Winchester to Luton airport advice

My French friend is flying home from Luton airport on Sunday 22nd. I’m worried she’ll get there ok by train on the day and as fate would have it I am staying in Croydon the night before (as I’m going to the theatre and wouldn't have got home due to the strike) so am suggesting she stays in Croydon the night before too.
I have had a read but can someone confirm that a return from Winchester to Luton airport allows an overnight break of journey on the way up (she returns on the 29th and isn’t so stressed about the return leg).
If so where would she break and resume? She can use oyster for our other journeys in the day.
Thanks!

The Anytime Return would allow it. The Off Peak Return is a bit contentious. What are her proposed approximate travel times?

yorkie said:

The Anytime Return would allow it. The Off Peak Return is a bit contentious. What are her proposed approximate travel times?

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She needs to be at the airport by 11 on the Sunday. My plan was Winchester to London Around 10 on the Saturday but can be flexible. Coming back the next Sunday evening (lands at 17:00 I think)

Assuming the blurb relating to Offpeak tickets on BRFares is correct, then overnight BoJ is allowed. However, it is likely to cause hassle on day 2 with gates/staff.
Cheapest Oyster fares would be Clapham Jn-East Croydon and vv (remembering to touch in and out).
(I know Tramlink from Wimbledon is cheaper - but WIN to WIM on a strike day??)

As an alternative, I suggest Offpeak Returns Winchester to Croydon NOT VIA LONDON plus Croydon to Luton Airport Parkway (Clapham Jn is the same price, so no point).
Total cost is a good £10 more, but hassle-free.
On the return she would switch tickets at CLJ.

yorkie said:

The Off Peak Return is a bit contentious.

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30907 said:

Assuming the blurb relating to Offpeak tickets on BRFares is correct, then overnight BoJ is allowed. However, it is likely to cause hassle on day 2 with gates/staff.

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This confuses me. Surely it is either valid or not?

Assuming an overnight break of journey is valid are we breaking at Waterloo and resuming at Blackfriars? (as if she continued in one day that is where the journey planner routes her). As we plan to make the most of it on Saturday afternoon in London (on Oyster) I assume she'd just need a single from Croydon to Blackfriars on the Sunday morning then resume while staying on the same train?

After my daily battles with the railway at the moment I am happy to accompany her and plead her case all the way as far as central London but not to see her all the way to Luton.

Fiyero said:

This confuses me. Surely it is either valid or not?

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The rail industry does not make this clear. The rules are open to interpretation.

Previous threads include:

• https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ourney-overnight-on-a-off-peak-return.146973/
• https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/off-peak-return-outward-journey.132276/
• https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/revised-nrcoc.52268/page-4#post-814401

Fiyero said:

Assuming an overnight break of journey is valid are we breaking at Waterloo and resuming at Blackfriars?

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Yes

yorkie said:

Yes

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I was suggesting breaking at Clapham Jn, assuming they were travelling direct to Croydon AND the strike timetable Winchester train stops there.

yorkie said:

The rail industry does not make this clear. The rules are open to interpretation.

Previous threads include:

• https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...ourney-overnight-on-a-off-peak-return.146973/
• https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/off-peak-return-outward-journey.132276/
• https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/revised-nrcoc.52268/page-4#post-814401

Click to expand...

Thank you. Its obviously been contentious for a while!

The trickiest bit is we have no SWR timetable for that weekend. I've looked at coaches and the prices are similar to the off peak return but more restrictive time wise so I'd much rather a train based solution!