Eurotunnel crossing

Tammygirl replied on 26/10/2020 16:08

Posted on 26/10/2020 16:08

Not sure if this is known but today I tried to amend my tunnel booking which had to be changed due to FCO advice of non essential travel to France back in September this year. 

The original booking was from Folkstone to Calais, however I wanted to change direction (Calais to Folkstone) and use it in June 2021 to return from our trip to Spain. We have a booking in place which was carried over from 2020 with BF Portsmouth to Bilbao. 

However it would appear that Eurotunnel does not allow you to change direction of your booking. I've had a long conversation with the people at Eurotunnel and they have no explanation as to why this is not allowed, its just not. 

We will now have to reconsider our trip (again) for 2021 and change to going out on the tunnel and possibly coming home via Caen - Portsmouth. The ferry company is far more amenable to making a change. This is not how we wanted to do the trip but its either that or write off the cost of the tunnel crossing. 

Does anyone else know about this rule. The CAMC representative certainly didn't, he was as baffled as me as to why this is not allowed. 

So folks you have been warned. laughing

replied on 26/10/2020 16:21

Posted on 26/10/2020 16:21

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

Tammygirl replied on 26/10/2020 17:00

Posted on 26/10/2020 16:21 by

I did it once a long time ago. I had booked through the caravan club  and somehow managed to book it the wrong way round, it was amended for a fee of £15

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:00

They won't do it now David even for a fee, the booking is through the club but to change it they have to go through Eurotunnel and they say no. 

I've emailed Eurotunnel to ask the reasons why, as it seems bizarre to me. I will hang off changing the ferry just now as we have plenty of time to sort this out IF the tunnel plays ball. 

Didn't really want to have to travel the length of France in April as we are heading for Southern Spain. Makes much better sense to take the Bilbao ferry out and then to come home leisurely to Calais in June. 

Still if it has to be the other way round, we might just not bother going to the south of Spain and be content with doing something else. Might even not go as early as April, was only going that early as we were using the Bilbao crossing. As you know April in France is not always worth stopping around for. We have 9 weeks so plenty of time to go down, we will see what my email brings.

InaD replied on 26/10/2020 17:07

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:07

No, I wasn't aware of that rule TG.  Initially wondered if it was a CAMC rule, but it's Eurotunnel's own rule.  Strange, as you can amend a crossing up to 24 hours after the booked date, and amendments don't carry an admin fee either; so that's all quite good.

But you can't change direction on a single ticket booking - one to bear in mind for the future, thanks for the heads up.

Tammygirl replied on 26/10/2020 17:18

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:07 by InaD

No, I wasn't aware of that rule TG.  Initially wondered if it was a CAMC rule, but it's Eurotunnel's own rule.  Strange, as you can amend a crossing up to 24 hours after the booked date, and amendments don't carry an admin fee either; so that's all quite good.

But you can't change direction on a single ticket booking - one to bear in mind for the future, thanks for the heads up.

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:18

You're welcome Ina, does seem strange that you can change the date, the time, even going from a cheap to expensive or visa versa. You can even change the vehicle, so from Caravan and car to MH but not the direction of travel. 

InaD replied on 26/10/2020 17:59

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:18 by Tammygirl

You're welcome Ina, does seem strange that you can change the date, the time, even going from a cheap to expensive or visa versa. You can even change the vehicle, so from Caravan and car to MH but not the direction of travel. 

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:59

I hope that you get a satisfactory email back from Eurotunnel TG.  Seems odd that nobody could tell you the reason behind that rule.  A case of: computer says no??

InaD replied on 26/10/2020 18:01

Posted on 26/10/2020 17:18 by Tammygirl

You're welcome Ina, does seem strange that you can change the date, the time, even going from a cheap to expensive or visa versa. You can even change the vehicle, so from Caravan and car to MH but not the direction of travel. 

Posted on 26/10/2020 18:01

Edited by me; gremlins!  Initially my reply was nowhere to be seen, so I did it again, only to see it twice undecided

replied on 26/10/2020 18:42

Posted on 26/10/2020 18:42

The user and all related content has been deleted

Wherenext replied on 26/10/2020 19:15

Posted on 26/10/2020 19:15

Cheers TG. We haven't got anything booked but will be seriously considering using the tunnel for at least one of the crossings if we venture abroad next year. Will bear the T&Cs in mind.

Tammygirl replied on 26/10/2020 19:49

Posted on 26/10/2020 18:42 by

Oddly enough, we have been aware of this because we always use the Tunnel when we cross, and have always booked direct after we got fed up of paying the Clubs' (both) amendment fees. The amendment clauses have been important to us in recent years, so we look carefully at the T&Cs. It's here:

"1.2 Amendable before day of travel
You can amend your booking in the same direction of travel
prior to the day of booked travel subject to availability.
Dependent on your fare type, a charge may apply."

(My bold.)

I think it must be to do with the clause requiring you to use the ticket within a year. We once lost a  crossing - we were unable to travel out and so wanted to amend our return to an outward crossing. That meant gaining extra weeks, if you get the drift, because the whole trip would not have been completed with a year. Maybe.... possibly....

Posted on 26/10/2020 19:49

Thanks for that WTG, can't say I have seen that. Even if I had I would have taken it that I could change the booking in the same direction of travel but it could be changed by a member of staff in other circumstances. Given that it is a Flexi ticket and I'm giving 8 months notice I would have thought it would have been allowed.

The CAMC staff member said he wasn't aware of it either until he phoned Eurotunnel. The booking in question would have fallen within the 12 month period of use so it can't be anything to do with that. 

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