Booking GNER/NXEC webfares with American Express
by JFC AdminUpdate: Amex is now accepted on the NXEC site as of 25th January 2007.
Although I think most of us would agree that overall the new GNER booking engine (NXEC now use the same booking engine) is a big improvement over the old one that was based on thetrainline.com. However, it does have one drawback - it does not currently accept American Express (or Diners Club apparently). There was a workaround to this until the end of the GNER franchise but now it’s not possible to book these fares online with the 10% discount. You can still pay with Amex on thetrainline.com or through GNER/NXEC telesales (08457 225 225) but the 10% discount will not apply.
The good news is that Amex support is expected to be added by January into this new booking engine. Amex support was planned all along but it uses a different authentication method to Mastercard or Visa and they prioritised support for the more popular cards first. Also as mentioned in the comments in this post the booking engine was developed by a French company and Amex has different authentication methods in France.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:52 am
What’s the point of amex anyway? It’s not accepted everywhere and so it means you always have to carry another card around.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:30 am
There’s a few reasons why you may want to use Amex.
- If you’re paying for business travel your employer may have an Amex corporate card.
- You may be collecting Membership Rewards points to transfer to your preferred frequent traveller programme.
- You make use of the Amex travel related benefits (most apply to planes but some apply to all forms of public transport).
- You collect Nectar points, Airmiles, BA miles, …
Personally I try to stick with Amex for all large purchases as I usually transfer the Membership Rewards points to KLM FB miles or InterContinental Priority Club points. For small purchases I’m more willing to use another credit card if they don’t take Amex. In London Amex acceptance is actually quite good.
December 7th, 2007 at 5:02 am
What’s happening after GNER hand over their franchise?
December 7th, 2007 at 5:23 am
It looks like National Express are likely to take over the new booking engine. Fares booked through GNER will be valid under the new franchise. As for how long this work around will work for Amex users then we’ll have to see.
December 7th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
Amex will be accepted from mid-late January on the new site
December 7th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
This workaround also works for those with Diners Club cards.
@Bill: do you work for GNER, Amex or is this what they’ve told you?
December 8th, 2007 at 6:11 am
Why is it so difficult to support all major cards from the outset?
December 8th, 2007 at 10:35 am
the problem is caused by inconsistent rules between Amex in France and Amex in the UK relating to security measures. The new site is provided by Atos Origin (who are French). It should be resolved in January shortly follwed by Diners.
December 9th, 2007 at 1:00 am
Thanks Bill for your useful comments. The new GNER on board EPOS systems have problems with Amex too so I’m told (although every time I’ve travelled they’ve been using the old systems) do you know if that’s the same reason?
This could also explain why you can’t collect a Eurostar ticket from a station in France if it’s paid for by Amex.
December 9th, 2007 at 5:19 am
The old booking site works no more, it appears to work and then fails at the very last step, presumably this is because GNER no longer exists.
January 16th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I searched for ‘american express credit card’ in google and found this your post (’Booking GNER/NXEC webfares with American Express’) in search results. Not very relevant result, but still interesting to read.
January 25th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The NXEC site now accepts American Express
February 6th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
[…] As mentioned in a previous blog post, the only problem I had with GNER’s new online booking engine (which has continued to be used by National Express) was that it did not accept American Express. I was promptly told that support for Amex was due to be added in January and, as promised, it arrived towards the end of the month. Now I can use my preferred payment method I will use the NXEC site as my preferred method of booking tickets. I earn many thousands of miles every year through purchases with my Amex card, so I like to put as much spend on it as possible. […]