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How use off-peak pricing to save on American Airlines awards

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here .

While American Airlines isn't known for having the most reliable award availability or the best rates, there are a few different discount programs that travelers can use to reduce the price of their award flights.

A new Economy Web Specials program offers domestic flights as cheap as 5,000 miles each way as well as discounted awards to the Caribbean, Europe, South America and more .

But today we are focusing on the original AAdvantage mileage-saving program: MileSAAver Off Peak. During select periods, AAdvantage members automatically save up to 25% off the standard economy award prices between select regions – no promo code needed.

Now is a sweet spot in the American Airlines AAdvantage award chart, because as of Sept. 7, seven of eight regions are eligible as off-peak awards.

Let's take a look at when, where and how you can get these discounts.

Regions and rates

Eight of the 13 regions on American Airlines' award chart have off-peak rates. You won't find off-peak rates for intra-U.S., Canada, Alaska, South America Region 2 (Argentina, most of Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay) or the South Pacific.

However, economy-class award flights to anywhere else that American Airlines flies are discounted at some part of the year. Note that the off-peak dates can vary whether you're leaving the U.S. for that region or coming back to the U.S..

All of these award rates are detailed on the AAdvantage award chart :

Limitations

Before we get into the details for each region, let's run through some of the general restrictions. First of all, you're going to need to find saver award availability on American Airlines to get the off-peak pricing. And with American Airlines, that's not always easy.

Off-peak pricing is only available for flights between the contiguous 48 states and select regions, and almost all of the regions require you to only fly American Airlines flights. So, you won't be able to connect through to another destination served by a partner airline. That's a bummer when trying to visit secondary cities that American Airlines may only operate seasonally to or not at all.

• Off-peak rate: 22,500 miles each way vs. 30,000 standard MileSAAver rate
• Off-peak travel dates: November 1 to December 14 and January 10 to March 14
• Available on Oneworld partners? Yes — but beware of high taxes/fees
• Destinations to consider: Rome (FCO), Milan (MXP), Prague (PRG), London(LHR), Zurich (ZRH)

The biggest discount by both percentage and total discount is between U.S. and Europe. For 3.5 months out of the year, you can save 7,500 miles each way — a 25% discount off the standard 30,000 miles each way.

For some European cities, there's definitely a reason that November-March is an off-peak time, especially the further north you go. During the peak of winter, daylight hours are going to be a lot shorter and the temperatures much colder. However, don't assume "off peak" means "miserable" for all options; fall and spring can be wonderful times to visit countries in southern Europe, such as Italy and Spain.

AA doesn't add fuel surcharges and other fees to awards on AA-operated flights. Flying to Europe on Oneworld partner Finnair also won't incur these fees. However, booking British Airways- and Iberia-operated flights across the Atlantic means you'll be subject to costly fuel surcharges. For the cheapest out-of-pocket costs, limit your award searches to cities where AA flies, including:

• Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
• Barcelona, Spain (BCN)
• Dublin, Ireland (DUB)
• Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
• London, England (LHR)
• Madrid, Spain (MAD)
• Manchester, England (MAN)
• Milan, Italy (MXP)
• Munich, Germany (MUC)
• Paris, France (CDG)
• Rome, Italy (FCO)
• Zurich, Switzerland (ZRH)

American Airlines also offers flights to a number of destinations -- such as Athens, Greece (ATH), Berlin, Germany (TXL) , Bologna, Italy (BLQ) and Dubrovnik, Croatia (DBV) . However, all of these seasonal routes conclude before off peak dates begin.

As one example of why you'll want to stick to AA flights if possible, flying all the way from Los Angeles (LAX) to Istanbul (IST) for just 45,000 AAdvantage miles round-trip might seem like a great redemption. Plus, availability is wide-open in November and December.

