Eurostar Question
 

I plan to take the Eurostar one way only from London to Paris on Saturday, March 9. Time of day is unimportant. Should I buy a ticket in advance from the Eurostar web site (cheapest is $139 plus $15 shipping)? Or should I just walk up on my day of travel? Are there any promotions that I should know about?

Any information would be appreciated.

Bruce

Bruce,

$139 isn't too bad a deal, but what you may find is that you can get a cheaper price by buying a return ticket, with some notional date in the future for the return journey. Eurostar have an airline-stlye fare model, so the closer you get to the date of travel, the more expensive it's likely to be. I would imagine that the walk-up fare is quite a bit more than $139. I heard on the radio recently that they were doing very cheap deals for same-day returns (even though you'd only do the outbound) - somewhere around GB£50 ($70) but I know the availability for these was limited.

Hope this helps,
star_world

I've been finding that the trains are sold out on many days these past few weeks. At least between Paris and Italy and within Italy I've had to alter my plans because of this.

If your time of day is unimportant - book the "night club special". Leave after 4:00pm Saturday, return before 10:00am Sunday - £35. Of course, you would not sue the return leg.

If you fly United, you may wish to keep this in mind:

Now you have a new choice for earning and redeeming miles when traveling between the U.K. and continental Europe. Take Eurostar—the train with convenient routes between London and Brussels or Paris.

Earn

750 miles per paid segment in Premium First Fare
500 miles per paid segment in Full-Fare First Class
250 miles per paid segment in Full-Fare Second Class
You can also redeem your Mileage Plus miles for an award ticket on Eurostar, starting at just 10,000 miles for a Standard Class ticket with a Saturday night stay, through 30,000 miles for a luxurious crossing in Premium First Fare.

For more details, call United Reservations.

Bruce,

You can buy the ticket directly from the eurostar uk site and pick up it will-call at the eurostar office at Waterloo. You may save bucks (pounds really) by buying a one day return (70 gbp) with no handling directly from the uk site and throw away the
other half.

No need to pay a 15 dollar handling and shipping fee for this.

lala

How do you get the "night club special'?

Last November I hurt my back while in London and had to purchase a used wheel chair to get to London to catch our flight home. Because of the wheelchair the one-way fare in first class was only $50. I ordered the tickets from the Eurostar phone number. I did have a doctor's letter to say I needed the chair but they never asked for it. Also my two companions, both ambulatory, also go first class tickets for 50 dollars.

I tried to buy a same-day return ticket for 70 pounds (about $100) from the UK web site. It would not allow the transaction to complete, because I entered my US address (in required fields). Tickets purchased 7 days or more in advance get mailed, and the address must be in the UK.

So, I'll wait until I get within 7 days of my trip and buy the ticket then. In that case, it will be held at the will-call window at Waterloo Station. It looks like that will work, if availability remains. Isn't FlyerTalk terrific?

Any other ideas?

Bruce

Bruce,
Hadn't thought of that, I'm always buying tickets at the last minute http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif.

You should be fine for getting a ticket even seven days in advance. I think easter hols start around mar. 20 or later, so you shouldn't run into hundreds of children on the train (buying cheap tickets).

lala

There is a promotion for Eurostar for same day trips, London to Paris or Brussels, $68 RT in 2nd class, $130 RT in 1st class. Travel is between Feb 15 and Mar 15.
There is a Eurostar award booking thread in the United forum where I posted some additional information and links.

Jeff

Simple. Just book a train after 4:00pm on Sturday, returning before 10:30am Sunday. I just checked, they are available for this weekend.

You still have the problem of needing a UK address if purchased more than 7 days in advance. However, purchasing closer to the date of travel will likely work.

Amazingly, this super-cheap fare can be purchased up to 30 minutes before departure, according to the UK web site! Maybe I'll just wait until I get there and do that.

Bruce

FYI - I always upgrade, the seats are much nicer and the bubbles.

------------------
At 6'6" -'coach' is a dirty word!

What about going the other way? Will be traveling from Paris to London oneway but not until June. Any good deals in that direction?