It's always been said that the only way to make British trains affordable is to buy months in advance like you're taking an aeroplane.
Certainly on past experience coming on the day and buying a ticket it can be crazy expensive.
However; I suspect I may have been conned. Buying a ticket from the ticket desk and being given some very flexible any-time ticket rather than just a normal ticket for the next train.
Next month I have a flight to Manchester airport and then from here I need to get to the north east (Durham/Chester le Street/Newcastle, all good, I'm going to be picked up from the station to go onto my destination).
I've done something similar before and I remember buying a ticket for some hours after my flight and having to sit and wait at the airport station for a while whilst trains came and went to Manchester city. I don't want to buy one too close to my estimated landing time in case the flight is delayed.
How do I find out how much a ticket bought on the day will cost me? Is there a way to balance buying in advance with the flexibility needed from connecting from a flight?