But, after selecting your dates and flights, you might be shocked to see some very high taxes and fees. Although, interestingly, the taxes/fees on this route have dropped from $602 when we searched in March 2019 to "just" $497:

That's because AA doesn't serve Istanbul (IST) directly, so you'd have to fly British Airways for some segments. In addition to the steep BA fuel surcharges, flying BA-operated flights involves flying through London — which adds its own layer of fees . For some dates, the taxes and fees on these "free" flights are almost as much as purchasing flights outright.

However, if you're able to find award flights on American Airlines, the taxes/fees will be significantly less. For example, for the same dates and route as above, the out of pocket cost drops by $392 round-trip if you can find flights operated by American Airlines across the Atlantic:

Long story short: If you're set on a certain destination that isn't served directly by AA, limit your out-of-pocket cost by choosing an itinerary with as many AA-operated flights as possible.

Central America

• Countries included: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama
• Off-peak rate: 12,500 miles each way vs. 15,000 standard MileSAAver rate
• Off-peak travel dates: Sept. 7 to Nov. 14 and April 27 to May 20
• Not available on Oneworld partners
• Destinations to consider: Panama City, Panama (PTY), San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO), Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR)

While it's only available for about three months per year, you can fly to Central American destinations for the same 12,500 miles that it typically costs to fly within the U.S.. Just beware that hurricanes can affect some of these areas during the fall off-peak season. So, make sure to put the award taxes and fees on a credit card that offers weather delay/cancellation insurance .

Since you can't fly on American Airlines partners, this discount is limited to only the places American Airlines flies. Destinations include: Belize City, Belize (BZE), Liberia, Costa Rica (LIR), San José, Costa Rica (SJO), San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL), Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA), Roatán, Honduras (RTB), San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP), Tegucigalpa, Honduras (TGU), Managua, Nicaragua (MGA), Panama City, Panama (PTY)

• Destinations to consider: Aruba (AUA), Curacao (CUR), Barbados (BGI), Bermuda (BDA)

Like with Central America, you can fly to the Caribbean for the same standard saver economy award price as flying domestically for about three months out of the year. That's a great deal considering you can fly all the way across the country and more for this price:

American Airlines doesn't provide a specific list of countries and destinations that fall in the Caribbean category — only stating that the Caribbean includes Bermuda and the Bahamas. Cross-referencing a map with American Airlines' destinations, the following destinations should be part of this region:

Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands

• Destinations to consider: Mexico City (MEX), San Jose Cabo (SJD), Cancún (CUN), Cozumel (CZM)

Just like the Central America and Caribbean regions, you can fly to Mexico during mid-September through mid-November and late April through mid-May for just 12,500 miles each way. This fall time range is during the peak of hurricane season, so make sure to pay taxes and fees with a credit card that protects for weather delays .

Mexican destinations served by American Airlines include: San José del Cabo (SJD), Mexico City (MEX), Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (ZIH), Guadalajara (GDL), Puerto Vallarta (PVR), Cancún (CUN), Cozumel (CZM), Merida (MID), Chihuahua (CUU), Torreon (TRC), Monterrey (MTY), Mazatlan (MZT), San Luis Potosi (SLP), Aguascalientes (AGU), Leon/Guanajuato (BJX), Queretaro (QRO)

South America Region 1

• Countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Manaus (Brazil), Peru
• Off-peak rate: 17,500 miles each way vs. 20,000 standard MileSAAver rate
• Off-peak travel dates: Sept. 7 to Nov. 14 and Jan. 16 to June 14
• Destinations to consider: Lima, Peru (LIM), Quito, Ecuador (UIO), Santa Cruz, Bolivia (VVI), Bogota, Columbia (BOG), Medellin, Colombia (MDE)

One of the regions with the broadest off-peak dates is South America Region 1, with a seven-month off-peak period. While the off-peak discount is just 2,500 miles each way, this discount brings the mileage cost of flying round-trip to parts of South America to just 35,000 miles.

