Eurotunnel new booking system

[Monty don]

I see at last Euro Tunnel have now changed their booking system
Now want more detail on length of MH and trailer
So It looks like even more expensive for big MH and trailers

As my booking is the same but thats for a small motorbike trailer and up to 8 mt mh

GB

 

[Clarky]

Just had to have a look and you’re dead right.

We have a FT package but I haven’t looked to see if there’s any difference in price for that.

Richard.

 

[Easyliving]

I just had a quick look at the Eurotunnel site and, as you say, they have changed things round quite a bit. I used to like the 'old' system as it was very simple to book.

As far as I can see the prices are the same though.

Paul

 

[Monty don]

big rigs will be more for sure

 

[Clarky]

I just had a quick look at the Eurotunnel site and, as you say, they have changed things round quite a bit. I used to like the 'old' system as it was very simple to book.

As far as I can see the prices are the same though.

Paul

Perhaps they just want to calculate how much space is left after each booking.
It makes sense for them to have an idea of length.

Richard.

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[Monty don]

its all about the money
boom

 

[Easyliving]

Perhaps they just want to calculate how much space is left after each booking.
It makes sense for them to have an idea of length.

Richard.

Maybe thats it, the old system when you just specified 'campervan' didn't tell them much.

 

[maison]

I note that the old “cut off point” for small m/hs was less than 6m. We are 5.999m

It is now 5.5m. More cost.

 

[Brains]

"Campervans" are all around 5m in length.
Even a 17 seater LWB minibus is only 6.7m long

Whereas "Motorhomes" start at 5.5m in length.
7m is typical and up to 10m is not unusual, which is the length of two 'Campervans'

All that is before you add stuff on the back!

Given that EuroStar (and the ferries) main limitation is length, it's not surprising that they charge a premium for every meter (or part thereof) over 5.99m

 

[Southdowners]

There doesn’t seem to be a difference in price for a bigger motorhome - it’s pretty much what I’d expect to pay. I guess it’s changed in order to manage the loading more accurately.

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[TerryL]

I've just booked ready for our Winter sojourn - price was exactly same as last time, given I always book at least 4 weeks in advance, more if I can confirm our plans.

Incidentally I booked using Tesco vouchers and you have to call them - but the questions were identical to the website booking form, including van length (which has to include bike racks etc.)

Has anybody experimented with sizes to see if there are different prices for different lengths?

 

[Jaws]

Just checked and it is the same price for our 'over 8 metre' van

 

[barsteward]

I was half way down the que waiting to board at the euro-tunnel Calais on Saturday morning, in front was a coach and several vans and camper vans.

I was then called from behind all the smaller vehicles and loaded on behind the coach at the head of the train, this has never happened to me before so I suspect it is more about managing the space more efficiently rather than cost of tkts.

 

[Clarky]

I was half way down the que waiting to board at the euro-tunnel Calais on Saturday morning, in front was a coach and several vans and camper vans.

I was then called from behind all the smaller vehicles and loaded on behind the coach at the head of the train, this has never happened to me before so I suspect it is more about managing the space more efficiently rather than cost of tkts.

That has happened to us in the past too.
We are 7.5m so I assumed they were making the best of the available space in one compartment.
It must make sense for them to know if they will have to load 10 PVC’s or 10 Concorde’s.

Richard.

 

[Jenka]

Every time I have booked they require dimensions, a few years ago virtually every trip I made we had a carriage to ourselves just lately they put a car behind me so as people say it's just being efficient and thus more profit ,so no problem.

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[pagey]

I booked our return yesterday as you say website requires more info including reg no maybe something to do with bxxxxxt

 

[Jenka]

They always asking for the reg as they have APNR cameras for the booking .

 

[peterc10]

Sorry but there seems to be some confusion here. Eurotunnel class all campervans and motorhomes as "campervans" no matter what length they are. I have never seen any other category than campervan.

I suspect that they now want to know the length so as to get a better idea of capacity. I have just checked their website and the frequent traveller supplement for a campervan remains the same at £12, with no mention of any different rates for different lengths or any other categories.

 

[gus-lopez]

Whereas "Motorhomes" start at 5.5m in length.

