Advance tickets question

[Scott]

A friend of mine has asked the seemingly simple question: how far
ahead to book to get the best value ticket. She is planning to travel
from Glasgow to Euston. I know that Advance is usually the cheapest
(if you are happy to be inflexible). I also know that Advance is
quota-limited, so the simple answer I suppose would be to purchase as
early as possible. However, what I don't know is whether more 'cheap'
tickets can be added nearer to departure if ticket sales are slow, so
could it ever be worth waiting until nearer the time? (I believe this
can happen with airline fares.) Any thoughts welcome.

[Bevan Price]

Post by Scott
A friend of mine has asked the seemingly simple question: how far
ahead to book to get the best value ticket. She is planning to travel
from Glasgow to Euston. I know that Advance is usually the cheapest
(if you are happy to be inflexible). I also know that Advance is
quota-limited, so the simple answer I suppose would be to purchase as
early as possible. However, what I don't know is whether more 'cheap'
tickets can be added nearer to departure if ticket sales are slow, so
could it ever be worth waiting until nearer the time? (I believe this
can happen with airline fares.) Any thoughts welcome.

Probably pot luck.

And check if there are any major "events" on or close to the proposed
date of travel -- if there are, advanced tickets could be very limited
and sell out quickly.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Scott
A friend of mine has asked the seemingly simple question: how far
ahead to book to get the best value ticket. She is planning to travel
from Glasgow to Euston. I know that Advance is usually the cheapest
(if you are happy to be inflexible). I also know that Advance is
quota-limited, so the simple answer I suppose would be to purchase as
early as possible. However, what I don't know is whether more 'cheap'
tickets can be added nearer to departure if ticket sales are slow, so
could it ever be worth waiting until nearer the time? (I believe this
can happen with airline fares.) Any thoughts welcome.

I'm pretty sure that, based on my anecdotal experiences, they don't
release extra tickets nearer to the departure time. Sometimes if
Standard Class has almost sold out, First Class AP tickets can be
cheaper.

[Tweed]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Scott
A friend of mine has asked the seemingly simple question: how far
ahead to book to get the best value ticket. She is planning to travel
from Glasgow to Euston. I know that Advance is usually the cheapest
(if you are happy to be inflexible). I also know that Advance is
quota-limited, so the simple answer I suppose would be to purchase as
early as possible. However, what I don't know is whether more 'cheap'
tickets can be added nearer to departure if ticket sales are slow, so
could it ever be worth waiting until nearer the time? (I believe this
can happen with airline fares.) Any thoughts welcome.

I'm pretty sure that, based on my anecdotal experiences, they don't
release extra tickets nearer to the departure time. Sometimes if
Standard Class has almost sold out, First Class AP tickets can be
cheaper.

Or depending on where in Glasgow your friend lives and exactly where they
want to end up in London, EasyJet from Glasgow to either Luton or Gatwick.
Their fares are all Advances (in effect, not name) and steadily rise is
price as you get closer to departure.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Tweed

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Scott
A friend of mine has asked the seemingly simple question: how far
ahead to book to get the best value ticket. She is planning to travel
from Glasgow to Euston. I know that Advance is usually the cheapest
(if you are happy to be inflexible). I also know that Advance is
quota-limited, so the simple answer I suppose would be to purchase as
early as possible. However, what I don't know is whether more 'cheap'
tickets can be added nearer to departure if ticket sales are slow, so
could it ever be worth waiting until nearer the time? (I believe this
can happen with airline fares.) Any thoughts welcome.

I'm pretty sure that, based on my anecdotal experiences, they don't
release extra tickets nearer to the departure time. Sometimes if
Standard Class has almost sold out, First Class AP tickets can be
cheaper.

Or depending on where in Glasgow your friend lives and exactly where they
want to end up in London, EasyJet from Glasgow to either Luton or Gatwick.
Their fares are all Advances (in effect, not name) and steadily rise is
price as you get closer to departure.

Also, based on my experience 18 months ago, it might be cheaper (and not
necessarily take much longer) to get a local train to Edinburgh, then an
AP ticket from there. Choice of Avanti, LNER and Lumo.

[Clive Page]

Post by Roland Perry
Also, based on my experience 18 months ago, it might be cheaper (and not
necessarily take much longer) to get a local train to Edinburgh, then an
AP ticket from there. Choice of Avanti, LNER and Lumo.

Or, based on a case reported in the press recently: maybe find a cheap
flight to somewhere in France/Spain, then another one from there to
London the same day.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Clive Page

Post by Roland Perry
Also, based on my experience 18 months ago, it might be cheaper (and
not necessarily take much longer) to get a local train to Edinburgh,
then an AP ticket from there. Choice of Avanti, LNER and Lumo.

Or, based on a case reported in the press recently: maybe find a cheap
flight to somewhere in France/Spain, then another one from there to
London the same day.

Those stories are extreme clickbait, and don't reflect the reality of
day to day travel. Also sounds like it would take a long time.