Unfortunately, off-peak rates aren't available for flights connecting through AA-operated cities to cities served by Oneworld partner LATAM. You'll have to spend the full 20,000 miles each way to book award options from the US to connecting cities served by LATAM, such as Cusco, Peru — the launching point for treks and trains to the magnificent Machu Picchu.

• Off-peak rate: 20,000 miles each way vs. 22,500 standard MileSAAver rate
• Off-peak travel dates:
• To Hawaii: Aug. 11 to Nov. 18, Nov. 24 to Dec. 10 and Dec. 29 to March 12
• From Hawaii: Aug. 18 to Nov. 27, Dec. 3-25 and Jan. 7 to March 19
• Not available on partners like Alaska
• Destinations available: Honolulu (HNL), Kauai (LIH), Kahului (OGG) and Kailua-Kona (KOA)

It seems that Hawaii would never have an off-peak time. But — believe it or not — AA offers discounted award flights to Hawaii roughly half of the year.

AA flies to four airports (LIH, HNL, OGG, KOA) on four islands (Kauai, Oahu, Maui and "The Big Island" Hawaii). Unfortunately, you cannot tack on a connection to a more remote airport on Hawaiian Airlines using the same ticket — although island-hopping flight options on Hawaiian can be booked with AA miles for 7,500 miles each-way, and they're also frequently available for very low paid prices.

While having an off-peak period covering most of August to March is generous, the discount is only 2,500 miles off the standard award rate. Plus, cash rates to Hawaii have been so cheap recently that it may be better to save your AA miles for another redemption and just pay cash for a Hawaii vacation.

Asia Region 1

• Countries: Japan and South Korea
• Off-peak rate: 32,500 miles each way vs. 35,000 standard MileSAAver rate
• To Japan: July 1 to Nov. 30 and Jan. 1 to April 30
• From Japan: Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, Jan. 16 to April 19 and May 2-31
• To Korea: July 1 to Nov. 30 and Jan. 1 to April 30
• From Korea: Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 and Jan. 16 to May 31
• Destinations available: Tokyo Narita (NRT), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Seoul (ICN)

Unlike with award flights to Europe, you don't have to worry about huge fuel surcharges on flights to Japan and South Korea. However, this region has its own limitations. As you aren't able to connect onward on Oneworld partners, you're limited to only the three destinations that American Airlines serves: Tokyo Narita (NRT), Tokyo Haneda (HND) and Seoul (ICN).

The advice used to be to search for award availability on the over-water flight first to back into award availability. However, AA has implemented married-segment logic to award flights , meaning that the nonstop flight may not be available but a connecting flight is available. While this can be maddening, it simplifies the award searching process: just search the route you want on AA's website:

Asia Region 2

• Countries: China and Hong Kong
• To China/Hong Kong: Jan. 1 to April 30, July 1 to Sept. 30 and Oct. 11 to Nov. 30
• From China/Hong Kong: Feb. 1 to May 31, Sept. 1-19 and Oct. 2 to Dec. 31

Last but not least, you can fly to American Airlines destinations in China or Hong Kong for a slight discount for much of the year. But again, the discount is only limited to American Airlines operated flights, so your destinations are limited to Shanghai (PVG), Beijing (PEK) and Hong Kong (HKG).

With the discount being so small, I'd be tempted to pay the extra 2,500 miles each way price for flying on a partner with better service, more legroom and more seat width such as Japan Airlines or Cathay Pacific.

Boost your mileage account

If you need some extra miles to accommodate all the off-peak trips you'd like to plan, there are a number of ways to earn AAdvantage miles . The two quickest methods are buying miles or transferring points. However, if you have time, signing up for a credit card is the best way to accumulate miles.

Buying miles: American Airlines often runs buy miles sales which can drop the rate to buy miles to as low as 1.72 cents per mile. However, it seldom makes sense to buy miles for international economy awards. Instead, buying miles can make sense for incredible business- and first-class redemptions — like Qatar Qsuite to South Africa or American Airlines business class to Japan or Hong Kong.

