Reply to: Sleeper Train

[cojak]

I travel to Edinburgh via Flybe from East Midlands Airport, but I'd do CFL's route if I was close to Heathrow.

[clearedforlanding]

How do you book those?

I have PMed you. It is worth pointing out that you can by tickets between the UK and and European Country or Region (e.g. Southern Europe) as well as UK-UK.

What is Flight Pass?

Flight Pass allows you to avoid future price increases by purchasing a number of British Airways flights in advance and exchanging them for ticketed flights when you want to travel.
You can choose from destinations across the British Airways UK domestic and short haul network to and from London Heathrow or London City. Flight Pass is currently only available for travelling in economy (UK Domestic and Euro Traveller cabins).
You can customise your Flight Pass to suit your travel needs and share the tickets with nominated family members and friends. It makes planning and booking your flights quicker, more convenient and affordable.

Flight Pass benefits

Lock in the price you pay
No need to worry about future fare increases, e.g. for peak periods like Christmas and school holidays. Even if the market fare increases, you only pay the pre-agreed fare with your Flight Pass.

Save time and effort

Save time and effort in searching flight deals and enjoy peace of mind with more convenient and relaxed travel planning and booking.

Personalised for you

Customise your Flight Pass to suit your travel needs:
• Add one or multiple destinations you want to fly to. Alternatively, you can select an entire Travel Zone, such as France or Italy.
• Choose the number of flights you need - the more flights you add to your Flight Pass, the less you pay per flight.
• Select your travel period, which can be anytime from one to 12 months.
• Choose up to six people who can book and fly with your Flight Pass.
• Define your Advance Booking, i.e. the minimum amount of days before flight departure you need to book your flight. For example, a 30 days Advance Booking allows you to book your flight anytime up to 30 days before you want to fly (subject to availability). The earlier you book, the cheaper it gets.

Freedom Option

For more flexibility, choose the Freedom Option and book any available flight up to four hours before departure. It also offers the following extra benefits:
• Book any available flight up to four hours before departure
• Change the date and time of travel for a ticketed booking up to four hours before departure (subject to availability)
• Add your allocated passengers to your Flight Pass at any time.

Pay only for four flights and rest later

Pay only for four flights upfront and the rest later in easy instalments.
The Flight Pass price includes the base fare, taxes and fees for all flights purchased. There is a £5 administrative fee for Optiontown that is charged for every payment transaction. There might also be a surcharge if you pay by credit card.

Book last available seat

Book any flight until the last available seat according to your pre-selected travel criteria, like travel period and Advance Booking.

Enjoy the same travel experience with British Airways

You can enjoy exactly the same travel experience and services British Airways offers. For example, you can request a special meal as per your dietary requirements.

No blackout dates or hidden restrictions

There are no blackout periods or hidden restrictions, such as minimum or maximum stay. You can just book as per your pre-selected Flight Pass features.

[Incognito]

If it helps you it is possible to flat cost tickets with BA for UK - UK segment from 38GBP provided you buy 12 tickets at a time. This price remains the same regardless of peak travel hours / school holidays etc.

If you are on a direct airport pair, I would vote for this way of travel. HBO (except T5) with a printed boarding pass I aim to arrive 30 mins before departure in UK.

The Sleeper is a nice one off experience, but not one I would consider a business tool.

Let me know if I can help.

How do you book those?

[CoolCat]

If it helps you it is possible to flat cost tickets with BA for UK - UK segment from 38GBP provided you buy 12 tickets at a time. This price remains the same regardless of peak travel hours / school holidays etc.

If you are on a direct airport pair, I would vote for this way of travel. HBO (except T5) with a printed boarding pass I aim to arrive 30 mins before departure in UK.

The Sleeper is a nice one off experience, but not one I would consider a business tool.

Let me know if I can help.

I've done Euston to Scotland on the sleeper lots of times, mostly holidays but some business. Always in first (cabin to yourself). I enjoy it, and if you are starting and ending near the stations its better than flying. Especially if you're going to a station away from main airports. It is however far too expensive for what it is. Try it once or twice and see how you feel.

[clearedforlanding]

If it helps you it is possible to flat cost tickets with BA for UK - UK segment from 38GBP provided you buy 12 tickets at a time. This price remains the same regardless of peak travel hours / school holidays etc.

If you are on a direct airport pair, I would vote for this way of travel. HBO (except T5) with a printed boarding pass I aim to arrive 30 mins before departure in UK.

The Sleeper is a nice one off experience, but not one I would consider a business tool.

Let me know if I can help.

[Pherlopolus]

In a previous Job I had to travel Telford - Glasgow a few times, and doing the sums the cost was the same car/rail/air, the elapsed time favoured flying by about 30 mins. The Holiday Inn at the airport can be ridiculously cheap (I had a £29 room once, with free wifi, free breakfast and a bottle of red wine)

Being a bit of a train nut I'd like to do the Caledonian upto the highlands, but at £135 each way to guarantee privacy it seems a bit steep to use each week, and the idea of using a reclining seat fills me with dread!

TL: DR - fly and buy a cheap car to keep up there...

[Pogle]

I worked in Glasgow for a while. Mancheter to Glasgow by road in 2hrs 59mins -wonderful drive once you get past Preston the motorway is empty

I also flew a few times - cheeper than you'd think, but you have to factor in the time hanging around at the airport prior to flying.

[psychocandy]

Dont megabus do a sleeper bus now? megabusGold | Luxury Coach Travel Day and Night | megabusGold.com

[psychocandy]

Looks like there is a scotrail sleeper which isn't cheap especially if you don't want to share with a stranger...

Pretty sure they stopped that. i.e. You can't book a shared room and share with a stranger. Its got to be a two person booking for this.

[SlipTheJab]

I did the sleeper train thing in the '70s.
You know we have airports now?

I ain't getting on no plane fool!

[RSoles]

I did the sleeper train thing in the '70s.
You know we have airports now?

[mudskipper]

TCD (RIP) did the sleeper train (aka the "Freedom Express") one way every week for the best part of 13 years. I guess it comes down to what suits you.

[stek]

Looks like there is a scotrail sleeper which isn't cheap especially if you don't want to share with a stranger...

I was on the Trans Siberian with a guy who thought I was French, and that was First Class, luckily he got off at Miass....

[SlipTheJab]

Looks like there is a scotrail sleeper which isn't cheap especially if you don't want to share with a stranger...

[stek]

I've been sounded out about a possible contract in that their Scotland, role sounds good but the commute doesn't, amyone ever commuted from South/Mid England by sleeper train? Thinking it would kill 2 birds with one stone, get the sleeper up on Sunday and back again on Friday, with a B&B midweek.

I did Bolton to SW Scotland for a while - 129 miles, was still quicker to get there than 19 miles to Altrincham.

Not sure there are any sleepers anymore, I've done Orient Express Paris - Vienna (could'nt sleep) and Moscow - Vladivostok, got off at Urals, three nights no sleep so I'd say forget sleep trains....