 Poster: A snowHead
|
|
Good work... Travel well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Anyone.leaving later today. M20 currently closed from junction 8 to 9 presumably for Operation Stack/Brock. Diversion via M2 .
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Yes, we're seeing the signs for that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
Telegraph reporting long delays at Dover....
Exasperated drivers say they have been stuck in queues at Dover for more than six hours as travellers faced further disruption on planned Christmas getaways.
The Port of Dover warned against anyone travelling to the ferry terminal without a booking after unexpected strike action on Thursday led to delays at French border controls on Friday.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
@Weathercam, my cunning plan succeeded - persuaded everyone to book ferry yesterday, sailed through Eurotunnel this morning 
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
We've just done our first Flexiplus lounge. Felt like imposters. My daughter said it felt like gate-crashing a wedding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It took us a bit longer than planned to get to Eurotunnel but fine once we got there. Not sure what I experienced in the Flexiplus lounge was like gatecrashing a wedding but no queuing at check in and first on the train
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We slipped through quite painlessly at 6.30 this morning, sacrificed breakfast at the Holiday Inn for a bag full of goodies in the FP lounge. When it’s busy it is very odd, a bit like the first day of the sales, with people grabbing sandwiches and yogurts left, right and centre. The salmon and cream cheese sandwich that I took was excellent.
Otherwise clear drive to Valais, routed over the Jura and Vallorbe, just because we like it. Quite mild at altitude, but lots of snow on the ground. It seems that the big dump forecast didn’t materialise here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
BUMP
Well everyone now on the return trip, took over an hour to get through to UK passport control. No particular reason I could see, usual passport checks and where have you been questions.
Once through straight onto train.
Missed the train we should have been on of course.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Boris, glad you got through eventually.
But as you experienced, the Brit passport team seem to have gone on a go-slow.
We travelled back yesterday: whizzed through the French security, but then all slowed down for the Brits side.
I wonder if they are preparing us for what it might be like when the new travel security arrangements come in later in 2024.
And as Rareperk mentions, the FP lounge sandwiches were excellent at Folkstone when we came out, but the Calais ones yesterday were quite disappointing. Fortunately the veggie soup and apple tart were yummy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
|
Started to drive home this evening, checked the app and no return showing. Because of the strike -when we had to get a ferry - they'd expired the bloody ticket. Thankfully, a quick call sorted it
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Chaos and delayed trains at Calais this evening. We haven’t even been allowed to get to the passport queue yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We're heading north, crossing tomorrow.  No passport delays.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
| Jonpim wrote: |
Boris, glad you got through eventually.
But as you experienced, the Brit passport team seem to have gone on a go-slow.
We travelled back yesterday: whizzed through the French security, but then all slowed down for the Brits side.
I wonder if they are preparing us for what it might be like when the new travel security arrangements come in later in 2024.
And as Rareperk mentions, the FP lounge sandwiches were excellent at Folkstone when we came out, but the Calais ones yesterday were quite disappointing. Fortunately the veggie soup and apple tart were yummy. |
We also crossed yesterday, on the 6.18pm train (originally booked on the 7.20pm but checked in early, at 4.45pm and they offered us an earlier slot). As you say, French border was relatively quick, but the delay was at the UK border. Not sure why as all their booths seemed to be in operation and I can’t recall the UK side of things accounting for more delay than the French side.
I never used Eurotunnel’s Flexiplus service. Does it provide a faster route through border checks?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
|
@rob@rar, to a degree I think, you can go straight from check in into the French passport line, so miss out the loops of car park. Bit once you’re there it’s in hands of respective passport peeps
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
@Boris, thanks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
We travelled back with flexiplus last Sunday. There was a slightly longer queue at french passport control than the british side but we were still in and out of Calais and on a train within an hour. OH was just rearranging the fridge post Christmas and came across a cheese croissant from the flexiplus lounge I'd forgotten I still had. Just heated it in the oven and it was delicious six days later!
Feeling for the poor folk on Eurostar whose trains were cancelled today.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
| rob@rar wrote: |
| I never used Eurotunnel’s Flexiplus service. Does it provide a faster route through border checks? |
As Boris wrote: not really.
There are marked lanes that clearly suggest the original plan was for exclusive check-in booths, then special lanes for FlexiPlus through both Securities, but this seems to have been largely abandonned: only the approach check-in booths remain.
Many of us got to using Flexiplus when the wonderful Wallet was available pre-Covid - 10 tickets costing similar price to Standard Refundable.
