In message
, at
10:45:22 on Wed, 14 Oct 2009, MIG
remarked:
Both Ryanair and Virgin Trains are absolutely ruthless in punishing
minor mistakes with punishments out of all proportion.

....

Other companies may be the same.

Most, if not all, of the long distance ToCs are like that now. eg GNER
were famous for it, and NXEC carried on the tradition. MML were pretty
stringent, but now Stagecoach have the franchise under the EMT banner,
the screws have been really tightened.

One of the worst offences is threatening to sell only "Open Returns"
even when off-peak; and without any railcard discounts. I suspect they
should sell an Open Single if requested (then you can use the other half
of the ticket, you already have, to return on the "correct" train this
time).

Or if you are time-rich/money-poor simply get an on-train 'penalty'
ticket to the next station, then get off and buy a discounted off-peak
ticket there, catching the following train to your actual destination. I
bet they never suggest that to people!
--
Roland Perry