661-Pete wrote:One feature I like: you can see at a glance the range of alternative fares for a journey, and make your choice. Try asking a harassed booking-clerk in the rush hour, about cheaper fares!
Most ticket counter staff have been very good, even in rush hour, cheerfully helping you use the wrinkles like the various group or split tickets or that a ticket to London Terminals being cheaper than one to London (which includes a transfer by London Transport) but it used to be that sometimes that an even cheaper option was possible, such as a London Travelcard and boundary extension, or a ticket restricted to a particular terminal, if it was valid for your journey. One of the drawbacks of the machines is that if you picked the readily-offered wrong "London" on the first screen, then you wouldn't be offered the cheaper alternative fares - and I don't think I've ever known a machine offer a bike reservation where it's been needed.
There are also a few tickets which now cannot be bought at station machines or counters, such as the London International ones to connect with Eurostar (so if you're delayed into London, Eurostar will definitely get you on another train), which is rather annoying.