On 19 June 2023 at 13:12 I purchased rail tickets from Gatwick Airport to Twickenham for 3 adults, intending to travel immediately and return a week later after 9:30 am.
Previous research using the Southern Railway website had indicated that this should have cost £66.75 with a group save discount and anytime day single tickets.
The machines at Gatwick offer a filter “Choose cheapest tickets”. However, selecting this filter does not offer the cheapest tickets, but rather only Anytime Standard tickets at a cost of £105.60.
There is no ticket office at Gatwick, but I asked Southern Railway staff why the machines don’t offer the cheapest tickets that are available via the online channel. No one could provide an explanation. After purchasing these tickets, it became clear that had we used credit cards, a far cheaper option would also have been charged.
I regard this as fraudulent. Why don't the machines offer the cheapest tickets?
Previous research using the Southern Railway website had indicated that this should have cost £66.75 with a group save discount and anytime day single tickets.
The machines at Gatwick offer a filter “Choose cheapest tickets”. However, selecting this filter does not offer the cheapest tickets, but rather only Anytime Standard tickets at a cost of £105.60.
There is no ticket office at Gatwick, but I asked Southern Railway staff why the machines don’t offer the cheapest tickets that are available via the online channel. No one could provide an explanation. After purchasing these tickets, it became clear that had we used credit cards, a far cheaper option would also have been charged.
I regard this as fraudulent. Why don't the machines offer the cheapest tickets?