Transferring miles: Your only transferable-point option for topping off your American Airlines account is Marriott Bonvoy points , which transfer at a 3:1 ratio. There's a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points you transfer, meaning that you can get 25,000 AA miles when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points.

Credit cards: The best option for boosting your AAdvantage account is by signing up for credit cards. Here are the top options right now:

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is currently offering a 50,000-mile sign-up bonus after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. The reimbursed Global Entry fee will be handy for promptly getting you through immigration, while the Admirals Club membership — including access for you and two travel companions — will make your departure and layovers much more pleasant. You can even add up to 10 authorized users to the card for free so they can enjoy Admirals Club access as well . Between you, your 10 authorized users and two guests each, you can get up to 33 people into the Admirals Club from one annual fee.

If you're looking for a no-annual-fee card with solid earning on everyday spend, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card is offering a decent 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit after spending just $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

My go-to American Airlines card is the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®. The free checked bag on domestic itineraries and preferred boarding covers most of the benefits of entry-level elite status. And it earns 2x miles per dollar spent at gas stations, restaurants and on eligible American Airlines purchases. The sign-up bonus is currently 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

If you have a business, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® is offering a very generous 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening. This card has plenty of perks — such as a free checked bag on domestic itineraries and 2x miles on telecom merchants, cable and satellite providers, car rental merchants and at gas stations. But it has earned its place in my wallet thanks to the 25% rebate on Wi-Fi purchases. Since this discount applies to Gogo monthly purchases , I get more in statement credits ($150) than the annual fee on this card ($99).

The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Maximize your travel time by returning from a different city: AA doesn't require you to book round-trip tickets when booking with miles, which gives you the freedom to travel on open-jaw itineraries. For example, fly from the U.S. to Paris (CDG). Take your time traveling through southern France, perhaps visiting Bordeaux for some incredible wine. Finish your trip down in Spain, and explore a different European culture before flying out of Madrid (MAD). No backtracking needed.

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Our Day Travelcard (off-peak) can be used from 09.30, Monday to Friday, all day Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, on the day of validity and for any journey that starts before 04.30 the following day. Off-Peak Day Travelcards are valid during the evening (16:00 – 19:00) peak.

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Note that there can be multiple Railcards selected, and a number value (Number of Passengers with Selected Railcard) must be sent for each one selected. The way it works is all selected "Railcards" are sent as a comma-delimited list in the rc field, and all the "Number of Passengers with Selected Railcard" are sent as a comma-delimited list in the rcc field which matches the order of the Railcards in the rc field. So if there are two "16-25 Railcards" and one "HM Forces Railcard" it will be sent as:

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Use your Railcard as often as you like but be sure to keep it with you when travelling.

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There are some tickets and fares that the Senior Railcard won't be valid on, so it's always worth checking before you travel.

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Off-peak train tickets.

Travel at quieter times and save money

Travel Off-Peak and save

Our Off-Peak train tickets offer great savings on journeys outside of the busiest travel times, every day of the week.

On weekends and Bank Holidays, you can travel at any time with an off-peak ticket. On weekdays, there are no evening peak restrictions on Southeastern operated services when travelling with an off-peak ticket, however, some time restrictions apply to journeys in the morning.

• If you are travelling from Kent & East Sussex into London, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains that arrive into London after 10am*.
• If you are travelling from London to Kent & East Sussex, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains departing from London after 9.30am.
• If you are travelling entirely within the London Travelcard Zones 1-6 area, Off-Peak tickets are valid on trains departing after 9.30am.
• From 3 December 2023, for journeys from and between Bat & Ball, Dunton Green, Eynsford, Otford, Sevenoaks and Shoreham (Kent), new peak and off-peak restrictions apply, including a new evening peak restriction for travel away from London. These changes have been made in preparation for the rollout of pay as you go with contactless  at 53 National Rail stations in spring 2024. For more information about these changes, please visit the National Rail website , where more detail is provided.

