Railcard and buying advance ticket

[StillSeekingResponsibleAdult]

I want to get a 16-17 Railcard, for my currently 15yo to travel with after his 16th birthday. I've tried to buy the Railcard and it won't let me as still too young.

The cheap advance tickets are already selling out, but I don't know if I can buy them using the Railcard discount, if I haven't purchased the Railcard yet. Do I have to put in a code during the purchase, or can I just tick the box and sort it out later?

It says here: https://www.16-17saver.co.uk/help/faqs/

Can I buy tickets at a discounted rate before my 16-17 Saver arrives?

A:
No. You must always carry your 16-17 Saver with you on any journey where you have bought discounted tickets with it.

Therefore, if you buy discounted 16-17 Saver tickets before you receive your 16-17 Saver, you do this at your own risk.

But with other railcards (I'm a bit older than 17!) it's just a matter of ticking a box, so personally I would think you'd be OK as long as the card arrives in time.

The ticket inspector won’t check what date the tickets were bought on. So long as the railcard is valid, I can’t see a problem.

Yes you can definitely buy the tickets at the discount.

I do this all the time whem my friends and family railcard has run out, then buy the railcard the day before so it lasts the whole year afterwards. IYSWIM

Yeah you just tick a box so as long as he has the railcard before you travel it will be fine.

Yes I booked ahead for a long journey with kids but knew I wouldn't used the F&F railcard before then so didn't buy it until a few days before. You only need it to show alongside on day of travel. Why waste the time between now and the journey when it might be useful to have the extra time at the end.

i buy tickets and say I have a railcard all the time - they never check.

I think you have just been lucky we always get checked!

I have a friends and family Railcard and I'm pretty sure buying online I've just selected it from a drop down, no number to enter or anything, and then it says must show it when traveling (annoyingly I don't think anyone has ever asked to see it!). So I think you'd be fine as long as you are confident of getting it by travel date.

I've bought tickets in the olden days from a ticket office without my f and f Railcard - the guy understood what pp said about wanting the whole year, so buying the Railcard just before travel.

It's actually no different from buying them with this year's Railcard then travelling on next year's.

You can use your Tesco clubcard to purchase your railcard.

You can buy the tickets in advance but you must purchase the railcard before travelling

Yes I do it all the time with my 2together card.

Buy tickets and ensure I have the railcard before I travel.

And yes it's the best use I found of Tesco's vouchers.

Fabulous, thank you all! Will get on with buying tickets and get the Railcard after birthday, we will definitely have both sorted in time for the journey.

Good tip about clubcard too.

I did this with my senior railcard because I had to purchase the tickets before I was 60 did feel guilty but got my senior railcard as soon as I was 60 you can actually buy it about 10 days before I think it is.

I once forgot my railcard and got a new one as it was cheaper than rebuying a return ticket. You'll be fine to book them and get the railcard a few.days before travel. It is all on an app now anyway so not even needed to wait for the post.

If you don't have many Clubcard points, Trainline and Trip often have discounts on railcards.

(Moneysavingexpert will usually mention them). You just have to remember to practice accessing them from the various apps.