Eurotunnel - ticket purchasing strategy
Discussion
Driving down to the continent next week, likely Friday afternoon and back on Tuesday afternoon.
Wondering if it's best (cheaper) to book the tickets in advance, or just get the tickets directly at the terminal.
I'm leaving from work on Fri so could miss the 2hr booking slot if I get stuck with something to finish before I leave. Likewise on Tue I may be too hungover to make it to Calais on time!
Wondering if it's best (cheaper) to book the tickets in advance, or just get the tickets directly at the terminal.
I'm leaving from work on Fri so could miss the 2hr booking slot if I get stuck with something to finish before I leave. Likewise on Tue I may be too hungover to make it to Calais on time!
Did this last year, coming back from SoF, had a seafrance booking and was a couple of days ahead of schedule. Got a buddy to check eurotunnel prices on-line for the next day for me £59. So turned up following morning at about 10:00 to be charged £170. Queried it obviously and girlie told me on-line prices are way cheaper than turning up and only way I could get it cheaper was for next day and to book it on-line.
As above.
Book the tickets on-line, in advance. Allow yourself some leeway with the timings but they often "bump" you onto the next crossing when it's busy and timings generally are quite flexible (off-peak times, anyway).
Also, if you turn up early and there is space on an earlier crossing, you can get that instead if you want.
Have a nice hol.
Book the tickets on-line, in advance. Allow yourself some leeway with the timings but they often "bump" you onto the next crossing when it's busy and timings generally are quite flexible (off-peak times, anyway).
Also, if you turn up early and there is space on an earlier crossing, you can get that instead if you want.
Have a nice hol.
BuzzLightyear said:
As above.
Book the tickets on-line, in advance. Allow yourself some leeway with the timings but they often "bump" you onto the next crossing when it's busy and timings generally are quite flexible (off-peak times, anyway).
Also, if you turn up early and there is space on an earlier crossing, you can get that instead if you want.
Have a nice hol.
Thanks for the advice, I'll book online.Book the tickets on-line, in advance. Allow yourself some leeway with the timings but they often "bump" you onto the next crossing when it's busy and timings generally are quite flexible (off-peak times, anyway).
Also, if you turn up early and there is space on an earlier crossing, you can get that instead if you want.
Have a nice hol.
It seems that the standard (and much cheaper) fare does not include free "bumping" onto an earlier or later train, within the booked 2hr slot anyway. Have you found from your experience that they usually close an eye and bump you gratis nonetheless?
matrignano said:
Thanks for the advice, I'll book online.
It seems that the standard (and much cheaper) fare does not include free "bumping" onto an earlier or later train, within the booked 2hr slot anyway. Have you found from your experience that they usually close an eye and bump you gratis nonetheless?
I've only used it a few times but arrived between 3hrs early and 1hr late and always been put onto the next available train. This is always with the cheaper tickets.It seems that the standard (and much cheaper) fare does not include free "bumping" onto an earlier or later train, within the booked 2hr slot anyway. Have you found from your experience that they usually close an eye and bump you gratis nonetheless?
matrignano said:
Thanks for the advice, I'll book online.
It seems that the standard (and much cheaper) fare does not include free "bumping" onto an earlier or later train, within the booked 2hr slot anyway. Have you found from your experience that they usually close an eye and bump you gratis nonetheless?
I go across frequently, only live 30 mins form the tunnel, and have always beem bumped to earlier trains with their cheap, non-flexible, tickets.It seems that the standard (and much cheaper) fare does not include free "bumping" onto an earlier or later train, within the booked 2hr slot anyway. Have you found from your experience that they usually close an eye and bump you gratis nonetheless?
They'd rather get you on a train and out of the way thereby leaving a possible space for sale on the next one.
Deffinately book online. Its also worth checking if two 24 hour apart bookings are cheaper than one 5 day one (if that makes sense)
If you are running later and are going to miss you 2hr slot, give them a call and re-arrange your time slot, they will do it without question.
I was stuck in a killer jam on the Brussels ring road wiithout a chance of getting to Calais in time. Gave them a call once through it and had a rough idea of expected arrival time and they had it sorted in a couple of minutes. +448705353535
If you are running later and are going to miss you 2hr slot, give them a call and re-arrange your time slot, they will do it without question.
I was stuck in a killer jam on the Brussels ring road wiithout a chance of getting to Calais in time. Gave them a call once through it and had a rough idea of expected arrival time and they had it sorted in a couple of minutes. +448705353535
greygoose said:
Don't the school holidays start next week, Friday afternoon will be very busy?
This. you will have close to bugger all chance of getting bumped onto another train if you miss your allotted time on a Friday pm in school holidays. I once missed my alloted check-in time in the Christmas hols by 20 mins and had to wait 7 hours to be put onto the next one.Ferries usually have more capacity for squeezing on an extra one but I would still make every effort to get there on time.
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