Advance Purchase Tickets – Change of Travel Plans Admin Fee 27 October 2020

The DfT has announced changes to Advance Purchase Ticket terms and conditions in areas where a resurgence of Covid-19 cases has been recorded, and where that impedes rail travel to and from those areas.

The levels of lockdown in England have been designated as follows:

• Medium (Tier 1) – Areas of England that do not include restrictions on travel.
• High (Tier 2) – Areas of England where the rate of infection is increasing and restrictions on travel may be imposed.
• High (Tier 3) – Areas of England where the rate of infection is extremely high and travel to and from that area should be limited to essential journeys.

Journeys to and within Wales, and journeys to the central belt area of Scotland, should be treated as being High (Tier 2) areas.

Medium (Tier 1)
There will be no changes to current retail policies for Advance Purchase tickets to travel to and from stations and areas in Medium risk areas.

High (Tier 2)
When it is announced than an area will move from Medium to High, customers that have booked Advance Purchase tickets, for travel to or from a station in a newly designated High area, can request a change in travel plan free of charge.

Customers must request the change before the original travel date and should note that if the new tickets are more expensive when the client requests a change of travel plan, then the client will have to pay the difference.

These offers will be backdated in situations where restrictions are already in place and will apply to future announcements if further restrictions are introduced, for Advance Purchase tickets purchased before an announcement.

Very High (Tier 3)
When it is announced than an area will move from Medium or High to Very High, customers that have booked Advance Purchase tickets, for travel to or from a station in a newly designated Very High area, can request a change in travel plan free of charge.

Customers must request the change before the original travel date and should note that if the new tickets are more expensive when the client requests a change of travel plan, then the client will have to pay the difference.

These offers will be backdated in situations where restrictions are already in place and will apply to future announcements if further restrictions are introduced, for Advance Purchase tickets purchased before an announcement.

Anytime, Off-Peak, and Super Off-Peak Refunds
Normal administration fees for all other ticket types will remain in place for any tickets purchased and an admin fee of no more than £10 will apply to refunds.

RDG Travel Agents Team