*Exceptions apply to a few services arriving prior to 10.00am dependent on the type of Off-Peak ticket please check our journey planner before you travel.

Whether you're exploring the city sights of London or taking a trip out to the coast, travelling at Off-Peak times can save you money.

Plus, you could get another 1/3 off the price if you are a railcard holder or take advantage of our other discount tickets valid for Off-Peak journeys.

Buy your Off-Peak ticket from a station ticket office any time before you travel. Or, for convenience why not use our contactless smartcard The Key . You can buy tickets via the Southeastern app  or online, load them to your Key card, tap and go. 

Alternatively, buy your tickets via the Southeastern app or website and you can collect your tickets from a self-service machine at a Southeastern station within 5 minutes – you just need to bring any payment card and the collection reference number provided in your order confirmation.

You can also find great savings with our Super Off-Peak tickets .

Find out how much you can save by travelling Off-Peak

Fares correct at last date of publication 03/03/2024

You can check the full terms and conditions for Off-Peak fares at National Rail Enquiries.

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• Train Tickets /
• Ticket types /

Off-Peak train tickets

Buy your ticket at any time and travel in off-peak hours with a swr off-peak ticket, buy train tickets to any destination in britain – no booking fee.

• Popular stations
• London Waterloo (WAT)
• Surbiton (SUR)
• Woking (WOK)
• Winchester (WIN)
• Guildford (GLD)
• Southampton Central (SOU)
• Basingstoke (BSK)
• Farnborough (Main) (FNB)
• Bournemouth (BMH)
• Portsmouth Harbour (PMH)

What is an off-peak train ticket?

Off-Peak tickets are a great way to save money on train tickets by travelling on quieter trains, but still giving you more flexibility than a Super Off-Peak ticket . They're ideal for days out where you want to avoid the morning rush, or for a working lunch that means you might have to return during the evening commute. They're available for both Standard Class and First Class train ticket .

We offer Off-Peak Day Return tickets that allow you to make a return journey on the same day, but only during off-peak hours and Off-Peak Single Train Ticket: Similar, valid for a single journey during off-peak hours.

SWR offer great deals in corporate train tickets, through their free platform Business Direct. To know more about our corporate train service, business train tickets deals and more, contact us at [email protected] .

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 What are off peak times for train travel?

Off peak train time to and from London

Travelling into London? You can travel on any train arriving at London Waterloo (or any station in zones 1 to 6) after 10:00.

Travelling away from London? You can travel on any train leaving London Waterloo from 09:30.

Off peak train time

You can sometimes travel earlier, particularly if you're travelling long-distance - these are called easements. For the best way to find out which trains you can use your ticket on, book through our website.

When can I buy an Off-Peak ticket?

You can buy anytime from twelve weeks before you travel, right up to when you arrive at the station from the ticket office or machines. To help make sure customers don't get on the wrong train with a ticket that's not valid, some of our ticket machines won't sell Off-Peak tickets until shortly before they can be used.

Are there any extra discounts on Off-Peak tickets?

With our super off peak tickets you can save 34% extra with all railcards on Standard Class Off-Peak fares and up to 34% on First Class Off-Peak fares if you hold a  Senior ,  HM Forces  or  Disabled Persons Railcard. You can also save on child tickets for all Off-Peak fares!

If you’re travelling in a group of 3 to 9 people, you can save a third on tickets with  GroupSave  discounts.

How can I buy an Off-Peak ticket?

The easiest way to buy your ticket is through our website, on our app or at any ticket office or machine

Find out more about ways to buy your ticket .

Can I break my journey with an Off-Peak ticket?

Generally, yes. You'll normally be allowed to break your journey with an off-peak ticket. Some journeys may mean that you can't, and you should check the full restrictions on your ticket to see if you can or not.

I need to travel on a different train - can I change my off peak ticket?

Off-Peak tickets give you some flexibility - if you can still use an Off-Peak ticket on the train you now want to travel on, you can just catch that one instead!

