The price of love

HOW FAR can you go if you are unmarried? All the way, if you use French Railways - and at a 20 per cent discount. Many travel companies offer discounts to wedded couples. But since marriage is becoming a minority sport, SNCF is mirroring the BBC's (temporarily) enlightened policy and allowing cohabitees to take advantage of holiday deals regardless of gender or their precise matrimonial status.

Andrew Darwin, a reader from Herefordshire, stumbled upon the French Railways discount while he was battling with the hi-tech booking system at the Gare de Lyon, which involves punching interactive screens in the right places. Suddenly the words prix avantageux (special fares) and a picture of a couple flashed on to the monitor.

'To get this discount,' Mr Darwin writes, 'you must produce either a livret de famille (which, of course, doesn't exist in Britain) or a carte couple.'

Mr Darwin enquired about the attachment you have to demonstrate to qualify. You need evidence of sharing a residence - for example, driving licences showing the same address. Then you have to profess to be either conjoints (ie married) or en concubinage (according to the booking clerk, this means you sleep together). Gay couples qualify, apparently. 'How about my mother if she lived with me?' asked Mr Darwin. 'The clerk and I agreed that for 20 per cent off a railway ticket, it might even be worth claiming incest.'