For the last 3-4 days I've been working on a trip, getting the route and logistics sorted out; finally tonight it has all come together.
Except....when I go to book the train tickets, half way through the website refuses to take my order and money and kicks me out!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I get back in, the trains and prices I want have disappeared and it now wants me to pay an extra £50 for the same journey.
So now I have the choice of paying more or having to rearrange everything.
Why oh why can't the website tell you how many seats are still available in a particular price range, so you don't have the frustration of going half way through the booking process before getting kicked out.
Oh well; try again tomorrow.
Yes, it is a rather unnecessary hassle all around. This residual stress that now surrounds us as we dig for the cheapest deals... not too bad for people who aren't working, but for those who are it can be too much.
ReplyDeleteAnother downside to supercheap deals is that the remainder of the seats are quite expensive, as I'm finding with some flights to Ireland right now!
If you are on old fashioned dial-up of course, these overblown train ticket sites can take forever, and my in-laws now just pop to the local station, discuss the matter there and purchase accordingly. Often a ticket clerk will know of good and cheap alternate routes and advise accordingly. I found this once in Reading station when I casually mentioned a trip to Edinburgh to my wife and the clerk just checked and offered me a ticket for £20 (at the time).
i find trying again later, or later days often rings up new prices. A bit fiddly but worth the effort sometimes
ReplyDelete