 Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Arrived just before 11. Moved forward to 12.22 train from 13.22 . No queues at any point of check in. Terminal deserted. Now boarding 11.52 I think
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Hells Bells, hooray. Bonne route!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Fogliettaz, so that's what those signs on the autoroutes are for  (somebody had to say it....)
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Yoda, 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Besides a bottleneck, they are also superb little family run restaurants based in Lyon, for those of us that come to France not only to but enjoy the local cuisine 
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Came home Monday - arrived at Calais around 10:40 for a 12:47 train, with a little trepidation as I was ever so slightly ahead of the advised 10:47 checkin opening, having previously been turned away (at Folkestone) for arriving ahead of schedule. No isseus at all though - Like others, I was bumped onto an earlier train, 11:17 in this case. No queues at the passport booths, only four cars behind me when loading, the top deck was not loaded.
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Maybe a stupid question but if they say you can't get an earlier one do they still let you in or do you need to reverse out... potentially forcing the car behind to reverse and more?
I suspect that the new terms are there just to give them more options when it gets busy
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Rob_Quads, there's an exit back to "outside" just after the check-in booths, been directed out once when we were early and it was a busy day
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@Rob_Quads, we had the same experience as @Boris, hence trepidation this time.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Not usually just have to and park but obviously if busy space might be limited.
We turned up.this morning at 5. 45 for a 7.47 but got on the 7.17 no charge , best run down ever i think, left sunny wilts at 3 am, bit foggy in placex till Andover but clear after , and not one set of road works with a 50 limit must be a first, 110 miles to go to Geneva now ten minutes utes under 11 hours since we left home 585 miles covered so far. I reckon with the time waiting at Gatwick k we would beat flying and coach transfer this time, from.bristol plane might just win
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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To be fair, there isn't much to have trepidation, just go to some services and wait it out.
Only happened to me once many years ago. I think we had to kill an hour.
Bit frustrating but clearly we'd just had a good run on the road and were ahead of schedule. What you'd do if you were flying for example.
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| Quote: |
To be fair, there isn't much to have trepidation, just go to some services and wait it out.
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Yeah, we were very early and it was a very busy day, so we did just that - but when we got back in the queues were enormous as they'd had issue, so from arriving about 45 minutes early (might have been a bit more), we eventually got into France several hours later than planned. It occurs to me now we might have got vouchers for the delay if we'd thought to complain :/
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You know it makes sense.
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I came back on Sunday evening, got to check in 1hr 10m before my departure time, didn't bother stopping to shop, drove straight to customs 16 mins before the 'call'.
French customs, no problem, UK customs seemed to takes ages.
Once through drove up to the holding area and got waved straight on to a waiting train. Doors shut right behind me and off we went 30 mins early!
I'll take that as a win 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| robs1 wrote: |
Not usually just have to and park but obviously if busy space might be limited.
We turned up.this morning at 5. 45 for a 7.47 but got on the 7.17 no charge , best run down ever i think, left sunny wilts at 3 am, bit foggy in placex till Andover but clear after , and not one set of road works with a 50 limit must be a first, 110 miles to go to Geneva now ten minutes utes under 11 hours since we left home 585 miles covered so far. I reckon with the time waiting at Gatwick k we would beat flying and coach transfer this time, from.bristol plane might just win |
Son and family got back from nendaz/ verbier at 12.30 am uk time sunday having left resort at 9.am local time via Besancon ,Reims 3.15pm , Tunnel 6.20 , peterbrough9.00pm after a food stop ,home as far as you can go in north north yorks 12.30 am . Total drive 870 miles hours 15.5 - 40ish mpg av speed @56mph . tolls fuel tunnel £ @350 . Couldnt get any where near that cost flying with a family of 4 plus gear and 2sets adult skis /boots. Reckon at best flying inc transfer, airport waiting both ends and drive home from say manchester would have cut the travel time by maybe at best 3-4 hours but cost thickend of a grand more , mindst not everyone would undertake the drive in one, but sitting on a tractor ploughing all day is good training ho ho. Hope you and yours enjoy your trip ours isnt while end of feb cheers
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Poster: A snowHead
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| ski for fun wrote: |
| robs1 wrote: |
Not usually just have to and park but obviously if busy space might be limited.
We turned up.this morning at 5. 45 for a 7.47 but got on the 7.17 no charge , best run down ever i think, left sunny wilts at 3 am, bit foggy in placex till Andover but clear after , and not one set of road works with a 50 limit must be a first, 110 miles to go to Geneva now ten minutes utes under 11 hours since we left home 585 miles covered so far. I reckon with the time waiting at Gatwick k we would beat flying and coach transfer this time, from.bristol plane might just win |
Son and family got back from nendaz/ verbier at 12.30 am uk time sunday having left resort at 9.am local time via Besancon ,Reims 3.15pm , Tunnel 6.20 , peterbrough9.00pm after a food stop ,home as far as you can go in north north yorks 12.30 am . Total drive 870 miles hours 15.5 - 40ish mpg av speed @56mph . tolls fuel tunnel £ @350 . Couldnt get any where near that cost flying with a family of 4 plus gear and 2sets adult skis /boots. Reckon at best flying inc transfer, airport waiting both ends and drive home from say manchester would have cut the travel time by maybe at best 3-4 hours but cost thickend of a grand more , mindst not everyone would undertake the drive in one, but sitting on a tractor ploughing all day is good training ho ho. Hope you and yours enjoy your trip ours isnt while end of feb cheers |
Yes sitting on a tractor all day from 5 am to 10pm mowing has that affect, I once drive from our farm south of bath to just north of Leicester to pick up a trailer I bought of ebay, some said that was mad but at least the scenery was different every mile.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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From reports here it does appear that Le Shuttle are being fairly relaxed about the time restrictions when it is quiet. It remains to be seen if the same flexibility exists come February half-term, I'm going to guess no.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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On the new T&Cs.....the Standard ticket gives you an hour's grace after your booked slot still (from what I read on the way down last week when I was panicking). The saver tickets are much more restrictive but Standard is fine so long as you're broadly hitting the time.
