Changing seat reservations on a Split ticket

[Tibbs]

Hi everyone,

I bought a return split ticket from Ealing Broadway (EAL) to Manchester Picadilly (MAN) via a ticket splitting app, which came as a EAL to Nuneaton (NUN) Advance and a NUN to MAN Open Single. Return was a MAN to NUN Advance, a NUN to Euston (EUS) Advance and a 1-3 travel Card to get me to EAL.

As often happens, I had 4 different seats reserved for out and return journeys. I don't usually worry about that, but as I was passing the Liverpool Street ticket office, I decided to call in and see if they could modify my booking so I had one seat for the journey. The gentleman behind the counter wouldn't entertain the idea, going to far as to tell me that because I was split ticketing I had to get off the train at Nuneaton and wait for the next train as I was 'getting a discount'. He was very definite on this and getting rather animated, so rather then argue the toss I headed back to EAL and try my luck there. The lady behind the counter did her best to help me. She said that she couldn't alter the advance tickets, but she could change the booking for the open single MAN to NUN. In doing so, telling me she could get me the seat next to the one I was sat on with the Advance ticket. Fine by me. She told me that she couldn't change the return journey as they were both Advance tickets.

She handed me back my tickets, with the additional reservation coupon. Upon examining it, she's given me a reservation for the new sear all the way from EUS to MAN! So my querstion - can ticket office staff change bookings on Advance tickets, and if they can, am I likely to have more luck changing my return leg at EUS or at MAN? I know MAN were happy to rebook my reservation on a later train when my train was cancelled a few months ago, I don't think they even looked at my ticket!

Thanks for your time.

 

[Adam Williams]

Generally (with the exception of e.g. set swaps) the train operators shouldn't be modifying reservations that have been made through a third party retailer, nor should they be issuing new reservations using the same ticket type code as an advance (as it'll adversely affect the yield).

There's nothing to stop them issuing you new reservations, however, using a walk-up ticket as the basis for booking it. Note that you can do this yourself via many TOC websites as well.

For next time: If your retailer of choice has a good customer support service, you might be able to drop them a message and ask if there's anything they can do with respect to trying to get you one through seat. Some retailers also have a seat picker service that would help you to try and improve the allocated seats on a self-service basis at the time of booking.

 

[lfc84]

Contact the train operating company on twitter or WhatsApp (if they use it) and ask them to modify the seat reservation. They might.

 

[Tibbs]

Thanks for the responses - I'll take my chances with the seats on the way home

 

[OscarH]

Contact the train operating company on twitter or WhatsApp (if they use it) and ask them to modify the seat reservation. They might.

As Adam suggests, I think you're more likely to have like just asking for a reservation without mentioning splits or the ticket you have. Some support agents might read a request to change tickets and just issue new ones, but I think you're more likely to be told no

 

[Bletchleyite]

As Adam suggests, I think you're more likely to have like just asking for a reservation without mentioning splits or the ticket you have. Some support agents might read a request to change tickets and just issue new ones, but I think you're more likely to be told no

Or use the LNER site (if travelling with them) or the GWR site (if travelling with anyone else, it's under My Account) to book one separately from the ticket. LNER will ask for a ticket number but just enter 0, it doesn't cross-reference with anything, it's just there to lightly discourage people from booking reservations on lots of different trains or similar.

 

[wellhouse]

LNER now seem to restrict you to making seat reservations on no more than 2 trains per day

 

[HarryF]

LNER now seem to restrict you to making seat reservations on no more than 2 trains per day

From my experience that has always been the case, which was slightly annoying (but understandable) when trying to book seats on a rover

 

[Haywain]

From my experience that has always been the case,

I'm also pretty sure it has always been the case.

 

[yorkie]

Hi everyone,

I bought a return split ticket from Ealing Broadway (EAL) to Manchester Picadilly (MAN) via a ticket splitting app, which came as a EAL to Nuneaton (NUN) Advance and a NUN to MAN Open Single. Return was a MAN to NUN Advance, a NUN to Euston (EUS) Advance and a 1-3 travel Card to get me to EAL.

As often happens, I had 4 different seats reserved for out and return journeys. I don't usually worry about that, but as I was passing the Liverpool Street ticket office, I decided to call in and see if they could modify my booking so I had one seat for the journey. The gentleman behind the counter wouldn't entertain the idea, going to far as to tell me that because I was split ticketing I had to get off the train at Nuneaton and wait for the next train as I was 'getting a discount'. He was very definite on this and getting rather animated, so rather then argue the toss I headed back to EAL and try my luck there. The lady behind the counter did her best to help me. She said that she couldn't alter the advance tickets, but she could change the booking for the open single MAN to NUN. In doing so, telling me she could get me the seat next to the one I was sat on with the Advance ticket. Fine by me. She told me that she couldn't change the return journey as they were both Advance tickets.

She handed me back my tickets, with the additional reservation coupon. Upon examining it, she's given me a reservation for the new sear all the way from EUS to MAN! So my querstion - can ticket office staff change bookings on Advance tickets, and if they can, am I likely to have more luck changing my return leg at EUS or at MAN? I know MAN were happy to rebook my reservation on a later train when my train was cancelled a few months ago, I don't think they even looked at my ticket!

Thanks for your time.

If you book with our split ticketing site, we have a seat selector. (Also, the forum benefits in a small way as the commission helps with our running costs).

If you are unable to get seats together when booking with us, the retailer who runs our site will sort them out for you (as mentioned above).

I'm also pretty sure it has always been the case.

I agree, based on my experience. I think the restrictions are reasonable; if planning multiple journeys, to simply revisit the next day.

 

[Tibbs]

If you book with our split ticketing site, we have a seat selector. (Also, the forum benefits in a small way as the commission helps with our running costs).

If you are unable to get seats together when booking with us, the retailer who runs our site will sort them out for you (as mentioned above).

I agree, based on my experience. I think the restrictions are reasonable; if planning multiple journeys, to simply revisit the next day.

I will use it next time