If you want to travel during peak time, you'll just need to pay the difference between the Off-Peak fare and the  Anytime train ticket fare. There's no admin fee to pay but you will need to do this before you travel - even if you plan to do it on board the train, you might still be liable for a Penalty Fare if you board without making sure your ticket is valid.

What happens if I miss my next train because of a delay?

If you've been delayed by the railway (for example, if you miss your connecting service because of a delay to your train) then you can use your ticket on the next train. If your ticket wouldn't normally be valid on that train (for example, if it's a peak time train) then speak to the ticket office or on-board team to get your ticket stamped or signed to allow you to travel.

If you've been delayed by something that's not within our control, then you can use your ticket on the next Off-Peak service.

If a delay on one of our trains means you end up being 15 minutes late or more to your destination, you may be entitled to claim compensation under our  Delay Repay  scheme

There are engineering works now and I don't want to travel. Can I get a refund?

If there's a change in journey times or mode of travel (a bus replacement service) and you no longer want to travel you can claim a full refund on the unused tickets from your original retailer.

If you're buying your tickets more than six weeks before you travel, we always recommend that you check timetables again at the six-week mark and the planned engineering work timetable.

How to get your tickets

Email, post, print at home, download or collect from the station

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Tickets & Payment methods

Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak hours

Super Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak weekdays

Anytime Tickets valid for travel at any time

Advance tickets Discounted tickets booked ahead of travel

Carnet tickets Buy a book of pre-paid single tickets

First Class Guarantee a seat and power socket

Child tickets Child fares and discounts for young people

Season tickets Discounted long-term tickets for regular commuters

Flexi Season Flexible season ticket options for part-time commuters

Transport for London Off-Peak Fridays trial Off-peak fares on Fridays for a limited time

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2FOR1 offers 2-for-1 entry at attractions in London, Brighton and more

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Kids for £2 Cheaper child fares starting from just £2

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Book assistance Our online form for booking assistance for your journey

Assisted travel Assistance for those with access needs

Priority seat card A badge for those who require priority seating

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Contact us Need help? Find out how to get in touch

Delay Repay Compensation for unexpected delays and cancellations

Refunds & Amendments How to refund and change your ticket

Penalty fares Information on penalty fares and prosecutions

Failed to carry Submit proof of your ticket or railcard

Lost property Lost property services, collection and enquires

First Class claim form First class claim form for reimbursement

Off-Peak tickets

If you don’t need to travel in rush hour you can choose an Off-Peak ticket and save money.

Off-Peak Tickets – Everyday great savings

Do you have the flexibility to choose which trains to take? Can you travel outside of rush hour? If so, then our Off-Peak tickets make perfect sense. Whether you want to escape to Brighton beach or explore historic architecture in London, take advantage of cheaper travel at quieter times of the day.

Why choose Off-Peak tickets?

Off-Peak tickets are a great way to save you money if you’re taking the train outside the busiest times of the day. Here’s how choosing off-peak will benefit you:

• More cost effective than an Anytime fare
• Choose from single, day return and open return tickets
• More space to sit down
• For just £2 each, you can travel with up to four children aged 5-15
• Railcard holders can enjoy 1/3 off all off-peak fares
• Those with a Senior, HM Forces or Disabled Persons railcard can take advantage of 1/3 off all First Class Off-Peak and First Class Super Off-Peak fares

London St Pancras to Brighton

Off-peak day return, st albans city to london, off-peak day travelcard, bedford to london blackfriars, when are off-peak tickets valid.

You can use our journey planner to check if the time you want to travel has Off-Peak fares available. Off-Peak tickets will only appear on the booking system if they are available for your journey. The times you can take advantage of Off-Peak prices depends on where and when you’re going.

What are the times for Peak and Off-Peak travel?

The morning peak is generally from when the first train of the day leaves to the last train arriving in London before 10:00am. In the evening it is generally between 16:30 and 19:01 for services leaving London. Anytime outside of this, would generally be considered off peak travel.

