Eurotunnel / Le Shuttle Quick Question

If it's busy they put you on the next one if you're a little late. I think 2 hours is the cutoff but the waive that if there's a 2 hour queue into the terminal as there sometimes is. I've not been let on early before

From what I've read the food is normal lounge stuff, maybe worth a tenner a head

When it was quite this Feb we were early and got put in the next train. I could see some benefit to the flexi plus que and lounge. But I didn’t regret not spending the money. However it was February

They usually put you on the first available one, in fact last time we went they put on one that was leaving about 5 mins after we checked-in, no chance of catching that as we had the dog, but we got on the next one. We only did flexi once and you couldn't get to the special food bit in a high vehicle so no idea what that was like. The main public bit is just like a motorway services.

I've never bought a flexi ticket and they always seem to put you on any old train that's still got space available. Biggest factor in determining what train you get on is the queue for passport checks.

I've never bought a Flexi ticket and have had no problem changing times of departure - if I changed to a more expensive crossing I just paid the difference. I don't know know what the restaurants are which you refer to. I saw a Bernard Kerr video when he was in the Flexi lounge and he just loaded up with bags of crisps and bottles of water, presumably included in the cost of the ticket. I've not used the tunnel for a couple of years, so things might have changed.

Thanks so much everyone.  Sounds like cheap ticket it is!!!

Not been for a few years, but previously on a regular ticket they've always just put us straight on the next train when we're early. They don't want you hanging about, they'll put you on a train if there's space.

We always get the cheapest ones and generally just get on the next available train. One determining factor is the height of your vehicle. You're much more likely to get a quicker turn around if you have a normal size car and can fit on the double decker sections, if you have a van or high vehicle i.e. roof box or bikes on roof, your get put on the single decker section so not as much room.

I've been on the double decker bit years ago in a Passat estate with a roof box on but the Viano now (no roof box) and our previous Smax with roof box only goes on the single decker bit.

Adding to that ^^^   If you've a bike rack on the back you get put in the high vehicle section.

I usually get a very early normal crossing from the UK which avoids most of the problems except overnight engineering running over or broken rails etc. On the return, if it's really busy (chaos) you jump the queues with Flexi. I usually buy the normal ticket and check chaos status via ****ter on the way up. If it's banzai, I upgrade my ticket to Flexi via their call centre to jump the queues. Obviously if they're right out to the peage, you're in the doo doo anyway. I've never bothered with the lounge or food preferring to skip past the proles and straight onto 'my' waiting train 🙃

boblo has it I think.  Flexi gets you access to the little hut with free sandwiches, not worth it. There is a 2 hour window and we've been made to wait before when we arrived too early.  We just buy standard

yeah I think the situation is fairly different when the trains are quiet vs when they're busy - if they're all empty they'll dump you on the next train, if its a weekend in the summer holidays its pretty different

Not been for a few years, but previously on a regular ticket they’ve always just put us straight on the next train when we’re early. They don’t want you hanging about, they’ll put you on a train if there’s space.

This is my experience also. It's been a while since I last used it but I was impressed with the service, they seem to apply a degree of common sense sorely absent from most travel systems.

Flexi food is snacks and sandwiches.

Defo not worth it. Done it once to try and all other times standard travel

Mostly straight on.

Came back a week ago - booked a train with plenty of wiggle room for delays on a long drive and ended up at least 2hr early
The check-in booth offered "next" train for +£50 or the one 30 min later for no extra cost
Ended up zipping through, somehow and caught the earlier one anyway
On the way out it was a shorter drive to the terminal so I managed to turn up near-enough bang on time

Flexi - Yeah, I wouldn't bother either though did the first time whe a friend told us it was "essential". The lounge is maybe worth £20 a head MAX (if you stuff your face with cheap coffee, sarnies & pastries)

I’ve never bought a Flexi ticket and have had no problem changing times of departure

yup, would never buy a flexi, we got put on early last time we arrived back as that was the next one available

Same experience of most of the other posts regarding put on earlier/later without any problems..... we always take Standard Refundable though as because we are travelling often for a specific reason we do sometimes need to cancel

thanks everyone!

Just beware, the Shuttle goes from 'normal/all OK' to complete meltdown in the blink of an eye. It seems they reach some sort of critical utilisation then the service goes to sh1te. Their ability to inform is pretty hopeless so, when chaotic, use Twitter or imagine your own boarding info - it'll be just as informative.

When it's 'normal', it's a joy to use and they're pretty straightforward in getting y9u sorted soonest. However,  don't dally.  Don't follow the boards slavishly and get through as soon as you can. Often, they'll get you on an even earlier train if there's capacity. I've only been sent back a couple of times and just do another lap of the car park before trying again.

Don’t follow the boards slavishly and get through as soon as you can. Often, they’ll get you on an even earlier train if there’s capacity

That.  I've got friends who always push their luck by driving up early anyway and asking.  It's a risk but at worst you just go back and drink more coffee.

Different view, partly down to the numbers in the car.

We generally take the flexi, stuff the bags with food and eat on the train as we go.

That’s for a family of four so the value of the food is higher than if I was on my own, and on a trip from Yorkshire to the Alps eating on the train not in a service station saves 30-40 minutes, which can be helpful with timings.

Also it’s worth looking at the relative cost of the cheap tickets and the flexis - the differential isn’t constant.

There is a price difference but it’s not as much when there’s more of you in the car and potentially worth it if you value the shorter times and dependable flexibility.

That said if it was just me in the car - no chance.  Cheapest ticket and stock up on food before I go.

We aim to get there early, get on an earlier train if they let us, and buy bacon rolls in the terminal if they don't.

