Turning up early at le shuttle

[Badda]

We’ve got a standard ticket and are crossing tomorrow evening at around 2030.

If we get there a couple of hours early, what are the chances of getting on an earlier crossing? Used to always be offered this a few years back but I don’t know if things have changed.

[Ussrcossack]

From my experience you get to the booths and are offered an earlier crossing, usually available

Sometimes there is a cost to pay sometimes not.

[Scabutz]

Did this in the summer. Turned up almost 2 hours early and it just moved us to the next leaving train. No charge. When you check in at the automatic barriers it pops up as an option.

[Red9zero]

Ussrcossack said:

From my experience you get to the booths and are offered an earlier crossing, usually available

Sometimes there is a cost to pay sometimes not.

Same here. I don't think we have ever actually got on the crossing we were booked onto The cost is still less than Flexi-plus.

[dundarach]

Going out, got there early, got on early was great

Coming home, got there early, they were running late, was horrible.

Providing you're happy to sit in the car as the public areas are full of nasty chavs, I'd go early

[Puggit]

At this time of year you shouldn't have too much of a problem. It even worked for us in early August.

[Skodillac]

You get 3 or 4 hours leeway either side of your booked crossing. Just check the website/your booking terms and it's in there.

[NickXX]

We got an earlier train both ways on our summer holidays this year with no extra charges. 2 hours earlier on the way back.

[Badda]

Thanks all, much appreciated. Sounds like a good plan to just get there asap then.

[FlyVintage]

Skodillac said:

You get 3 or 4 hours leeway either side of your booked crossing. Just check the website/your booking terms and it's in there.

Unfortunately they did away with that on the standard ticket; if you miss your booked crossing they now expect you to purchase another ticket. There were a few stories in the press about angry customers. Luckily however, they seem fine about you turning up early and whether you get an earlier crossing or not is just dependant on their remaining capacity on the upcoming trains.

[Skodillac]

FlyVintage said:

Skodillac said:

You get 3 or 4 hours leeway either side of your booked crossing. Just check the website/your booking terms and it's in there.

Unfortunately they did away with that on the standard ticket; if you miss your booked crossing they now expect you to purchase another ticket. There were a few stories in the press about angry customers. Luckily however, they seem fine about you turning up early and whether you get an earlier crossing or not is just dependant on their remaining capacity on the upcoming trains.

Oh when did that happen? I travelled in July this year and the terms were a couple of hours either side on a standard ticket.

[FlyVintage]

Skodillac said:

FlyVintage said:

Skodillac said:

You get 3 or 4 hours leeway either side of your booked crossing. Just check the website/your booking terms and it's in there.

Unfortunately they did away with that on the standard ticket; if you miss your booked crossing they now expect you to purchase another ticket. There were a few stories in the press about angry customers. Luckily however, they seem fine about you turning up early and whether you get an earlier crossing or not is just dependant on their remaining capacity on the upcoming trains.

Oh when did that happen? I travelled in July this year and the terms were a couple of hours either side on a standard ticket.

March this year according to their website. I miss-remembered though and they still offer a 60 minute grace on a standard ticket after which it is voided. Lesser tickets come with some pretty draconian conditions.

https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/support/articles/w...

[Skodillac]

FlyVintage said:

Skodillac said:

FlyVintage said:

Skodillac said:

You get 3 or 4 hours leeway either side of your booked crossing. Just check the website/your booking terms and it's in there.

Unfortunately they did away with that on the standard ticket; if you miss your booked crossing they now expect you to purchase another ticket. There were a few stories in the press about angry customers. Luckily however, they seem fine about you turning up early and whether you get an earlier crossing or not is just dependant on their remaining capacity on the upcoming trains.

Oh when did that happen? I travelled in July this year and the terms were a couple of hours either side on a standard ticket.

March this year according to their website. I miss-remembered though and they still offer a 60 minute grace on a standard ticket after which it is voided. Lesser tickets come with some pretty draconian conditions.

https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/support/articles/w...

Thanks, I'll be sure to read the terms next time I book in case of variations. Bar stewards.

[SoliD]

Out in June, got there about 2hrs before departure, got an hour earlier crossing, way back 2 weeks later, got about similar time, but only got offered the exact crossing time on my cheapo ticket. Although we had a dog, and the process on the way out is simpler than the way back.

[AlexGSi2000]

I got stung mid-September coming back from Calais.

Booked a time when I assumed it would be the quietest - think it was 23:00 on a Sunday.

Made good progress through France and arrived at 21:00 and couldn't get an earlier train.

Spoke to customer services, apparently I had missed the last train by 20 mins and the next one out was 23:00 - turns out LeShuttle also find this to be the quietest time and carry out maintenance, so I had a nice 2 hour wait followed by another 1hr30 delay as maintenance over-ran.

Typical. Any other time has been fine and I've jumped onto an earlier train.

[languagetimothy]

I was in Lille and on the morning of my return it was raining hard so thought Id go see if I could get an earlier train back to the UK. I politely ask. nope, flat out refused and suggested if I wanted an earlier train I would have to pay the full fare for it. I cant remember the times exactly but it was maybe two hours earlier like 11am instead of 1pm. this was around ten years ago.

[Red9zero]

languagetimothy said:

I was in Lille and on the morning of my return it was raining hard so thought Id go see if I could get an earlier train back to the UK. I politely ask. nope, flat out refused and suggested if I wanted an earlier train I would have to pay the full fare for it. I cant remember the times exactly but it was maybe two hours earlier like 11am instead of 1pm. this was around ten years ago.

Last two times on the way back from Le Mans, we have arrived at Calais a few hours early and been put straight onto a waiting train with IIRC approx a 70 Euro charge. Luck of the draw I guess.

[Puggit]

About 13 years ago, turned up a day early to Folkstone. Mrs Puggit had booked for Sunday, we turned up early morning on Saturday - the first Saturday of the summer holidays. Absolute carnage.

Lady in booth (tells you how long ago it was!) tells us we were a day early, our hearts sank. Tappity tappity - but I can get you on in an hour for £5. I happened to have a fiver in the centre console, thrust it in to the lady's face. Wouldn't only work on the same credit card as the booking.

Happy days!

[cliffords]

Even on the lowest cost ticket the machine at the barrier will offer you alternative crossing times , watch out when you choose some at a cost and some for free.
We have used three times this year so far always got an earlier crossing using the no additional cost option .

The only thing you must watch our for now is you have to be at that barrier more than 60 mins before your booked crossing time or on the standard ticket it all gets really unsatisfactory . So we get there early to be safe and have always got on earlier trains .

When its off peak like November , our last trip , I did notice the 13.20 , 13.40 and 14.10 train were actually the same train , left about 14.25

[andy118run]

cliffords said:

Even on the lowest cost ticket the machine at the barrier will offer you alternative crossing times , watch out when you choose some at a cost and some for free.
We have used three times this year so far always got an earlier crossing using the no additional cost option .

The only thing you must watch our for now is you have to be at that barrier more than 60 mins before your booked crossing time or on the standard ticket it all gets really unsatisfactory . So we get there early to be safe and have always got on earlier trains .

When its off peak like November , our last trip , I did notice the 13.20 , 13.40 and 14.10 train were actually the same train , left about 14.25

Pretty much my experience, travelling on a standard ticket from Calais, around 8am in early August.
Arrived an hour or so early-offered an earlier train on check in for free-just missed the train offered as it was a bit slow through customs/passport control-drove straight onto a virtually empty train anyway. All very straight forward.