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Book Advance Tickets
Save 47%* when you book in advance
Cheaper tickets, same great journey. Book further in advance on the LNER website and app than anywhere else.
An Advance ticket is a single ticket for a specific train that you book in advance. There's a limited number of these tickets on any given train and the earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets will be!
*Saving average based on all Standard Advance tickets bought on the LNER website and App at least four weeks before you travel vs buying any Standard ticket on the day you travel.
What are the advantages?
They’re usually our cheapest fares*
You can combine different types of single tickets to save money
You get an automatic seat reservation
You can book at least 12 weeks before you travel for most dates and routes (see current exclusions)
Alternatively, you can buy Advance tickets up to 5 minutes before the train starts its journey, meaning you can bag a bargain on the day.
*Prices normally increase closer to travel, however, occasionally prices may go down, for various reasons. An example of this is if there is a seat sale.
When can you use an Advance ticket?
Your ticket is only valid for travel on the specific date, time and train you select when you book
Advance tickets can’t be transferred, unfortunately, so if you miss your train you'll need to buy a new ticket
If there’s a delay and you miss your connection, you can take the next available train
Advance tickets FAQs
What are Advance tickets?
What are Advance tickets?
Advance tickets are single (one-way) tickets for a specific train, only available to be bought in advance. If you don't mind being flexible about your travel times, Advance tickets can save you a lot. They are normally our lowest available prices for a given journey. They tend to get snapped up pretty quickly, too, so you're best off booking ahead if you can.
You can buy Advance tickets for Standard or First Class - we'll allocate your seat when you book. This means you can book Standard Class for your outward journey and First Class for your return journey, and vice versa. (We're helpful like that.)
Even if you can only travel off-peak on one leg of your journey, you can still save money. Just buy the lowest price single ticket for every stage of your trip. We put Standard and First Advance tickets on sale at least 12 weeks before departure.
If you want to be the first to find out when cheap tickets become available, sign up for our ticket alerts service here.
What happens if disruption affects my travel plans?
What happens if disruption affects my travel plans?
If you decide not to travel due to disruption, you can claim a refund on any unused tickets.
If you decided to travel and have been delayed, you may be able to claim Delay Repay.
Is it possible to book a First Class Advance ticket?
Is it possible to book a First Class Advance ticket?
Yes it is, subject to availability. If travelling by LNER, First Advance tickets also let you use any of our First Class lounges for free.
Can I reserve a seat with an Advance ticket?
Can I reserve a seat with an Advance ticket?
Yes, you’ll automatically be reserved a seat for an LNER journey when you book any Advance ticket and there are reservable seats available. Other train companies may have different reservation policies. Please check with the relevant train companies before travelling.
Are there discounts with Advance tickets for children?
Are there discounts with Advance tickets for children?
Yes, there is a 50% discount for children aged 5-15 inclusive, and under 5s travel free. Read more about travelling with children.
Can I get a discount on Advance tickets with a Railcard?
Can I get a discount on Advance tickets with a Railcard?
Yes, you can save up to a third of the ticket price with a Railcard. Find out more about Railcards.
Can I break my journey if I have an Advance ticket?
Can I break my journey if I have an Advance ticket?
No. You have to travel on the trains you chose when you booked.
Do I need to book in advance to buy an Advance ticket?
Do I need to book in advance to buy an Advance ticket?
Yes - you need to book at least 5 minutes before the train starts its journey.
If I buy an Advance ticket, can I change my travel plans?
If I buy an Advance ticket, can I change my travel plans?
Advance tickets are non refundable. However, you can change the date and time of your ticket before your scheduled departure.
A £10 admin fee will apply.
Please check our Refunds page to see more information about our refund policy.
Are Advance tickets refundable?
Are Advance tickets refundable?
Advance tickets are not refundable. However, you can change your journey to another date.
A £10 admin fee will apply.
Please check our Refunds page to see if more information about our refund policy.
When will your Advance tickets be on sale?
When will your Advance tickets be on sale?
Why aren't our tickets on sale for your dates yet?
We try to put our advance tickets on sale as far in advance as possible to help you plan your travel and make sure you can take advantage of cheaper Advance tickets.
Sometimes, we have to hold some dates back if there is engineering planned that could impact the timetable to prevent us from selling tickets for trains that might not run.
Create a Ticket Alert for Advance tickets
We recommend that you create a Ticket Alert to find out when our Advance tickets are on sale.
When can I use an Advance ticket?
When can I use an Advance ticket?
Advance tickets are our cheapest ticket offered. Similar to when you buy an airline ticket, they are linked to a specific train time and seat number, so can't be used for any other train time or journey.
They are the best ticket to buy for your journey because they:
Are often cheaper* than other tickets
Always come with a seat reservation
You can combine different types of single tickets to save money
You can buy LNER Advance tickets on our website and on our app first, so you always know you're getting the best deal when you book directly with us!
Please note, you will still see and be able to purchase return tickets available for other train operators, as well as a small amount of LNER journeys.
