tell me about eurostar

[editor]

What a nightmare Eurostar are turning out to be!
Got my tickets booked, fine. 22 December I found out I had to change them for next day. I expected to pay an admin fee of maybe £50 per ticket.
They want an extortionate £250 PER TICKET just unbelievable. I wrote in on 22nd Dec. i had a standard response, nothing more.
I rang them today and they are not varying from that. I said I could get a few return flights to Paris for that, how can they justify it?
Anyway, They have promised me a manager will telephone me in the next 24 hours.

Oh they're absolute fucks if you dare to want to change anything. But good luck.

 

[hash tag]

When are you travelling? Dates/times. PM me if you wish. They are cancelling loads of trains due to strikes and offering people even on non-cancelled trains the chance to change for free...

AWE, THANKS> Very short note sent - 22 Jan!

 

[teuchter]

What a nightmare Eurostar are turning out to be!
Got my tickets booked, fine. 22 December I found out I had to change them for next day. I expected to pay an admin fee of maybe £50 per ticket.
They want an extortionate £250 PER TICKET just unbelievable. I wrote in on 22nd Dec. i had a standard response, nothing more.
I rang them today and they are not varying from that. I said I could get a few return flights to Paris for that, how can they justify it?
Anyway, They have promised me a manager will telephone me in the next 24 hours.

That doesn't make any sense, as a quick search shows you could buy new tickets for way less than that. Or are you travelling in some kind of fancy premier class?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

That doesn't make any sense, as a quick search shows you could buy new tickets for way less than that. Or are you travelling in some kind of fancy premier class?

It is £130 per ticket for new tickets, £245 to change both tickets. So not £250 each, but still a hefty lump. Interestingly I have found out that tickets bought directly from Eurostar carry a change penalty of £30 PER LEG, rather than per booking if bought through a travel agency.

 

[hash tag]

two emails were sent to complaints department and three telephone calls made before I got a call back.
I tried several things including going out one day and returning the next. "As you have not responded to any of my emails Etc. can you not help with a nights accomodation?".
We, can never book hotels over the phone, no. Not even though I have had to chase you a few times, No.
Anyway, I have managed to swop all four tickets to the next day for a straight £100 which is not soooo bad.

 

[teuchter]

two emails were sent to complaints department and three telephone calls made before I got a call back.
I tried several things including going out one day and returning the next. "As you have not responded to any of my emails Etc. can you not help with a nights accomodation?".
We, can never book hotels over the phone, no. Not even though I have had to chase you a few times, No.
Anyway, I have managed to swop all four tickets to the next day for a straight £100 which is not soooo bad.

I don't understand what the problem is. You bought some advance, non-flexible tickets. It's normal that there's a charge to change these kinds of tickets (otherwise it would defeat the purpose of them). Normally you can change them yourself, on the Eurostar website. The cost is the difference between the ticket you bought and the ticket you want to change it to, plus the £30 or £40 or whatever it is per ticket.

Did something different happen here?

 

[hash tag]

They were quoting me £250+ for changing them; limited availability, prices have increased since booking...increase

 

[Spymaster]

A little bump as I am aiming for a day trip to Paris soon and was wondering if there are any tips about how to get the cheapest fare?

Fly.

Aren't you up north somewhere?

 

[hash tag]

Nope, if relatively convenient will take the train everytime over a plane. Mrs T and I both enjoy train travel and she hates flying.
Besides, Eurostar is much more convenient; rock up 15 minutes before departure, show tickets, show passport and away.
No messing around other end either.

 

[Spymaster]

Besides, Eurostar is much more convenient ...

It is if you start in or near London. Oop north folk are way better off flying from northern airports.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

It is if you start in or near London. Oop north folk are way better off flying from northern airports.

You’re more northern than hash tag

 

[Spymaster]

You’re more northern than hash tag

Oh yeah. I was getting him mixed up with that Geordie geezer.

 

[hash tag]

Geordie, any other insults whilst you are at it. I'll have you know, I currently live as far North as I have ever lived and am still on the correct side of the Thames.
ive been mistaken for a cockney but never a Geordie.
whatever next?

