Channel tunnel advise

Lanerboy

Lanerboy

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Hi all

Not sure how the channel tunnel works

We are looking to go to Germany in May but not exactly sure for how long so want to know is it possible to book and leave on say 9th May on a one way ticket.

Then when we know when we want to return book a one way ticket back on the day we require
 
Shouldn't be a problem.
You could also book a return for your intended date and then amend it if necessary.
We have a Frequent Traveller package and can amend by giving 24 hrs notice but I'm not sure if that applies to 'ordinary' bookings.
Also, be aware that many travel insurance policies require you to have booked return crossings. Worth checking before you book one way only.

Richard.
 
That’s what we’ve always done it’s so easy and you are not committed to a set date to return until you decide when, give you a lot more flexibility.(y)
 
yes thats what I do

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If you were looking to pay with Tesco Clubcard points, you would need to book return - simply because you can’t book with them crossings beginning in Calais. But as said, it’s pretty easy to book and then change.
 
It is free to amend tickets up to 24hr in advance and they have a Brexit policy o& being able to cancel 7 day’s before travel.
 
Arent some of the tickets "savers", and therefore are subject to amendment charges? so maybe be be careful when booking...

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On the frequent traveller I only book one way one or two days notice never had a problem. Can never see the point of booking months in advance. Your circumstances could easily change.
 
We usually book a return ticket and have previously ammrnded are travel dates without any charge. This year we didn’t book as early as usual because of the not knowing re pet travel, however once we got the e mail regarding full refund if necessary we jumped in and booked.
 
We always buy two singles. Price is the same as a return
Our travel insurance requires a return date but we just give the latest we need to be back by, however the one the tunnel sells does need a return booking but can be amended.
 
gus-lopez said:
I thought that was the vehicle insurance ?
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Our personal travel insurance requires you to have a return booked. It’s included with our bank account and I didn’t realise that this was required until I needed to claim. The claim was rejected because we didn’t have a return booking. Will be looking for alternative cover before next trip as the duration of stay is limited too.
 
Clarky said:
We have a Frequent Traveller package and can amend by giving 24 hrs notice
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We also use the frequent traveller tickets and have sat next door in Cite Europe, phoned ET and amended our booking to catch a train two hours later. Providing you amend the booking before you turn up at the checkin it doesn't seem to matter, though within the last 24hr it seems it needs to be by phone.

We always have a return ticket that we amend to suit our travels.

Mick

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Definitely guess your return date and book it. Then simply ring and amend it when you make your final decision.

We have done that at least two times a year and rang to change a date just yesterday.

There is usually no charge for the amendment. You just have to check that the fare on your new date is no more than the original. If it is, you will need to pay the difference.

The Tunnel is a slick operation, (usually). You will find it easy to use after your first time.
 
Southdowners said:
Our personal travel insurance requires you to have a return booked. It’s included with our bank account and I didn’t realise that this was required until I needed to claim. The claim was rejected because we didn’t have a return booking. Will be looking for alternative cover before next trip as the duration of stay is limited too.
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Which bank?
We rely on Lloyds, normally book a return but occasionally don't. Looked through their policy doesn't say anything about having to have a return booked.
 
Lenny HB said:
Which bank?
We rely on Lloyds, normally book a return but occasionally don't. Looked through their policy doesn't say anything about having to have a return booked.
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HSBC Bank. We get it as we have a Premier account. I had an accident whilst in Norway and called them at the time to notify them that I may need to claim. It was then that I was told our insurance was invalid as we didn't have a return booked.
 
tuscancouple said:
We also use the frequent traveller tickets and have sat next door in Cite Europe, phoned ET and amended our booking to catch a train two hours later. Providing you amend the booking before you turn up at the checkin it doesn't seem to matter, though within the last 24hr it seems it needs to be by phone.
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Last December I changed our Frequent Traveller return crossing to a couple of hours earlier via the website just as we were approaching Calais......so its certainly possible to change online with less than 24hrs notice.
 
Solwaybuggier said:
If you were looking to pay with Tesco Clubcard points, you would need to book return - simply because you can’t book with them crossings beginning in Calais. But as said, it’s pretty easy to book and then change.
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We booked using our Tesco Clubcard points recently. Total fare (May) was £190 but we had £45 worth of Tesco vouchers. As they give you 3 times the face value on Eurotunnel we ended up paying £55, not bad at all.

I think you can now use Tesco points on DFDS ferries too.

Paul

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I also had a problem with breakdown recovery/repatriation and not having a return trip booked. The firm's argument was that without a return date how could they know whether repairs could be carried out in time for the return trip?

I'm also on Frequent Traveller so I now tend to book shortish return dates and keep pushing them back if required.
 
Do i need to buy the flexi ticket though to be able to change the booking as the flexi ticket is a lot more money
 
Lanerboy said:
Do i need to buy the flexi ticket though to be able to change the booking as the flexi ticket is a lot more money
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No but there will be a charge for changing the return time --- about £30 last time I did it last year
 
Stealaway said:
No but there will be a charge for changing the return time --- about £30 last time I did it last year
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Are you sure about that? Our experience is that that there is no charge as such, but that if you change to a more expensive crossing you are charged the difference.

And their website says, as part of standard conditions
“Free booking amendments up to 24 hours before your departure time if you’re travelling in the same direction and we have space available”

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Stealaway said:
No but there will be a charge for changing the return time --- about £30 last time I did it last year
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This is a different answer to what others have said now I am confused
 
i think that this is the right answer , though maybe argued with, yes you can book when you come back, yes you can book a return before you go and then change it for free if the present fare is the same as the one you booked, if its more you pay the difference, yes you have to book it more than 24 hours before you cross, car insurance dont useually want to know when you are coming back, travel insurance almost invariably do, as you could be away for a year when they only insure you for at the most 90 days, breakdown , i dont think they need to know the exact date but will just want to know when you went over so that you are still in their insured time which i think again is useually 90 days.
edit , yes if you use tesco you have to book a return but this can be changed, you cant book a single back with them
 
Stealaway said:
No but there will be a charge for changing the return time --- about £30 last time I did it last year
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Pretty sure this is wrong unless

A. You booked within 24 hrs of crossing
B. The charge was because the actual cost was higher.

For the last 12 years we have made three rerun trips per year. We usually end up changing our return date on two out of three. Never been charged to change the date as long as neither A. or B. above applied.
 
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Beware if booking Brittany Ferries through C&MC although better deal when I came to alter return date BF said had to go through C&MC as booking was through them, they charged £20 administration fee on top of BF ‘s £25 !
 
Lanerboy said:
This is a different answer to what others have said now I am confused
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It might have been because the travel time was more but don't just turn up and buy a ticket on the day.
One year we had to pay a further £100 on top of the ticket price we already had because we had to come home that day - in an emergency.

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