My C class 4 berth is 4,6m

 

[Ratcatcher]

When I crossed a couple of years ago on a motorbike I had a carriage to myself one way and shared with another bike on the return, this was in August!

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[Landy Andy]

A few months ago whilst using the tunnel we were asked, by an employee, what length we were, and at loading got moved ahead of some other vehicles. Makes sense when you think about it.

 

[tonyidle]

I haven't used the Tunnel but if in the past they were loading with no prior knowledge of length and were not segregating to match available space they must have been running a pretty inefficient operation?

 

[Brains]

My C class 4 berth is 4,6m

Why tow a smart car when you could simply add the accommodation section !

 

[pagey]

Like to see him change the oil

 

[peterc10]

I haven't used the Tunnel but if in the past they were loading with no prior knowledge of length and were not segregating to match available space they must have been running a pretty inefficient operation?

I think you should try it before criticising them. They are not the same as a wide roro ship with lots of lanes to laod in. They effectively have lots of small holds in a line each sealed by fire doors. They can only load through one place and in a long line, so they can only ever load in the order that people turn up at the gate and they have a lot less time than the ships do to do it. In addition they do not have the same diversity of loading in that all the large freight is segregated onto dedicated open carriage trains, and everything else go in closed carriage trains. And it is further segregated by height. Anything less than about 1.8m high go in double deck coaches while the rest of us (motorhomes, vans, campervans, coaches and large 4X4s) all go in the single decker carriages, They do sometimes pull larger or smaller rigs out of the line to try to fit in places, but by the very nature of the process they can only do that occasionally in the time they have got.

Having said that they are pretty good at squeezing us all in, and if there are a few places left they usually call forward a few from the queue waiting for the next train

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[dickydo]

I am going to risk my neck here!

Surely the price to take a vehicle of any description onto a ferry must be gauged by the vehicles size and weight If there is any other sensible and fair system, I really can not think of it

Therefore anyone with a large vehicle can regret the new booking system, but they should not grumble too much about it?

 

[bigtwin]

...... so they can only ever load in the order that people turn up at the gate ........

Not at all. You are directed into different lanes that are marshalled; they have control.

That‘s not to say that, occasionally, they may not pull someone ahead to fill a gap.

Ian

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We were in a compartment last time on the way back and there was just us and a sprinter van in the compartment. The guard pulled me right up to the van, and we were just a few inches behind the sprinters rear doors. The sprinter driver got out and tried to open his rear door but couldn't so I reversed back a couple of feet as there was plenty of room. The guard walked past and earached me for moving back as a safety hazard,. Apparrantly they park close to prevent anyone walking in between, if the train stopped suddenly anyone caught berween vehicles would be seriously injured.
Lesson learned.

 

[tonyidle]

I think you should try it before criticising them. They are not the same as a wide roro ship with lots of lanes to laod in. They effectively have lots of small holds in a line each sealed by fire doors. They can only load through one place and in a long line, so they can only ever load in the order that people turn up at the gate and they have a lot less time than the ships do to do it. In addition they do not have the same diversity of loading in that all the large freight is segregated onto dedicated open carriage trains, and everything else go in closed carriage trains. And it is further segregated by height. Anything less than about 1.8m high go in double deck coaches while the rest of us (motorhomes, vans, campervans, coaches and large 4X4s) all go in the single decker carriages, They do sometimes pull larger or smaller rigs out of the line to try to fit in places, but by the very nature of the process they can only do that occasionally in the time they have got.

Having said that they are pretty good at squeezing us all in, and if there are a few places left they usually call forward a few from the queue waiting for the next train

It was a question more than a criticism mostly because I don't have first hand knowledge. As you say what they can & can't do is mostly dictated by time constraints - in much the same way as the ferries.

 

[peterc10]

Not at all. You are directed into different lanes that are marshalled; they have control.

That‘s not to say that, occasionally, they may not pull someone ahead to fill a gap.

Ian

I use the tunnel often and you are allocated a lane based upon what train you are booked on and what type of vehicle you are. They tend to put the coaches together but they do not allocate by length. I also think they keep the frequent travellers together and load them earlier. Once a lane is opened for boarding the green light goes on and the gate opens and away we all go in the order we arrived in the lane. They empty each lane in turn.

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