NS advance ticket discount.

[citycat]

Does anyone know if NS has ended the advance tickets with discount scheme? I don’t see the option on the app. Thanks

 

[DanielB]

NS didn't end the scheme, but be aware you'll only see the discounts in the journey planner when planning at least one day in advance.
Also I just noticed that no advance tickets might be available on routes with altered timetables due to engineering works.

Some stations are excluded as well: you cannot buy a PrijsTijd Deal to Schiphol Airport for example. Though a trick is to plan to one station after the airport: for example Rotterdam Central - Schiphol Airport would cost € 15,40 one-way 2nd class full fare (+ €3 HSL-supplement) and no discount available. However, when you'd plan Rotterdam Central - Amsterdam Zuid for the last week of january I get advance tickets with 60% discount reducing the price from € 17,00 to € 7,00. So for a longer distance but still cheaper and nothing will prevent you from leaving the train at Schiphol.

 

[Watershed]

NS didn't end the scheme, but be aware you'll only see the discounts in the journey planner when planning at least one day in advance.
Also I just noticed that no advance tickets might be available on routes with altered timetables due to engineering works.

Some stations are excluded as well: you cannot buy a PrijsTijd Deal to Schiphol Airport for example. Though a trick is to plan to one station after the airport: for example Rotterdam Central - Schiphol Airport would cost € 15,40 one-way 2nd class full fare (+ €3 HSL-supplement) and no discount available. However, when you'd plan Rotterdam Central - Amsterdam Zuid for the last week of january I get advance tickets with 60% discount reducing the price from € 17,00 to € 7,00. So for a longer distance but still cheaper and nothing will prevent you from leaving the train at Schiphol.

Isn't there an airport surcharge? Or is that another airport I'm thinking of...?

 

[DanielB]

Isn't there an airport surcharge? Or is that another airport I'm thinking of...?

That's in Brussels. Schiphol Airport has no surcharge luckily as it is a major interchange for domestic travel as well. I usually prefer changing at Schiphol instead of Amsterdam Zuid (a noisy station in the middle of the motorway)

 

[rvdborgt]

That's in Brussels. Schiphol Airport has no surcharge luckily as it is a major interchange for domestic travel as well. I usually prefer changing at Schiphol instead of Amsterdam Zuid (a noisy station in the middle of the motorway)

For changing trains you don't need to pay any surcharge. Not in Brussels Airport in any case.

 

[citycat]

Ahh, I've just found the problem. I mistakenly put in March instead of February. Now that I've corrected the month the discount fares are now appearing. Looks like you cannot book too far in advance.

Bedankt voor je hulp DanielB

 

[rvdborgt]

Ahh, I've just found the problem. I mistakenly put in March instead of February. Now that I've corrected the month the discount fares are now appearing. Looks like you cannot book too far in advance.

I was about to ask for route, date and departure time... because to look at any fare question seriously, you need that as a minimum.

 

[citycat]

I was about to ask for route, date and departure time... because to look at any fare question seriously, you need that as a minimum.

I have sorted it but to satisfy your curiosity, it was Woerden to Amsterdam Sloterdijk on Sunday 9th February departing at 12:33.

It's the start of a journey I'm making back to England via the DFDS ferry from Ijmuiden to Newcastle. Rather than travel to Amsterdam Centraal and taking the dedicated DFDS transfer coach which costs ten euros for the transfer, I thought I'd save a few euros by going to Sloterdijk with a discounted ticket and then take the local bus to Ijmuiden. Then it's a 20 minute walk down to the ferry terminal for a quiet check in and boarding, beating the throng of passengers that will be coming in from Amsterdam city centre on the dedicated coaches.

Over the next couple of days (with nights spent in Newcastle and London), I would take the LNER train from Newcastle to London and then the overnight Flixbus from London to Rotterdam and back to Woerden.

 

[Struner]

[…]
It's the start of a journey I'm making back to England via the DFDS ferry from Ijmuiden to Newcastle. Rather than travel to Amsterdam Centraal and taking the dedicated DFDS transfer coach which costs ten euros for the transfer, I thought I'd save a few euros by going to Sloterdijk with a discounted ticket and then take the local bus to IJmuiden. Then it's a 20 minute walk down to the ferry terminal for a quiet check in and boarding, beating the throng of passengers that will be coming in from Amsterdam city centre on the dedicated coaches.
[…]

out of curiosity,
I hope to take the transfer bus A’dam CS-IJmuiden DFDS sometime next June. Are those buses really busy?
Thanks,
—-Peter.

 

[MicroLithium]

out of curiosity,
I hope to take the transfer bus A’dam CS-IJmuiden DFDS sometime next June. Are those buses really busy?
Thanks,
—-Peter.

I did that journey back in October, and although well used there was plenty of space for everyone who had booked the transfer. There were 3-4 coaches waiting, with space for luggage underneath. In comparison the Newcastle-Shields transfer bus is an old double decker with limited luggage space, so not doing that again - taxi from the station would be easier and not much more expensive between 2

 

[Struner]

I did that journey back in October, and although well used there was plenty of space for everyone who had booked the transfer. There were 3-4 coaches waiting, with space for luggage underneath. In comparison the Newcastle-Shields transfer bus is an old double decker with limited luggage space, so not doing that again - taxi from the station would be easier and not much more expensive between 2

thanks for the hint!