With British roads I’m more worried about getting there late.

I always book the cheapest ticket on the day i want, usually 2am. Non flexi

You are allowed to be 24 hrs late, they stickj you on the next available, never had to wait more than an hour.
Used the tunnel 20+ times.

Been the last few years in summer with a family of 4 and always booked Flexi.

Reading this has made me wonder though. It's quite a bit more expensive (though shoving as much food as possible into our bags in the lounge always feels like the start of our summer holiday!).

The main reason is that on the way back we are usually driving from the South of France and timing it exactly is difficult. But it does sound like they are pretty sensible even if you aren't on the Flexi ticket.

Used it many a time.

Go for a late train. It's cheaper and if your arrive early they'll let you in the next available one if there's space.

Have you seen the flex lounge? I would rather sit in my car and pick my nose than spend the extra on a flexi ticket

With British roads I’m more worried about getting there late.

Yep. That's why I always allow loads of time and often get there early.

I’ve never bothered with the flexi, sometimes we get on a couple of hours early, sometimes have to wait for the booked crossing. The best we’ve ever done was turn up in Calais just before midnight for a 7am train and got straight on.

We’re usually in the camper though so just get some food or a kip in the back whilst we’re waiting.

Last summer we found it was cheaper to stay the night at a hotel in Cite Europe and get a really (5-ish) early shuttle back from Calais, there were four cars on the whole train! This also had the advantage of giving us clear roads back to Suffolk. 👍

Yep. That’s why I always allow loads of time and often get there early.

@ransos - I’d love to. Can’t leave Yorkshire until the schools are out on a Friday. Like to be in the Alps on the Saturday.  The 240ish miles to the Tunnel don’t take much less time than the 650ish in France.  Seven and a half hours one time.
We did once stay in Ashford but that got us into the Alps very late.  Which is fine on my own or even as a couple, but not great on a family holiday.
Leaving plenty of time doesn’t really work when there isn’t a huge amount of time available.
It’s just a case of what matters more in any given situation - your money or the certainty in getting there at a reasonable time.

<br style="box-sizing: border-box; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000;" />@ransos– I’d love to. Can’t leave Yorkshire until the schools are out on a Friday

Yeah that's tricky. We have a skiing holiday booked at Christmas, if I can't get reasonable train tickets then I'll drive. My thinking is to get to Calais late on the Friday, stay over and drive to the Alps starting early on the Saturday.

Was absolutely bobbins last time I used it with a motorbike and basically I have written it off now.
Down early, arrived early. Checked in and an earlier crossing allocated. I think it was the meltdown chaos mentioned above....

Early train cancelled and reallocated an hour later.

Finally called through to the area just before boarding and waited a further two hours where we could see folk arriving, checking in and driving straight onto trains. Thats you, Flexi Fare folk....

Finally boarded over 3 hours after arriving at the terminal.
Never again... Ferry next time.

The thing I hate most about travelling to France, and it does put me off - is the Journey down. It's just so painful.

It's absolutely awful. I've been 5 times in the last couple of years and I've tried every time of day.

As soon as you get to the Tunnel it's holiday for me

The thing I hate most about travelling to France, and it does put me off – is the Journey down. It’s just so painful.

I used to live down south an hour from the Tunnel, was easy to nip across.

It’s takes me 9hrs at best to get there now 😞

We still use it because we usually take the dog with us and it’s so much better for him, otherwise I’d look at the overnight ferries.

I've always had good experiences in the tunnel itself. (Although it's too short to notice!)

Not been on the ferry in years

@northernremedy

We've used it every year for well over a decade.  Never on flexi.

Usually it's join the queue for the next train if you're a little late. Sometimes if you're early they roll you on, sometimes make you wait. have regularly arrived within our checkin time and not made it onto the train we were booked for because it took too long getting through passport/searches.  You join the queue for the next train

BUT....we were once a few minutes late to check in and the next trains must have been fully booked as we were put on one a couple of hours later (which resulted in us getting to our overnight stop in France super late.  It's only happened the once but was shit.

Very cheap to go thru late at night and then stay overnight in Formula 1 in Coquelles.
Nice to start your long drive close to motorway already in the right country.

@rone

The thing I hate most about travelling to France, and it does put me off – is the Journey down. It’s just so painful.

Even worse on the way back.

I tend to use the tunnel 3 times a year, twice in summer and once in winter. Never used Flexi. Not seen the point TBH. Over the years the prices have rocketed, from approx £150 return to £300, but I suppose everything else has as well. Ferries used to be very competitive and priced a lot lower. They dont seem to be now though, so dont even consider the ferry, hardly any point.

<grumpy mode on> I'll also add that although the prices have doubled, the reliability of getting on time seems to have gone down hill. Out of the 3/year I take, I would say 2 are delayed whether that be broken down,  big queues, train delay or customs have pulled us over and we miss schedule. I will add that this is never an issue coming home! France side is always ontime. <grumpy mode off>

Used flexi a few times (included in ski holiday).  As everybody has said not worth it.

Tried ignoring the people who direct you to the terminal if you are too early - don't do that - they put you in the naughty queue and you watch everybody else getting on 🙂

Even worse on the way back.

Ha ha yeah! And you have nothing to look forward to.

I saw a Bernard Kerr video when he was in the Flexi lounge and he just loaded up with bags of crisps and bottles of water, presumably included in the cost of the ticket.

Funnily enough a couple of years ago we were queuing for the train and an enormo motor home with his name on the side waltzed past us.

Funnily enough a couple of years ago we were queuing for the train and an enormo motor home with his name on the side waltzed past us.

Current (or at least last year's) bus spotted by chance just off the M6 in Cumbria.