Chunnel reservations in advance?
#1
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Chunnel reservations in advance?
Did a search, but there doesn't seem to be any recent threads that are pertinent.
Going to London between Christmas and New Year's, and Mrs. Chop wants to go to Paris for a couple of those days. Is the chunnel train the best way to go? How about air?
Also, I tried to see if I could book the train for her, but it seems you can only book trains 60 days in advance? Any suggestions?
Should I worry about nonavailability with just 60 days lead time?
Thanks for your advice!
Going to London between Christmas and New Year's, and Mrs. Chop wants to go to Paris for a couple of those days. Is the chunnel train the best way to go? How about air?
Also, I tried to see if I could book the train for her, but it seems you can only book trains 60 days in advance? Any suggestions?
Should I worry about nonavailability with just 60 days lead time?
Thanks for your advice!
#3
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It's faster, easier and muuuuuuch less stressful to take the train. Book a ticket at www.eurostar.com or just show up and buy on the spot. As a business traveler thats what I do unless it is a holiday weekend or some peak period. If you fly, you have to get all the way out to Heathrow, arrive early, check in, passport, security, walk out to the gate, get on the plane seat-back in the upright position and all the associated blarney, land, walk a long way to arrivals, stand in the passport line, then take a taxi or long metro ride into the city. Then do the same for the return. Ugh.
With the Eurostar it is in city center and you can arrive less than 30 minutes before it leaves, security and passport control takes seconds, you can recline your seat for the whole trip, in business class they have power ports at the seats and serve you a nice meal, you have plenty of room for your laptop or a book. Very relaxing. And you arrive in city center. They have recently knocked the travel time down to a little over 2 and half hours on the Eurostar. It's a no-brainer for me.
With the Eurostar it is in city center and you can arrive less than 30 minutes before it leaves, security and passport control takes seconds, you can recline your seat for the whole trip, in business class they have power ports at the seats and serve you a nice meal, you have plenty of room for your laptop or a book. Very relaxing. And you arrive in city center. They have recently knocked the travel time down to a little over 2 and half hours on the Eurostar. It's a no-brainer for me.
#4
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In my experience, it's a lot more expensive to buy tickets on the spot rather than to plan ahead. I have never failed to get a ticket on the spot, but they seem to price tickets the way airlines do: buy ahead and it's less expensive.
I think it's the fastest way to get to Paris from London--you don't have to spend time going back and forth to airports. It's a great trip.
I think it's the fastest way to get to Paris from London--you don't have to spend time going back and forth to airports. It's a great trip.
#5
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Thanks everyone for your comments! ^
I think the train is a good choice. My concern still, is that I can't seem to book a late December trip till late October (the 60-day policy). Should that be a problem? Or do you know of ways I can set everything up earlier, so as to ensure Mrs. Chop has a nice trip to Paris?
Many many thanks.
I think the train is a good choice. My concern still, is that I can't seem to book a late December trip till late October (the 60-day policy). Should that be a problem? Or do you know of ways I can set everything up earlier, so as to ensure Mrs. Chop has a nice trip to Paris?
Many many thanks.
#6
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You won't have a problem booking 2 months or even 1 month in advance. Plenty of choice seats available. Remember these are trains. If they sell more tickets, they just add another car on.
#7
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Originally Posted by choptliva
Thanks everyone for your comments! ^
I think the train is a good choice. My concern still, is that I can't seem to book a late December trip till late October (the 60-day policy). Should that be a problem? Or do you know of ways I can set everything up earlier, so as to ensure Mrs. Chop has a nice trip to Paris?
Many many thanks.
I think the train is a good choice. My concern still, is that I can't seem to book a late December trip till late October (the 60-day policy). Should that be a problem? Or do you know of ways I can set everything up earlier, so as to ensure Mrs. Chop has a nice trip to Paris?
Many many thanks.
Last year I did a Eurostar trip report on another forum. Although the service in first class has now changed it will give you an idea of what to expect. Apologies for the poor quality pictures.
Eurostar Premium First
#8
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I was on the Eurostar two days ago. There is no "First class" anymore. The two classes are Business Premier and Standard. Also a business class ticket gets you into the lounges at Waterloo. I haven't taken the train out of Paris in a while to see if they have the same lounge policy.
I'm guessing some firms had a problem booking "first class" for their travelers and by renaming it business premier it's more amenable to corporate travel policy.
I'm guessing some firms had a problem booking "first class" for their travelers and by renaming it business premier it's more amenable to corporate travel policy.
#9
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Originally Posted by choptliva
I think the train is a good choice. My concern still, is that I can't seem to book a late December trip till late October (the 60-day policy). Should that be a problem?
Originally Posted by stimpy
I was on the Eurostar two days ago. There is no "First class" anymore. The two classes are Business Premier and Standard.
