% back (whether you are buying tickets for LNER or not).

I have also seen offers on my cards for Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express at various times. Given that you have the ability to raise a complaint and ultimately take it to the Financial Ombudsman if the cashback is not paid, I would regard this as a much more reliable option. I have never had any problems or delays with card-based cashback offers.

Thanks this is good to know. Is there a way to get the money back into personal bank account instead of back onto the card?

 

[yorkie]

I am wondering where best place to buy train tickets is from. I want to maximimise buying from any sites that give cashback to bank account or where the trips add up. I have LNER account but despite booking many times via them have never had any rewards

If you are happy to do your own research on the cheapest combinations of tickets (or if you are happy to simply pay a premium for more expensive tickets), and you are wanting to maximise cashback, then the LNER site with Amex is probably your best bet (LNER have plenty of taxpayers cash available to fund this! )

Alternatively, if you want good customer service, the lowest overall price of tickets, a seat selector that works with all TOCs who offer reservations, and are happy to support the forum, then consider using the forum's site. However, you won't get any cashback. Just a potentially better deal in the first place!

 

[D1537]

I am wondering where best place to buy train tickets is from. I want to maximimise buying from any sites that give cashback to bank account or where the trips add up. I have LNER account but despite booking many times via them have never had any rewards

Have you signed up for LNER's perks? You get £5 when you join and 2% credit for every ticket you buy (and another £10 if you refer a friend).

LNER Perks

 

[yorkie]

Have you signed up for LNER's perks? You get £5 when you join and 2% credit for every ticket you buy (and another £10 if you refer a friend).

LNER Perks

Tickets that were bought through us are still eligible for LNER perks. Although LNER don't want people to save money by booking through us, they are prepared to "forgive" people for doing this

LNER Perks

www.lner.co.uk

Booked elsewhere? Add an LNER journey

(That's okay, we forgive you!)

If you didn't book direct with us this time don't worry you can still benefit from our new loyalty scheme, LNER Perks.

How to earn credit if you booked elsewhere:

1. Sign in or create an account on the LNER app
2. Tap to join LNER Perks if you don't already have an account with us.
3. Upload your tickets from the last 7 days to earn 2% credit for your LNER journeys.

LNER do spend a lot of (taxpayers) money on pushing the concept of booking on their site; the reason for this is because they really would rather people didn't book through sites that circumvent their premium fares.

 

[D1537]

Tickets that were bought through us are still eligible for LNER perks. Although LNER don't want people to save money by booking through us, they are prepared to "forgive" people for doing this

Ha, I hadn't realised that. As someone who uses LNER weekly (if not more often) I was using their site for the perks (and the fact that delay repay is very easy for LNER trains booked through LNER).

 

[thames]

Have you signed up for LNER's perks? You get £5 when you join and 2% credit for every ticket you buy (and another £10 if you refer a friend).

LNER Perks

I have yeah but I can only see the £5 credit from when i joined there.

Where is the 2% credit stored?

 

[Trainbike46]

I have yeah but I can only see the £5 credit from when i joined there.

Where is the 2% credit stored?

you only get it for "LNER tickets" so if you're travelling with other operators, you won't get any

 

[D1537]

you only get it for "LNER tickets" so if you're travelling with other operators, you won't get any

Yes, that's true. I assumed the OP was travelling with LNER but if they're only using the booking engine for other TOCs then there will be no credit, as you say.

 

[E100]

Note that you can add LNER tickets bought elsewhere to the app to gain cashback.

 

[Haywain]

Note that you can add LNER tickets bought elsewhere to the app to gain cashback.

View attachment 181340

It really not “cashback”. It’s a credit that can only be used in buying from LNER.