We continue to use for certain journeys - especially the return when not sure when might arrive at Calais - because you can turn up at any time, and the FP lounge is so much more pleasant than the standard lounge. And its all free. If you go through early morning you can grab enough food for the rest of the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
|
We just arrived Calais. First time Flexiplus but all the FP passport landed had red crosses so we had to shove our way into the long q for common people. Then after a while they opened a FP one, in which we're now sat going nowhere. But very smooth travel from Troyes this morning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
|
Checked in early and offered earlier train FOC. Quiet terminal building, quick loo visit and VAT refund for wine sorted. Long queue for French and UK border controls. We noticed we had not been stamped out of EU on our last visit bit it didn't even seem to be noticed by French passport control. Straight onto train at boarding lanes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Hells Bells wrote: |
| We noticed we had not been stamped out of EU on our last visit bit it didn't even seem to be noticed by French passport control. |
- we left Calais on the 5th Jan and found that the leaving EU passport stamp had been put on an otherwise blank page towards the middle of our passports. Maybe it keeps them amused on an otherwise boring day!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arrived at 6.55 for 7.55 train. Still in holding pen and no sign of boarding anytime soon. Chap says only one train left for France in last couple of hours. Unsure when we can be boarded. If you have the chance and are close by I suggest try and get a last minute ferry. It’s carnage here and not sure how long the queues will be for those arriving now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Train problems or border check problems?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Train seemingly. Apart from being pulled over for a brief explosives swab that wasn’t too painful - although those of us in that queue then had to feed into a line near the customs gate and that caused some consternation for those queuing thinking we were all ‘pushing in’. Was meant to be on 11.24 then 11.54 but that now looks a forlorn hope. Don’t know what’s behind us but we left the terminal nearly 2hrs ago and still no sign of getting on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
@Doccam, blimey - we are coming tomorrow.
Hope they get it resolved soon and you can get on your way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
Oh dear
| Quote: |
We're sorry for any disruption today and we are working hard to get these issues resolved. The online timetable is currently unavailable. Please check the information screen at the terminal for the latest updates.
|
https://www.leshuttle.com/uk-en/travel-updates/live-departures
Does not look good. We're due to travel tomorrow 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I know people pay lots more for flexi but we’ve had 2 hrs worth of people going past us in that lane and at least 3 trains have gone since we’ve sat here and not moved an inch. I’ve said it before but that’s it now- ferries next time. Should have bought a ferry ticket 1st thing this morning as soon as we saw what a fiasco it was!
|
|
|
|
|
|
You know it makes sense.
|
My son in law is crossing tomorrow with one daughter and friends, in a big van, Flexiplus. It was a lot of money but not bad value for 7 of them in one vehicle but they are having to leave one sick girl behind, with her Mum to look after her, sadly. I suppose there will be lots of Flexiplus ticket holders at the moment, and it must be very galling to watch them all sail past when there are so few trains leaving. We never paid Flexiplus when we were crossing four or five times a year, but then we had the luxury of avoiding peak travel times.
Hope you get going soon, @Doccam, 
It'll be carnage tomorrow if they don't get things moving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
|
First time in January we haven't got flexiplus as we have booked direct instead of via peak retreats who give a flex pass as part of the deal, I added my new passport to the API last week and saw it was £145 to upgrade to flexi, I expect a few did that today to get ahead.
Its a bug queuing no one wants to buy things go wrong, we were held up for three or four hours when that "terrorist" escaped from prison and they thought he was trying to get out via the channel.
I doubt it will be much fun on a ferry in this weather
|
|
|
|
|
|
Poster: A snowHead
|
Looking on Twitter, they are doing their usual response to any comments with "message us your details", they never seem to learn that an actual public update would be appreciated.
Hope you cross soon and smooth crossing to everyone else
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
As promised, I have given up on Le Shuttle for my next trip thanks to the crappy T&Cs. A standard ticket is now only +-1 hour. DFDS is +-4hours and with BLC discount each leg cost me about 90 quid - to get similar Shuttle flexibility it would have been 170 quid a leg. The 100 minutes to wait for the next one would be a pain but it’s not a bad hourly rate for a retired bloke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
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?
|
|
Just arrived! Obviously posting on SnowHeads got things moving! Also euotounnel pet reception staff spotted one of the dogs passports was wrong so that meant a mercy dash to get an AHC instead. Shout out to Chris and Martin at easy pet travel in Charing who did an on the spot AHC for £135 instead of the usual emergency £250.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
@chocksaway, we'll be considering the ferry for our late season trip. Just talking to a LeShuttle agent on the website and he assures me the root cause issue has been resolved - though he has not been told what it was - and that the impact of the issue lead to the delays, but things are running and should be normal by tomorrow
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
| Quote: |
it’s not a bad hourly rate for a retired bloke.
|
That's a very good way of looking at it, @chocksaway.  Good to hear things are now moving.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
There is no guarantee there won't be issues with ferries.
It's just luck of the draw.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Doccam, OMG, glad you sorted the doggies, what was the problem ?
@Layne, we've had issues with ferries before too, and I would probably prefer sitting in Eurotunnel terminal to being stuck at Dover.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Swings and roundabouts with each, ultimately it comes down to preference and requirements.
I get sea-sick so don't do ferries unless there is no alternative
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
There's simply no pain-free way of getting from the UK to an Alpine ski resort in a school holiday period. My sister and BiL were once stuck on a ferry which was blown out of the dredged channel into Ouistreham. Took quite a while to sort out - it's a very shallow approach. I'm a few minutes from Portsmouth ferry port but the crossings from here are long, and expensive. And make it difficult to avoid Paris.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The trouble is we are all too impatient these days and get frustrated by any delays, I include my self in that. I once had a over 14 hour delay at grenoble we were on the bus to the plane when a small issue arose, in the end ut involved opening up the wings to find a very very small fuel leak , that meant a new crew had to fly out as they were out of flying hours, the important thing is with these delays , if no body dies then its fine in the long run.
That wont stop me chuntering the next time I'm help though 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