#10
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Originally Posted by stimpy
There is no "First class" anymore. The two classes are Business Premier and Standard. Also a business class ticket gets you into the lounges at Waterloo. I haven't taken the train out of Paris in a while to see if they have the same lounge policy.
Both classes are still first class. Eurostar wanted to separate business travellers from leisure travellers and re-branded the name. Your class of travel always show 1st or 2nd on tickets.
Edited: Just beaten by Globe!!
#11
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How does one book Leisure Class. The website doesn't show it when I try to make a booking. Or do you have to book far into the future to get it?
In my Eurostar travels I have seen many different train lengths so I am quite sure they size the train to meet the need. Just like they do for the TGV. They may lock down the train size at some arbitrary point before departure, but before that point ticket sales and trending determine the train length AFAIK.
In my Eurostar travels I have seen many different train lengths so I am quite sure they size the train to meet the need. Just like they do for the TGV. They may lock down the train size at some arbitrary point before departure, but before that point ticket sales and trending determine the train length AFAIK.
#12
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Originally Posted by stimpy
How does one book Leisure Class. The website doesn't show it when I try to make a booking. Or do you have to book far into the future to get it?
In my Eurostar travels I have seen many different train lengths so I am quite sure they size the train to meet the need. Just like they do for the TGV. They may lock down the train size at some arbitrary point before departure, but before that point ticket sales and trending determine the train length AFAIK.
#13
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Originally Posted by stimpy
How does one book Leisure Class. The website doesn't show it when I try to make a booking. Or do you have to book far into the future to get it?
In my Eurostar travels I have seen many different train lengths so I am quite sure they size the train to meet the need. Just like they do for the TGV. They may lock down the train size at some arbitrary point before departure, but before that point ticket sales and trending determine the train length AFAIK.
In my Eurostar travels I have seen many different train lengths so I am quite sure they size the train to meet the need. Just like they do for the TGV. They may lock down the train size at some arbitrary point before departure, but before that point ticket sales and trending determine the train length AFAIK.
As for the trainsets, Wikipedia says this:-
The Three Capitals trains are 400 metres long, weigh 800 tonnes and carry 750 passengers in 18 carriages (14 carriages for the 7 UK regional sets, not in use). In case of an incident in the Channel Tunnel the trains can be divided in two in order to evacuate the passengers in the unaffected carriages.
...
The sets were designed with tunnel safety in mind and are in fact formed of two completely independent "half-sets", each with its own power car. Whilst most of the trailers rest on a shared bogey (wheelset), the two central trailers do not, they are simply coupled together using a scharfenberg coupler. In the event of an incident on board the passengers can simply be transferred to the "good" half of the set, which would then be detached from the other half and driven out of the tunnel to safety. However during the only incident of fire to have occurred, the power was tripped by fire damage, making this impossible.
As well as the central automatic coupling, the half-sets feature feature Scharfenberg couplings between the power-cars and the first (motor)-trailer. This allows for a total of three points where the train can be separated in an emergency. As well as the coupling, there are a large-number of electrical supply cables that are designed to rip-apart (break) during a separation. These cables cost about Ł30k to replace if performed accidentally. The Three Capitals trains are 400 metres long, weigh 800 tonnes and carry 750 passengers in 18 carriages (14 carriages for the 7 UK regional sets, not in use). In case of an incident in the Channel Tunnel the trains can be divided in two in order to evacuate the passengers in the unaffected carriages.
...
The sets were designed with tunnel safety in mind and are in fact formed of two completely independent "half-sets", each with its own power car. Whilst most of the trailers rest on a shared bogey (wheelset), the two central trailers do not, they are simply coupled together using a scharfenberg coupler. In the event of an incident on board the passengers can simply be transferred to the "good" half of the set, which would then be detached from the other half and driven out of the tunnel to safety. However during the only incident of fire to have occurred, the power was tripped by fire damage, making this impossible.
As well as the central automatic coupling, the half-sets feature feature Scharfenberg couplings between the power-cars and the first (motor)-trailer. This allows for a total of three points where the train can be separated in an emergency. As well as the coupling, there are a large-number of electrical supply cables that are designed to rip-apart (break) during a separation. These cables cost about Ł30k to replace if performed accidentally. The Three Capitals trains are 400 metres long, weigh 800 tonnes and carry 750 passengers in 18 carriages (14 carriages for the 7 UK regional sets, not in use). In case of an incident in the Channel Tunnel the trains can be divided in two in order to evacuate the passengers in the unaffected carriages.
#14
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Originally Posted by UK flyer
Eurostar operates the same number of carriages at all times. 10 standard class coaches and 6 first class coaches. All first class coaches are identical (except coaches 9 and 10 which are half coaches) The number of coaches dedicated to Business Premier and Leisure Select will vary according to demand.
#15
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Originally Posted by UK flyer
You need to click on "Leisure Travellers" near the top of the page on their website.