Mobile ticket - unable to use

[Pumperkin]

Hi

A family member has bought Mobile tickets through Trainline however his phone does not support the app (old SE, cannot update to new OS so cannot get the app).

Is there a way to convert this to either an E-ticket (so I can print it) or even TOD so I can sort at a station for him?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is the ticket an Advance? If so it could be refunded under the Travel with Confidence guarantee and repurchased for collection instead, though possibly this might be at a higher fare. I don't think it's possible to change the fulfilment method once purchased otherwise.

 

[pnjman]

Hi

A family member has bought Mobile tickets through Trainline however his phone does not support the app (old SE, cannot update to new OS so cannot get the app).

Is there a way to convert this to either an E-ticket (so I can print it) or even TOD so I can sort at a station for him?

Do you mean an iPhone SE? If so even the 1st generation supports the latest version of iOS (15.4.1), I've updated one this week!

 

[James H]

Or is it the case that the phone doesn’t have enough empty storage space to install the newer OS?

 

[Pumperkin]

Hi apologies it's actually an iPhone 5c... don't ask!

Have now resolved. Turns out you can't cancel, but you can amend. I amended to exactly the same journey, and selected TOD. It will refund card the original amount and take a new payment. What a palaver, but hopefully this might help someone else

 

[miklcct]

Is the ticket an Advance? If so it could be refunded under the Travel with Confidence guarantee and repurchased for collection instead, though possibly this might be at a higher fare. I don't think it's possible to change the fulfilment method once purchased otherwise.

The easiest way will be to lend her a spare phone for that journey.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Why not just print the eTicket?

 

[mikeg]

Why not just print the eTicket?

That assumes it's a proper e ticket and not some horrible m ticket

 

[Pumperkin]

Why not just print the eTicket?

It's a mobile ticket (yes, I know... I have tried to explain the difference to family member).

AFAIK, mobile tickets have to be shown physically on device, leaving you at the mercy of signal and battery life. I do not personally use trainline, having heard nothing good about them on here over the years.

Thankfully all sorted now anyway

 

[Bletchleyite]

Hi apologies it's actually an iPhone 5c... don't ask!

Have now resolved. Turns out you can't cancel, but you can amend. I amended to exactly the same journey, and selected TOD. It will refund card the original amount and take a new payment. What a palaver, but hopefully this might help someone else

One upside of Trainline (and sites based on it) is that it does amendments by a process of refund-and-reissue rather than by excessing the original as is normally meant to be done. This does allow some normally-not-allowed amendments (e.g. change of TOC) to be made. Good that you've found another one

 

[yorkie]

m-tickets are absolutely awful; I avoid them at all costs.

I thought the rail industry was supposed to be phasing them out, but progress on this seems to be painfully slow.

e-tickets are completely different; they are simply PDFs that can either be printed or shown on any electronic device capable of displaying PDF files.

I do occasionally use Trainline (for same-day purchases, using the app, for which there is no fee, and where I want an "open" return without having to select an itinerary on the return leg) but when I do, I carefully look to make sure it's not an m-ticket. Otherwise, I use Trainsplit which does NOT offer m-tickets, and so I can relax in the knowledge I will get proper e-tickets (unless TOD is the only option).

Anyway glad you got it sorted

 

[[.n]]

I do occasionally use Trainline (for same-day purchases, using the app, for which there is no fee, and where I want an "open" return without having to select an itinerary on the return leg) but when I do, I carefully look to make sure it's not an m-ticket.

Out of interest why is this a problem, meaning you have to use the Trainline app, I often buy "open" return tickets using a different app and if "forced" to choose a return journey before being able to check out, just pick any arbitrary one - AFAIK it doesn't mean I have to use that journey. Pretty similar to how I will pick an arbitrary outward journey time too (bearing in mind any time restriction - but even an Anytime ticket "forces" a time choice in most apps). I'd actually like an app/web site that didn't make me choose a timed itinerary as my first choice - which might exist - maybe as advanced options I've never explored!)

 

[miklcct]

I'd actually like an app/web site that didn't make me choose a timed itinerary as my first choice - which might exist - maybe as advanced options I've never explored!)

Any MixingDeck website will do, such as https://tickets.gwr.com/

 

[Bill57p9]

Slightly off topic, however I regretted buying an mTicket, using the ScotRail app, in late March.
My EMR service was cancelled and claiming Delay Repay was very painful and protracted with EMR not having any obvious plain language contact point (phone, email, comments box in Delay Repay system, etc.) for Delay Repay queries.

Really put me off mTickets

 

[Wallsendmag]

Slightly off topic, however I regretted buying an mTicket, using the ScotRail app, in late March.
My EMR service was cancelled and claiming Delay Repay was very painful and protracted with EMR not having any obvious plain language contact point (phone, email, comments box in Delay Repay system, etc.) for Delay Repay queries.

Really put me off mTickets

You shouldn’t have to be put off mTickets just don’t use them to start with eTickets are much more customer friendly

 

[Trackman]

Have now resolved. Turns out you can't cancel, but you can amend. I amended to exactly the same journey, and selected TOD. It will refund card the original amount and take a new payment. What a palaver, but hopefully this might help someone else

A screen should really appear telling you the options rather than default to m-ticket as people will just see the 'buy now' option or whatever it is on Trainline (which I don't use).
It happened to my dear old mum, who rung me up in a right state about it!

 

[miklcct]

A screen should really appear telling you the options rather than default to m-ticket as people will just see the 'buy now' option or whatever it is on Trainline (which I don't use).
It happened to my dear old mum, who rung me up in a right state about it!

Why isn't the default e-ticket?

 

[[.n]]

Any MixingDeck website will do, such as https://tickets.gwr.com/

Unless I'm missing something - those still want me to choose a specific outward (and return journey time) to obtain a ticket

I want something that lets me choose (the first date of validity) - no times etc, and then

Bournemouth - Waterloo

(and then show me the various options - without timing - so yes I get its more of an advanced feature)

Anytime Return / Off Peak Return / Anytime Day Return / Whatever the other options are

 

[Bletchleyite]

Pick any train for the walk up ticket type you want, and ignore it.

 

[miklcct]

Unless I'm missing something - those still want me to choose a specific outward (and return journey time) to obtain a ticket

I want something that lets me choose (the first date of validity) - no times etc, and then

Bournemouth - Waterloo

(and then show me the various options - without timing - so yes I get its more of an advanced feature)

Anytime Return / Off Peak Return / Anytime Day Return / Whatever the other options are

It's because you have chosen an advance fare. If you select an off-peak fare you don't need to select a journey to buy a ticket.

 

[[.n]]

Pick any train for the walk up ticket type you want, and ignore it.

That's what I already do

It's because you have chosen an advance fare. If you select an off-peak fare you don't need to select a journey to buy a ticket.

Nope - I'm not choosing an advance fare

 

[Wallsendmag]

Pick any train for the walk up ticket type you want, and ignore it.

If the TOC has reservations set to compulsory you'll need to select a service.

 

[Trackman]

Why isn't the default e-ticket?

I does on the website, but the mobile app I assume it defaults to m-ticket.
This is unlike Northern's website (which I found out a few weeks ago) which defaults to a m-ticket with no e-ticket option.

 

[mmh]

The solution to nonsense like having to select a service is to buy at the station.

 

[miklcct]

That's what I already do


Nope - I'm not choosing an advance fare

I am able to continue to the buy step without selecting a particular service using MixingDeck - in fact it tells me to select a service only if I want to make a reservation. Have you noticed it?