What’s the difference between Off-Peak Day Return and Off-Peak Return tickets?

If you buy an Off-Peak Day return ticket, you must leave and come back on the same day.

An Off-Peak return ticket gives you a little more flexibility if you’re not sure when you’ll be coming back. You need to start your journey (the ‘outward’ part) on the date shown on the ticket. Then, you have up to a month to return . This is useful if you’re visiting friends or family and want to stay a little longer.

How do I buy Off-Peak train tickets?

How do i buy off-peak train tickets.

• Buying Off-Peak train tickets is easy. You can:
• Book Online – collect your tickets at the station or have them sent First Class
• Book via the On Track app ( iOS and Android ) and collect at the station
• Use a ticket machine at the station
• Buy at your station ticket office (during opening hours)

Read the general terms and conditions   for Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets. Got a question? Contact us .

Travelling outside busy times?

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets will save you money

Other ticket types

Super off-peak, season tickets, stay up-to-date.

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• Tickets and passes

Metrolink off-peak 1-day travelcard (adult)

This ticket gives you unlimited travel off-peak throughout your chosen Metrolink zones.

Your ticket must be valid in all zones you travel through.

Your ticket is only valid for travel after 9.30am on weekdays or all day on weekends and bank holidays.

Check if you qualify

Anyone can buy this ticket.

But, if you're under 16 (or aged 16 with an igo card ) or have a 16-18 Our Pass you can buy a half-price ticket. Find out more about concessionary passes and tickets .

The cost and benefits

Travel as many times as you want for one day, from 9.30am until the last tram - even if that's after midnight.

Contactless early bird bonus – touch-in to start all journeys before 7am (or after 9.30am) and your daily cap will be the off-peak travelcard price, as above.

Clipper – buy 10 travelcards for the price of 9.

How to buy your ticket

You must buy your ticket before your first journey. You cannot buy tickets on the tram.

The easiest way to travel is using a contactless card or device , using the smart readers on stops to pay for journeys as you go. We’ll work out the adult single or travelcard prices for your journeys, up to a daily and weekly cap.

Find out more about travelling with contactless

You can also buy an adult ticket by using a smart card . It’s easy and avoids the queues. This is also a great way to purchase add on tickets for outside your usual season ticket zones .

Alternatively, you can buy a ticket at a ticket machine on the tram stop using cash or card (including contactless).

Find out more about how to buy a Metrolink tram ticket

Travel included with Co-op Live tickets

Co-op Live ticket holders can travel on the tram and new city centre shuttle buses.

Say yellow to the Bee Network

Buses in Oldham, Rochdale and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester joined the Bee Network on 24 March.

New sponsor: Starling Bank Bikes

We’re delighted to welcome Starling Bank on board as the new sponsors of our bike hire scheme.

Manchester City Matchday Buses

We've teamed up with Manchester City to launch a large-scale bus trial helping fans from across Greater Manchester and nearby areas to travel to and from the Etihad Stadium on a matchday.

Rate your journey

We want to hear your views to help us deliver a better Bee Network for Greater Manchester.

Planned engineering works on Metrolink

Visit our dedicated webpage to find out how the works could affect your journeys.

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Service updates

Travel updates Latest travel information and updates

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Timetables Find Southern timetables by station and download train times

Planned engineering work Details of planned engineering work on our network

Live map Real-time service status and route display

Alternative route maps Alternative train, bus and tube maps

Onboard travel

Bikes & Scooters Storage of bikes and scooters on board

Baby on board Priority seating for new and expectant parents

Luggage Guidelines and support for carrying luggage on board

Travelling with pets Policies for travelling with pets

Find a quieter train Want to have the best chance of getting a seat?

