Airport Advance - Gatwick & Luton (First Class)

Airport Advance tickets are available to buy at Ticket Offices and Travel Centres, self-service ticket machines at stations, rail-appointed travel agents, online at most train company websites or through other online retailers or train company telesales offices.

Airport Advance tickets must be purchased in advance of travel and are subject to availability.

They are not available for purchase on the day of travel.

These tickets will be available for travel on dates from Sunday 13th December 2026.

Airport Advance tickets must be booked before departure.

Tickets sold subject to availability.

Not available on day of travel.

Airport Advance Tickets

Airport Advance tickets offer more flexibility for journeys departing from the airport.

Although you’ll book a specific train, you can also travel on a later service that matches the “Valid On” conditions on your ticket, departing up to two hours after your booked train. This can be useful if your flight is delayed or your plans change.

In the event of a delay during your journey, you may use the next available service(s) to complete your journey, including with other operators where appropriate.

Railcards

If you're travelling on a discounted ticket with a Railcard, you must carry your valid Railcard with you when you travel. Failure to present a valid Railcard will result in the need to purchase a new ticket.

Delays - Airport Advance Tickets

An Airport Advance ticket offers more flexibility for journeys departing from the airport.

Although you’ll book a specific train, you can also travel on a later service that matches the “Valid On” conditions on your ticket, departing up to two hours after your booked train. This can be useful if your flight is delayed or your plans change. For example, if you’ve booked a ticket on the 12:00 service and your ticket says ‘Southern Only’, you can travel on the 12:00 Southern service to your destination or any later Southern service to the same destination departing up to and including 14:00, but not after this time.

Also, you can't travel on an earlier service than the one you've booked.

Date shown on ticket.

Train service specified on ticket or a train service up to 2 hours later, that matches the restriction shown on the ticket.

Customers may not start, break and resume or end their journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s) or other valid travel itinerary.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Airport Advance Tickets are non-refundable, unless Section 30.1 of the National Rail Conditions of Travel applies.

Passengers holding Airport Advance tickets are able to travel up to 2 hours later than the time shown on their ticket. See "Special Conditions" for more information.

Changes to the date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new must be purchased. Customers will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when they request a change.

Changes to tickets cannot be made on board the train.

If customers board a train without a reservation for that service, or one more than 2 hours later than the booked service a new ticket(s) must be purchased.

The origin, destination and Train company or route shown on the original tickets must be the same as the new tickets required.

The difference between the price paid and the cost of the next of the next suitable fare for the journey is payable, plus a £10 administration fee per person, per single ticket for each change to a journey. If the customer(s) change to a train where a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded, but the administration charge is still applicable.