[Closed] Eurotunnel - if you're late, ... ?

long time since I used it but they still get you on one, just you give way to anyone else that's booked on their correct one or on a flexi. So at busy times, you might 'miss' several others as well, and get a few hours wait.

Yup, same experience. But I think there's probably some point at which they'll say you should have booked a flexi. I'm guessing at the point a cheap fare turns into an expensive one and they think you've deliberately missed your booked one.

They'll put you on the next free slot. Not necessarily the next train. I've been there and sat on the M25. They're used to it. Call them and explain whilst on route and they will sort you out. I normally book fixed out and flexible back.

They are quite helpful if you ring and explain.

We were on our way a couple of years ago and had a Mechanical with the gearbox on the camper. We rang them to say we were waiting for the breakdown to arrive and assess. They just said ring when we were on our way.
Rang them back after the AA had been to say it was no goer and was waiting for recovery vehicle.

We had a non transferable ticket bought via Tesco Clubcard vouchers which they gave us a 12 month extension on.
Couldn't have asked for more

Sounds fairly promising.  I'm likely booking late evening both ways so I'd guess the later trains are if anything, cheaper/emptier (?)

Zero shits given every time I've used it, though it's been a few years now. They'll fill the train with scheduled ticket holders then go "anyone else?" Probably the most painless travel experiences of my life, I've had more bother catching a bus.

They’ve been in bits tonight anyway. I doubt they turned anyone away.

The queues of trucks impeding entry to the tunnel complex was a Brexit bonus

As mentioned above, they just put you on the next one with room, which as they run very frequently doesn’t mean much of a wait.

If you’ve booked a v.cheap crossing and turn up in a much more expensive wave then they ask you to pay the difference sometimes. In the early days, we used to deliberately book the cheap as chips midnight-2pm slot and turn up at 9:30-10pm and they used to just let you on if there was room, these days they charge the difference unless it helps them out to get rid of you early.

My experience matches Cougar's - used to use it loads for work and if I missed my slot I don't ever recall having to wait more than the next train or so. Since Brexit/Covid YMMV of course..

What Cougar said. I don't think we've 'missed' one but we have gone on earlier ones a couple of times.
EDIT We haven't been on for a few years and I suppose there have been a couple of significant events since then!

If you know you are going to be late or early for your booking it's way better to ring ahead and give them an ETA to re arrange the booking. Turning up late unannounced you just join the end of the queue.

You may wait longer if you're in a van that they've booked in the higher bit

Ts and Cs say (or said) if you are within 2 hours, you get on the next available crossing.
Lots of people have been fine outside that window though. I'd call ahead if I was going to be later than that, but I just show up within in and it's always been fine.

I’ve had more bother catching a bus.

Haha. This is so true.

Yeah. Turned up early and put on a train, turn up on time and on a train. I assume they just want people ‘gone’ once you’re there cluttering they he place up. As someone said, they may bill the difference if you royalty rip the piss, but I’d roll the dice.

Boxing day last year there were 2 other cars on the crossing to France ws took. We drove the whole length of the train when boarding and it just set off as we stopped. Something to do with the mountain of rules we had to conform to to get home.May very different now

Rules in France has been relaxed I think so it's busy there now over the half term. Might of had extra traffic yesterday with Dover port being closed.