Wi-Fi on board Keeping you connected

Station information

Car parking Parking availability and information across our stations

All stations (A-Z) Facilities, addresses, maps and more, for all stations

Getting to the station Find out about taxis, buses and how to get to the station

Tickets & Payment methods

Off-Peak Reduced fares during off-peak hours

Super Off-Peak weekdays Reduced fares during off-peak weekdays

Anytime Tickets valid for travel at any time

Child tickets Child fares and discounts for young people

First Class Guarantee a seat and power socket

Season tickets Discounted long-term tickets for regular commuters

Flexi Season Flexible season ticket options for part-time commuters

Advance tickets Discounted tickets booked ahead of travel

Transport for London Off-Peak Fridays trial Off-peak fares on Fridays for a limited time

Ways to pay eTickets, Smartcard and Oyster card payment methods

Discounts & Offers

Unizone Discounted ticket for students in Brighton and Worthing

Railcards Save up to 1/3 off tickets with railcards

DaySave Cost-effective day pass for unlimited off-peak travel

GroupSave Off-peak saving sfor 3-9 adults travelling together

PlusBus Combined train, bus and tram tickets

2FOR1 offers 2-for-1 entry at attractions in London, Brighton and more

Kids for £2 Cheaper child fares starting from just £2

Accessibility

Book assistance Our online form for booking assistance for your journey

Assisted travel Assistance for those with access needs

Priority seat card A badge for those who require priority seating

Support whilst you're travelling Information and guidance on accessing our trains

Wheelchairs & Mobility scooters Guidelines for wheelchairs and mobility scooters

Help & Support

Contact us Need help? Find out how to get in touch

Delay Repay Compensation for unexpected delays and cancellations

Refunds & Amendments How to refund and change your ticket

Money Back Guarantee Plans can change, and it's fine to change your mind

Penalty fares Information on penalty fares and prosecutions

Failed to carry Submit proof of your ticket or railcard

Lost property Lost property services, collection and enquires

First Class claim form First class claim form for reimbursement

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets

Travelling after the morning rush hour? You can save money when you buy an Off-Peak ticket.

Off-Peak tickets

Are you travelling after the morning rush hour? Save money on your journey when you buy an Off-Peak ticket.

If you don’t have to be somewhere during the busiest times of the day, this could be the perfect option for you. Whether you’re taking a trip into the city or out to the countryside, this ticket gives you the chance to enjoy quieter train journeys at lower prices.

Why choose Off-Peak train tickets?

When you choose to travel Off-Peak, you can benefit from:

• More seating available during these quieter parts of the day
• A choice of single, return and open return tickets
• 1/3 off Off-Peak fares with your Railcard
• On some routes up to four children aged 5 to 15 can travel with you for just £2. Book online for an automatic discount

When are they valid?

You can travel Off-Peak on weekdays outside busy times. You can also use your Off-Peak train tickets to travel at any time on weekends and bank holidays. The times you can use your tickets vary, so use the journey planner to check for Off-Peak services.

What are the timings?

Off-Peak singles and the outward portion of Off-Peak returns are valid for travel on the date shown on the ticket and until 4.29am the following morning. When using Off-Peak Day tickets, all travel must be completed by 4.29am on the following morning of the date on the ticket.

What are the times for Peak and Off-Peak travel?

The morning peak is generally from when the first train of the day leaves to the last train arriving in London before 10:00am. In the evening it is generally between 16:30 and 19:01 for services leaving London. Anytime outside of this, would generally be considered off peak travel.

How do I buy Off-Peak train tickets?

It’s simple to book your Off-Peak tickets:

• Online – collect from the station or have them posted out
• On-the-go using our On Track app ( iOS ) and collect at the station
• Buy from ticket machines at the station
• Head to a ticket office at your local station

Terms and Conditions

To find out more about Off-Peak tickets, read the terms and conditions . If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch .

Eastbourne to London Victoria

Super off-peak day return, brighton to london victoria, off-peak day return, horsham to london victoria, super off-peak day travelcard, travelling outside busy times.

Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets will save you money

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