Neil Roarty has shared his “genius” travel hack that he believes is foolproof – but there is a major caveat that could leave you out of pocket if executed wrong
A British rail passenger’s “genius” travel hack has gone viral online after he appeared to travel in first class for free thanks to a strategic use of the UK railways’ compensation system. However, the trick carries a big risk for those willing to take it.
On Christmas Eve, one man shared a thread on X celebrating what he called his “biggest Christmas gamble.” Neil Roarty wrote: “Booked first class train home knowing that there would be a delay and I’d get the refund. There’s ALWAYS a delay.”
According to his post, he paid £238.20 for two first-class tickets, making his total a whopping £476.40, only to discover that his train was delayed by an hour and a half. Under UK rail rules, this meant he qualified for full compensation – including the cost of his ticket – through the industry’s Delay Repay scheme, effectively making the first-class journey free.
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What is the Delay Repay Scheme?
The Delay Repay scheme is a compensation system designed to reimburse passengers whose trains are significantly delayed or cancelled, regardless of the reason for the disruption.
Under the standard rules:
- Delays of 30–59 minutes can qualify for 25 percent refund of the ticket cost.
- Delays of 60–119 minutes typically qualify for 50 percent refund.
- Delays of 120 minutes or more generally mean passengers can claim a full refund – even if they complete the journey.
Importantly, compensation is based on the actual departure and arrival times recorded by the train operator, not what was printed on the timetable. This can vary depending on the train company.
How to Claim
Most UK train operators now allow passengers to submit a Delay Repay claim online, either through the operator’s official website or app. Here’s a general guide to the process:
- Keep your ticket or reference number. You’ll need either the digital ticket confirmation or a paper ticket reference.
- Visit your operator’s Delay Repay page. Common operators (e.g., Avanti West Coast, LNER, Great Western Railway) all have dedicated forms.
- Enter your journey details. This includes date, time, origin and destination, and ticket price.
- Upload supporting information. Depending on the operator, this could be a screenshot of the delay or your ticket receipt.
- Submit and wait for a response. Claims usually take a few days to several weeks to process. Many operators will email you with an approval and payment instruction.
Some operators also allow passengers to make claims by post or at station ticket offices – though online submissions are fastest.
When this ‘hack’ works – and when it doesn’t
At first glance, booking an expensive ticket and waiting for compensation may seem like a clever loophole. But experts caution that it’s far from a guaranteed strategy.
Here’s why:
- Delays are not guaranteed. While rail services often experience disruptions, many journeys run on time – which would leave passengers out of pocket.
- Compensation depends on operator policies. Though most UK operators use Delay Repay, the exact terms and payment timeline vary, and not all refunds are paid in cash; some are offered as vouchers.
- Increased fare doesn’t always mean larger compensation. Refunds are proportional to the price paid, but for journeys with unusual fare structures or advance tickets, terms may differ.
- Operators may challenge borderline claims. If a delay is very close to the qualifying threshold, or was caused by external factors, train companies sometimes review claims more closely.
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