 

[teuchter]

They were quoting me £250+ for changing them; limited availability, prices have increased since booking...increase

I still don't see what it is that Eurostar have done wrong in this instance.

 

[hash tag]

Nothing as such, apart from really ripping me off for changing the date on two tickets.

 

[Pickman's model]

I still don't see what it is that Eurostar have done wrong in this instance.

that's no surprise

 

[Pickman's model]

Geordie, any other insults whilst you are at it. I'll have you know, I currently live as far North as I have ever lived and am still on the correct side of the Thames.
ive been mistaken for a cockney but never a Geordie.
whatever next?

being taken for a weegie no doubt

 

[hash tag]

Being mistaken for a Geordie, me. Still shocked and still seeking therapy

 

[teuchter]

Nothing as such, apart from really ripping me off for changing the date on two tickets.

Why do you think they are ripping you off though? It all seems quite standard for changing the date on advance purchase non flexible tickets, and similar to what you'd expect from an airline if you wanted to do the same thing.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Even at this late stage, buying plane tickets on the same date/route is cheaper than the cost to change the Victorian transportation system wishes to squeeze out of hash tag...



Plus you pay tax to the UK exchequer, no tax on Eurostar...

 

[hash tag]

A reminder (Mrs t likes, gets quite excited by trains )

'I formed the 45 Metre Underground Club': Eurostar stories of sex, celebrity and speed

Notwithstanding, you can wander about freely in Eurostar, watch the countryside go by or spend the entire trip in the bar getting pissed

 

[teuchter]

Even at this late stage, buying plane tickets on the same date/route is cheaper than the cost to change the Victorian transportation system wishes to squeeze out of hash tag...

View attachment 195295

Plus you pay tax to the UK exchequer, no tax on Eurostar...

Yeah, about the same price it would cost to buy new tickets on Eurostar. In reality Eurostar is cheaper of course because it's centre to centre.


In any case, neither is cheaper than what hash tag paid to change their tickets.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

A reminder (Mrs t likes, gets quite excited by trains )

Notwithstanding, you can wander about freely in Eurostar, watch the countryside go by or spend the entire trip in the bar getting pissed

And that mile under club, bloke claims to have founded it in 2011, would like to point him to April 1998...

 

[friedaweed]

Fly.

Aren't you up north somewhere?

People up North generally know which day they intend to travel on and book their tickets accordingly. It's only southern shandy drinking fuckwits that get ripped off like this. A Geordie would of rowed the journey topless.

 

[8115]

There are loads of £29 fare on until April 1st.

 

[not-bono-ever]

found a random return to amsterdam for 50 quid. you need to be a bit flexible tho'

 

[Spymaster]

People up North generally know which day they intend to travel on and book their tickets accordingly. It's only southern shandy drinking fuckwits that get ripped off like this. A Geordie would of rowed the journey topless.

Agtreed. Only highly unintelligent people like teuchter would take the train if flying was an option though.

 

[hash tag]

Had an email from Eurostar just a few minutes ago; apologies for not replying sooner, blah, blah, blah...totally overlooking my complaint, my other emails, my discussions and the fact that it's sort of now resolved.
oh Spymaster, sorry that you are so stuck in the '90s and see flying as the way to go.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

View flying back from Paris recently, kicks the shit out of Eurostar...

 

[Riklet]

Disagree! Train way better. Ive flown loads and seen plenty of clouds and sunsets, not bothered. Arrived Montparnasse the other day, walked an hour to Gare du Nord getting lush quiche and patisseries on route, arrived 40 mins before train no stress... was at Paddington 3 hours later for my next train. Got to arrive to that Tracey Emin neon sign. The booze in the shop is rather overpriced and underground/metro should be free both ends with a Eurostar ticket.. but those are my only criticisms. Was on a cheapy cheap ticket too.

When I booked Eurostar are offering free changes due to strikes. If I was gonna be changing this month I would milk the shit out of that. Say your plans have changed due to strike disruption, you had such high hopes for Eurostar etc etc, you were informed it was a free change policy currently. If that fails... wait another week or two then try, strikes will probs still be on.