The Anonymous Widower

Gatwick Airport – 23rd November 2023

I went to Gatwick Airport to see the new railway station.

Note.

1. As at Reading and Leeds stations, space has been created by building a wide concourse over the tracks.
2. The experience certainly seemed better.
3. Most platforms have up and down escalators and lifts.
4. There were still a few things  that needed to be finished.

But for me, as a man with a Freedom Pass and a Senior Railcard, the ticketing to Gatwick is still a pain.

• If I go to Heathrow or London City, I use my Freedom Pass to get to the Airport.
• If I go to Eurostar, I use my Freedom Pass to get to St. Pancras station.
• If I go to Stansted, I use my Freedom Pass to get to Liverpool Street station and buy a ticket for Stanstead Express.

If I go to Gatwick, Luton or Southend airports, I use my Freedom Pass to get to a station with a Booking Office and then buy an extension ticket from the Zone 6 boundary to the airport.

I believe there are three solutions.

Make It Possible To Link A Bank Card To A Freedom Pass

It should be possible to do something like the following.

• Touch in at Moorgate.
• Take the Elizabeth Line to Farringdon.
• Take Thames to Gatwick Airport.
• Check out at Gatwick Airport.

The credit card associated with the Freedom Pass would then be charged the fee for between the Zone 6 boundary and Gatwick Airport.

The credit card would be entered through the Freedom Pass web site.

On a related matter I believe that the Freedom Pass web site could be a nice little earner for Transport for London, by doing the following.

• Selling rail tickets on a best-priced basis. Savings are to be had by selling tickets for Freedom Pass holders from the Zone 6 boundary.
• Managing Railcards.
• Selling Transport for London merchandise.

Nobody would pay more than they do now, but Transport for London would pick up some commission from selling tickets.

Develop A Flexible App That Works With A Freedom Pass And Phone Payments

Similar to the first option, but the app charges accordingly.

Put Gatwick Airport In Zone 6

The management of Gatwick Airport might like to attract more travellers, so they would pay from the Zone 6 boundary for Freedom Farm users.

Conclusion

I would find the first two options acceptable, providing the charges were no more than now!

November 24, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Contactless Ticketing, Flying, Freedom Pass, Gatwick Airport, Gatwick Airport Station, Luton Airport, Railcard, Southend Airport, Ticketing