Can an Avanti Super off-peak ticket be exchanged for a Chiltern Super off-peak ticket

[philosopher]

I have got an Avanti super off-peak ticket from London to Birmingham in which the outward ticket has already been used. I did originally intend to buy the Chiltern super off-peak ticket, but ended up buying the the Avanti super off-peak ticket because of the flooding issues at Dorridge. The issue with the Avanti super off-peak ticket is that I can’t return to London before 13:00, which is later than I originally intended to. I was originally intending to get the 09:55 Chiltern train back to London arriving at 11:40. So my question is could the return Avanti super off-peak ticket be exchanged to a Chiltern super off-peak ticket to allow me to return to London earlier?

 

[NSEFAN]

I have got an Avanti super off-peak ticket from London to Birmingham in which the outward ticket has already been used. I did originally intend to buy the Chiltern super off-peak ticket, but ended up buying the the Avanti super off-peak ticket because of the flooding issues at Dorridge. The issue with the Avanti super off-peak ticket is that I can’t return to London before 13:00, which is later than I originally intended to. I was originally intending to get the 09:55 Chiltern train back to London arriving at 11:40. So my question is could the return Avanti super off-peak ticket be exchanged to a Chiltern super off-peak ticket to allow me to return to London earlier?

Is the fare saying "Avanti only"? If so, it cannot be changed ('excessed' to another operator).

Route restrictions, I.E. 'Via somewhere' can be changed by a ticket office.

 

[philosopher]

Is the fare saying "Avanti only"? If so, it cannot be changed ('excessed' to another operator).

Route restrictions, I.E. 'Via somewhere' can be changed by a ticket office.

The ticket I bought is ‘Any Permitted’, however I do know the Chiltern super-off peak ticket is ‘via High Wycombe’.

 

[NSEFAN]

The ticket I bought is ‘Any Permitted’, however I do know the Chiltern super-off peak ticket is ‘via High Wycombe’.

In that case it is a change of route excess, which can indeed be done by the ticket office. Any Permitted would be valid via High Wycombe, but it looks like the 'Via High Wycombe' has less onerous time restrictions.

Note that you won't get any money back if the via High Wycombe fare is cheaper!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Is the return portion of a London Terminals ->Birmingham Stns 'Super Off Peak Return' (SSR) route "Any permitted", priced at £38-00, not automatically valid on Chiltern Trains via High Wycombe, given that the route "via High Wycombe" equivalent (OPR) is cheaper at £33.10?

Key question therefore seems to be which ticket type would allow an arrival into Marylebone before 1300.

 

[Merseysider]

The Any Permitted fare bars arrival into MYB until 13:00. This is valid to travel on both Avanti & Chiltern.

The via High Wycombe fare bars arrival into MYB until 11:30.

However, as the via High Wycombe fare is cheaper, no excess fare is payable (you could potentially be issued a zero fare excess but the barriers & guard will most likely just accept the ticket).

 

[philosopher]

In that case it is a change of route excess, which can indeed be done by the ticket office. Any Permitted would be valid via High Wycombe, but it looks like the 'Via High Wycombe' has less onerous time restrictions.

Note that you won't get any money back if the via High Wycombe fare is cheaper!

Ok thanks. The ticket I have is an E-ticket bought through the Avanti App. Is that likely to cause any problems when requesting a change of route excess?

 

[Merseysider]

No change of route excess is necessary, the ticket is already valid via High Wycombe.

Just scan it at the barriers and make your way onto the train.

 

[NSEFAN]

No change of route excess is necessary, the ticket is already valid via High Wycombe.

Just scan it at the barriers and make your way onto the train.

The issue seems to be the time restrictions for the OP. The any permitted has harsher restrictions on the super off peak compared to via High Wycombe.

I am not sure how the railway would handle a ticket on the avanti app. One view is that a ticket is a ticket, regardless of the medium. Does the app allow you to excess the fare?

Also, is it still the case that the customer is entitled to a change of route excess on the train? If so, then would simply boarding at Birmingham and making the journey be a valid thing to do?

 

[Merseysider]

The issue seems to be the time restrictions for the OP. The any permitted has harsher restrictions on the super off peak compared to via High Wycombe.

As the cheaper fare is valid on the train they wish to travel on, no excess fare is payable.

I am not sure how the railway would handle a ticket on the avanti app. One view is that a ticket is a ticket, regardless of the medium. Does the app allow you to excess the fare?

The app doesn’t let the user excess, but guards may.

But this is academic anyway, as the ticket will be accepted.