SWR Ticket difference; ‘Return’ vs ‘Open Return’ . Is it as obvious as it says it is on the tin?
Understanding the difference between ‘Return’ and ‘Open Return’ tickets on SWR: Is it really as simple as it seems?
I’m not particularly experienced with train tickets, so I thought I’d reach out for some guidance (hope you don’t mind!).
I’m planning to book a train on SWR from Waterloo (London) to Basingstoke for next week. The meeting I’ll be attending is about 2 hours and 15 minutes long, but it could end sooner or run over—who knows?
I want to avoid the stress of finishing my meeting on time to catch a specific train back or, on the flip side, sitting around waiting at the station if I book a fixed return time. Would an ‘Open Return’ ticket be the better choice?
Previously, when I took this trip, I opted for a ‘Return’ ticket and ended up finishing my meeting too early, which meant a lot of waiting at the station.
Am I missing something obvious here? I noticed that with an ‘Open Return,’ I can’t reserve a forward-facing seat. Is that the only downside?
Thanks in advance for your help!
It sounds like you’re trying to figure out the best ticket option for your trip to Basingstoke, and it’s good to clarify the differences between ‘Return’ and ‘Open Return’ tickets!
A ‘Return’ ticket usually means you need to travel on a specific train at a specific time for your return journey. If you finish your meeting early or your meeting runs late, you might find yourself needing to stick to that scheduled return time you chose, leading to the frustration of waiting at the station.
An ‘Open Return’ ticket, on the other hand, gives you flexibility. You can return at any time on the same day, which is perfect for your situation since your meeting duration is uncertain. This way, you won’t have to stress about timing, and you can leave when it suits you best.
Regarding seat reservations, you are correct that with an Open Return, you typically don’t reserve a seat in advance. However, on shorter journeys like Waterloo to Basingstoke, finding a seat shouldn’t be an issue, as trains usually have plenty of space, and you can sit wherever you find a free seat, whether it’s forwards or backwards facing.
So, based on what you’ve described, an Open Return ticket sounds like the better choice to give you peace of mind during your meeting. Happy travels!