I hold a Standard Open Return for Cambridge-Gatwick Airport but my
return flight will be into Heathrow instead this Sunday. Is there an
inexpensive way to get from Heathrow to Cambridge utilizing the
cross-London journey I have already paid for?

The best thing I can think of is to Tube to a non-Zone 1 station where
cross-London transfers are allowed on NR, touch out on Oyster pre-pay
and then use my NR ticket to get back in and head to King's X. I
haven't looked up how much money this will save me, if any, or if it is
possible or even worth the difficulty of having to come to the surface.

Thanks for your help.
--
Michael Hoffman

"Michael Hoffman" wrote in message
ups.com...
I hold a Standard Open Return for Cambridge-Gatwick Airport but my
return flight will be into Heathrow instead this Sunday. Is there an
inexpensive way to get from Heathrow to Cambridge utilizing the
cross-London journey I have already paid for?

The best thing I can think of is to Tube to a non-Zone 1 station where
cross-London transfers are allowed on NR, touch out on Oyster pre-pay
and then use my NR ticket to get back in and head to King's X. I
haven't looked up how much money this will save me, if any, or if it is
possible or even worth the difficulty of having to come to the surface.

Why not just get the tube straight from Heathrow to Kings X, you don't need
to change trains, although it does take a while.

That's probably what I'll do, but that throws away all the cross-London
availability I have already paid for.

"Michael Hoffman" wrote in
ups.com:

I hold a Standard Open Return for Cambridge-Gatwick Airport but my
return flight will be into Heathrow instead this Sunday. Is there an
inexpensive way to get from Heathrow to Cambridge utilizing the
cross-London journey I have already paid for?

The best thing I can think of is to Tube to a non-Zone 1 station where
cross-London transfers are allowed on NR, touch out on Oyster pre-pay
and then use my NR ticket to get back in and head to King's X. I
haven't looked up how much money this will save me, if any, or if it is
possible or even worth the difficulty of having to come to the surface.

Thanks for your help.
--
Michael Hoffman


Don't forget that off-peak Oyster pre-pay (MF before 06.30 and after 1900,
all day weekends) is already very cheap, even it it does mean throwing away
part of your return half: Heathrow to Earls Court (Z2) is £1.30, all the
way to Kings Cross £2.00.

Hmmm... If I really wanted to save that 70p I could go to Earls Court
on the Picc, go back to West Brompton, leave the barriers with Oyster,
come back in with my GTW-CBG ticket, go back to Earls Court, and then
get back on the Piccadilly line again to KGX. That seems like quite a
bit of trouble for 70p.

Is that the best I can do or am I missing something?

If I really wanted to save that 70p I could go to Earls Court on the
Picc, go back to West Brompton...

Actually, I take that back since I don't think West Brompton is on a
permitted route from GTW-CBG.

--- Michael Hoffman said...

Hmmm... If I really wanted to save that 70p I could go to Earls Court
on the Picc, go back to West Brompton, leave the barriers with Oyster,
come back in with my GTW-CBG ticket, go back to Earls Court, and then
get back on the Piccadilly line again to KGX. That seems like quite a
bit of trouble for 70p.


Yes, all that fuss just to be on the right side of the zone boundary and
save a few pence. Yet more proof (as if more were needed!) that the
zones are a bad idea and should be scrapped!

Michael Hoffman wrote:
Hmmm... If I really wanted to save that 70p I could go to Earls
Court on the Picc, go back to West Brompton, leave the barriers
with Oyster, come back in with my GTW-CBG ticket, go back to Earls
Court, and then get back on the Piccadilly line again to KGX. That
seems like quite a bit of trouble for 70p.

Is that the best I can do or am I missing something?

I think what you're missing is that if that you're that concerned about
saving 70p or even a few pounds, you shouldn't really be flying out to
wherever you're going. How about a week in Hunstanton instead?

Anyway, why are you returning to Heathrow when the outbound flight was
from Gatwick? Does it save you, er, 70p?
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Richard J. wrote:

I think what you're missing is that if that you're that concerned
about saving 70p or even a few pounds, you shouldn't really be flying
out to wherever you're going. How about a week in Hunstanton instead?

I actually flew out for a funeral, but next time I will suggest that it
be moved across the Atlantic to Hunstanton. Thanks for your helpful
reply.

I'm returning to LHR because that's where a flight was available at the
appropriate time. The airline's fare was the same.

I don't think I'm doing the West Brompton thing but I was curious as to
whether there was a better way to do it.

"Michael Hoffman" wrote in message
ups.com...
That's probably what I'll do, but that throws away all the cross-London
availability I have already paid for.

Except that you will have to enter zone 1 on the tube
to be able to use it.

The ticket from heathrow to King's Cross costs the same as one
to Victoria (or vauxhall).

tim