Ways to Save

If you live on the Isle of Wight, or have friends or family living on the Island, it is always worth checking to see if there are any local offers which might be available to you. We provide several offers for Island residents, many of which are open for them to share with friends and family. Islanders can check local press for further details.

If you’ve already booked your accommodation elsewhere, you can still save by booking your Red Funnel ferry travel with your accommodation provider. Many of our accommodation partners have their own exclusive customer offers which you may be able to take advantage of, so it is worth checking with them before booking.

If you are a frequent traveller, you could make significant savings by opening a Travel Card account. You can save up to 20% on car travel and up to 15% off selected food and drink.

Those with a Blue Badge issued to them due to disability can save 25% on standard vehicle or foot passenger rates. Simply show your Blue Badge at West Cowes ticket office, or if you’re bringing a vehicle, book online and remember to bring your Blue Badge with you when you travel. Disabled Persons Railcards and Access Cards are also accepted.

If you own a fully electric vehicle, you can get 25% off bookings of any duration - perfect for saving your pennies as well as the planet! The offer is valid until 31 December 2024 for use against a fully electric car or small van. 

Any member or veteran of the armed forces or MOD can obtain a discount of 20% when travelling from the Island or 15% travelling from the mainland, valid against standard fares. For foot passenger travel, show your Defence Discount Card, Veterans Card or current military ID card in the ticket office, or book vehicle travel online.

Season Tickets are usually the most cost-effective option for daily commuting, with the level of saving increasing with the length of validity for the Season Ticket purchased. Other perks include a 15% discount off selected items in our food and beverage outlets, and the option to travel with a companion for the Super Off-Peak rate of £12.90 per person.

We offer cheaper fares for seniors, so if you’re over 60, make sure to let us know when purchasing your Red Jet tickets in the ticket office – it can save you some cash! Please be prepared to show a form of ID – this can include a Senior Citizen’s bus pass or Senior Railcard.

If you have a Railcard and you’re travelling onwards by train, you can purchase your ferry and train tickets together at our West Cowes terminal with the same level of discount that your Railcard would normally provide. You can also choose to book via third-party sites such as Trainline. Please note that there must be a rail element of your journey to qualify for the discount.

Saver Tickets are a more flexible solution for regular travellers who aren’t travelling every day. These are available for purchase in bundles of 20, 40, 100 or 200. These are individual un-dated tickets that are valid for use at any time within 12 months from purchase and can be shared with others.

Travel cards can also offer great value for foot passengers. By opening a Red Funnel Travel Card account and purchasing a credit top-up, you can save 10% on foot passenger fares, with the discount automatically applied to your basket when booking online. The level of discount increases with the top up amount, with options of £250, £500, or £1000 to choose from.

Island residents travelling to the mainland for NHS appointments can obtain a discounted Red Jet day return rate of £12.40 per adult or £6.20 per child by presenting their appointment letter (or other supporting documentation) in the West Cowes ticket office when purchasing their tickets. This extends to 2 passengers, or 3 if the patient is a child. We also offer a 50% discount on vehicle travel for patients.

Students travelling daily to their place of education can purchase 20 Academic Day Return tickets for £338 (2024/25) – making each day return just £16.90. There are no age restrictions either so mature students can also apply, as long as they’re in full-time education. Tickets are valid from 1 September to 31 July - each academic year. 

Island residents in receipt of eligible benefits from the IOW Council, or Universal Credit payments from DWP, can apply for our Assisted Fares Scheme. Once approved, the maximum price of a vehicle return is capped at of £59.10 (or 20% off our lowest standard web fares if cheaper). A fixed fare of £12.30 return is also available for travel as a foot passenger between East Cowes and Southampton.

If you’re travelling to drop off or pick up your children, ask for an ‘Escorted Child ticket’ in East/West Cowes ticket office. The child ticket will then be free of charge, and you need only pay for the adult return. The offer works for up to 2 children (0-12yrs) per travelling adult – you just need to return on the next available sailing.

We’ve teamed up with Jobcentre Plus to help registered unemployed Island residents who are looking for work on the mainland. Enjoy reduced cross-Solent travel costs for up to 18 months – ideal for travel to job interviews or for getting you to work once you find a position.

If you’re aged 16-19, you can purchase a Youth fare and save on your foot passenger travel. This fare is offered exclusively on travel departing the Island and can be purchased online or in East/West Cowes ticket office. Return tickets are £14.90 on either route, while single trips are £12.60 from East Cowes and £14.30 from West Cowes.