How flexibile is the Eurotunnel?

[garth]

Booked my eurotunnel months ago as it was cheap. Booked it for eight pm, as I was working. I now have a half day, so am likely to get there by 5ish.

I've only used it once, when I was late - which wasn't a problem.

Are they likely to tell me to jog on if I'm 3 hours early?

[Matt B]

They will allow you 2 hours either way of your actual crossing time. If it's not busy then they should put you on the next available slot even if you are 3 hours early. Smile sweetly.
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[Marmalade]

3 hrs early and they will either turn you away or offer to let you travel for many excess pounds.

Book in at 6:05pm. the screen will offer you a choice of travel most usually, it may offer you earlier than booked for free, maybe a charge or it might just say next available is your booked departure, these are your options
There is no human at the place able to do anything the computer doesn't tell them to do, resistance is futile.

Take food and drink, the prices of stuff in the terminal is mainly more expensive than motorway services and if you have to wait 2 hrs you will be wanting refreshments.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[Matt B]

Why don't you go to the eurotunnel site and see if you can amend your current booking for an earlier slot. If there are spaces then it should be free to change it.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Marmalade]

[Matt B]

Charges for amendments depend upon the type of ticket that was purchased.

Standard tickets may incur a charge, Flexiplus will not. We have changed time slots on standard tickets before and there has not been a charge.

https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/ticket-terms/
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[instigator]

I've always been offered an earlier train, by up to just under 2hrs from memory, for free. Bloody love the eurotunnel so I do. I've always had the cheapest bastard tickets too (£12-16 each way)

[garth]

Little fucker of a eurotunnel website has locked me out, 'incorrect details' 'contact customer support' wanker of a system.

I guess I'll just do the two hour early thing.

[Marmalade]

[BTTD]

The only time I've been turned away was a couple of years ago when the Border Agency were doing a deliberate go slow to cause chaos and stop MP's from further cuts. Got there 3 hours early and they were already backed up with an hour wait to get through customs so was told to come back later. Highly annoying as the trains were leaving below capacity.
Eurotunnel weren't the problem. Border Agency was.

If you've booked a late night cheap ticket and turn up midday at peak price then they'll charge you the upgrade and maybe a little more, but I've never been horrifically stung. If they've had a breakdown or delays of some sort and are backed up, then you'll be stuck waiting without early options.

Phone them up and change it - it's the easiest option.

[Marmalade]

They have tried. I've turned up before and they've wanted £50 on one go and £70 on another.

Ride down to the ferry terminal and £30 gets me back to blighty.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[garth]

Can't really guarantee what time I'll get there, it's no massive deal to kill a few hours, I'm in no rush. Booking was for 20.43 so I'll aim for 6ish, see what happens. By the time I've faffed about and got there I expect it'll all be fine, time-wise.

All I've got to do the other side is ride to Coquelles F1 Hotel and go to sleep, so it's no big deal if I do get the late one. Can't see M25 on a Friday afternoon being nice.

[Marmalade]

At J10, 9 miles before the tunnel there is a supermarket just off the roundabout (A20, ashford) that i usually stop in to get supplies.

Sandwich, drink and assorted snacks, I also use the stop to sort out my passport and debit card for checking in as it saves typing number into touch screen.
Passport isn't needed until you leave terminal and head for boarding waiting area (if at all) but if you get a letter code for the next train you may be heading straight round there.

I find if you go round to the car park, past the terminal back in the general direction you came from you will see the bike parking area, pass this, go as far as you can go and park in one of the last bays. The road is marked 'FRANCE'.
Sometimes the people on the roundabout checking letter codes of vehicles loading will come over and say you can go earlier. Happened to me a couple of times but it isn't often so don't get your hopes up.
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Nobby the Bastard: How yo tell the difference between the actual japanese and her just screaming because she's had live fish stuck up her arse? [url=https://www.nicks-shop.co.uk/bcf-goodies-15-c.aspGet BCF stickers and things here[/url] Reflective helmet stickers - Legal requirement in france - Clicky

[ScaredyCat]

We got to the French side about 2.5 hours early - Charged us £5 to go on the next crossing. However, it depends how busy they are, schools round here have broken for the summer holidays so you'll probably find it's booked solid.
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[arry]

[Marmalade]

[arry]

[Copycat73]

I take it just turning up on the day and paying is not an option ?
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Marmalade]