On the way out, we turned up at 5:20 for a 6:20 shuttle and they put us on the 5:50 for free. So technically, we were just on time for checking in.
On the way back, we got held up with snow, farmers and traffic coming up from Dijon and we got there at 12:45 for a 13:20 shuttle and made it (the system didn't even suggest a later one, just stuck us on the one we'd booked). Check in for our shuttle should have finished 25 minutes before we got there and no issues.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Boris wrote: |
| From reports here it does appear that Le Shuttle are being fairly relaxed about the time restrictions when it is quiet. It remains to be seen if the same flexibility exists come February half-term, I'm going to guess no. |
Yes, they seem prety flexible when you're early. Not seen many reports of what happens when you're late though.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Judwin, see post directly above. @paulhinch, was held up and checked in less than one hour before departure.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Further to my comments last Friday, they excelled themselves yesterday.
Arrived 1520 for booked 1722, put onto 1552 no charge, and literally drive straight on!
Only wait was 5 min for UKBF.
Only the second time it's worked like that in 20 years, but by God it was good!!!
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Amazing Chunnel crossing this morning. My booked time was 07.22 with a last check in of 06.22. I arrived at 05.53, given the earlier train of 06.20(ish), quick glance at passport from French customs and was parked up on the train at 06.08! Was off the train in Calais and driving by about 08.30 local. Cost £99. Let’s hope the return goes as smoothly in 2 weeks time (in my limited experience it takes a lot longer!).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@martinperry, @japes1275, We had a similar experience arriving 3 hours before departure on Saturday afternoon. In fact we boarded a half train, just the high vehicle front half, and all the waiting vehicles were loaded regardless of size.
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Folkestone terminal like a ghost town. Just two cars at check-in when I arrived. Booked on 11.16, offered 10.46. Overnighting Ibis Budget just off the motorway at Troyes which I haven't tried before.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Spoke too soon. 30 minute delays to departures.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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When the demand is low, its not unusual for trains to vanish off the departure board.
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Earlier this week we got to the terminal early and we were offered a train a hour earlier than booked, got on it and it left on time. All went very smoothly.
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You know it makes sense.
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Took advantage of recent sale and traded outbound flex plus ticket figuring saving would pay for overnight hotel. Arrived shortly after 17:00 for a 19:15 train and was offered 17:46. Second wagon back when we were loaded and get to hotel in Saint Omer shortly after 8. Normally try and get early train on a Friday but suspect will repeat for Easter. Only downside was forgot my earplugs almost reached for the pillow to put hubby out of my misery…
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| Judwin wrote: |
Yes, they seem prety flexible when you're early. Not seen many reports of what happens when you're late though. |
Isn’t that then a case of amending and re-scheduling the booking whilst your driving to get a later crossing if available? Pretty sure that was the workaround we used when we knew we wouldn't make it back from Montlucon on a work trip last February
Last edited by Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name: on Fri 23-01-26 12:12; edited 1 time in total
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Specialman, it's now £20 per amendment (unless you're on flexiplus, in which case you can just turn up anyway)
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@KSH, is it really? That's a bummer. Bloody hell, mind you it's cheaper than being refused and having to buy an entirely new crossing
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Specialman, 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@KSH, sorry... badly worded.... if I remember rightly, before you could just change the crossing on-the-fly if you knew you were going to be late, just paying the difference if it was more expensive. So now you have to pay a £20 amendment fee as well? If so, that still works out as being cheaper than getting to Calais late, being refused and then having to make a fresh booking at full cost
Mind you, I generally book way later than I intend to travel when returning to the UK, just in case we stay too long somewhere on the way
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Specialman, I don't know anything about any of this. I think you've got the wrong person.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@KSH, I have no idea how you got tagged in that. I blame my sausage fingers
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Just err on the side of caution when booking and be early rather than late.
Amending the booking is a fallback option when something major happens.
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Checked in 13.10 after rapid pet passport check. Put on 13.51 train , one hour before our booked one, which loaded on time. Fastish border control too . Left 15 minutes late but just minutes before arrival in Folkestone, the train stopped. We sat for around about another hour before they eventually took the train back to Calais . Sat for another 15-20 minutes before heading back to Folkestone arriving 3.5 hours after our first departure time. So instead of being almost home we are just passing Peterborough. Reason for delay was problems with the train in front of us. They were going to swap tunnels at one.point but we ended up.going all the way back despite being so close to Folkestone.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Hells Bells, Frustrating! Hope the rest of the journey goes better.
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@RobinS, +1
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FAQ
