Who worked out Eurotunnel pricing?

[Chrisw666]

I've just gone to book tunnel crossings for next week, and it seems booking 2 individual day returns 2 weeks apart is cheaper than booking 2 singles or a return with a 15 day gap in between.

It makes me ask a couple of things, mainly why and secondly is making it cheaper for people to book extra tickets a good way of making the services look busy for shareholders?

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

The ferries use (or, at least, used to) exactly this sort of pricing structure as well.

I once pointed it out to P&O who told me that if I failed to use the return half of the first ticket and turned up at the French ferry port three weeks later intending to use the return half of the second, they would refuse to honour it as I would have 'breached the terms of the contract(s)'.

I thought I had found a way around this; buy a day return ticket in UK to use for the first (outward) journey and buy another day return in France for the return journey. That didn't work either: computer said 'no' to the second purchase, so I had to buy a separate single journey ticket to come back at a ludicrous premium.

And why does a period return ticket vary in price with how long you are going for? Is it just an assumption that people who can go away on long(er) hols can afford to pay more for the crossing?

[RosscoPCole]

Condor Ferries do this on the Channel Island route.
It is about £35 for a day return ticket and £150 if you purchase a regular return ticket with a period of time between sailings. They are strict if you do not use the return leg if a day return.
Very annoying.

[rich1231]

When working in Belgium about 10 years ago I used to commute weekly by car. I had returns for 9 EUR booked from the Belgian end.

[Deva Link]

AdvanceRoadcraft said:

The ferries use (or, at least, used to) exactly this sort of pricing structure as well.

I once pointed it out to P&O who told me that if I failed to use the return half of the first ticket and turned up at the French ferry port three weeks later intending to use the return half of the second, they would refuse to honour it as I would have 'breached the terms of the contract(s)'.

Airlines do this too, although some agencies can buy tickets that originate in foreign countries so you can use two sets of returns. I've also done trips involving two flights which were cheaper than it would be to terminate at the first airport.

Also with trains, I don't know if it's still the case, but it always used to be cheaper to get a cheap day return than a single.

[Silver993tt]

Chrisw666 said:

I've just gone to book tunnel crossings for next week, and it seems booking 2 individual day returns 2 weeks apart is cheaper than booking 2 singles or a return with a 15 day gap in between.

It makes me ask a couple of things, mainly why and secondly is making it cheaper for people to book extra tickets a good way of making the services look busy for shareholders?

If you don't use the returns for any of the tickets but use another booking instead, you will get charged the full fare (after you have taken your trip) from your credit card.

[Chrisw666]

Silver993tt said:

f you don't use the returns for any of the tickets but use another booking instead, you will get charged the full fare (after you have taken your trip) from your credit card.

I saw this, I've also noticed that I need my credit card with me at check in, as I don't have the pin number I think I'll be booking a ferry instead.

[planetsurfer]

If you travel a lot, you can buy 10 tickets for 390 quids.

[TonyHetherington]

It used to be VERY common on planes to buy two sets of returns, but that changed about 7yrs ago.

Simply put - it's in their T&Cs as they see that coming a mile off

[Targarama]

Silver993tt said:

f you don't use the returns for any of the tickets but use another booking instead, you will get charged the full fare (after you have taken your trip) from your credit card.

I have done this several times in recent years, 2 x day returns, I have never heard anything or been charged. I use 2 different credit cards, one card/booking in my name one in the other half's. I use two different car registrations on the booking, the correct reg for the return. I have never been asked why my car reg does not match the booking reg. (I found that last bit out by accident years ago when my TVR Chimaera needed a new camshaft so we took her Audi A3 on the trip).