How early do I need to book Eurotunnel tickets?
Next summer my family and I (including a 3 year-old and a 5 year-old child) will be traveling from Hungary to the UK by car. I will know the date we want to cross the English channel by March, but I will know the time only on that day (depending on how far we managed to drive from home in the previous days, we might be arriving at Calais from Cologne, Brussels, Ghent, Brugge or someplace between these places. So it could be morning, afternoon or even evening).
Is it feasible that we purchase our tickets only when we arrive at the terminal or do I need to book it days (or weeks) ahead and try to make sure we arrive in time? I'd rather not wait for hours at the terminal with the children.
Best Answer
If you know your departure times, book as early as possible so that the ticket would be cheaper. It's the first suggestion on the Eurotunnel booking page itself:
https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/tickets/booking-the-best-fare
If you arrive up to 2 hours late, changing the ticket is free, and for up to 24 hours you only pay the applicable fare difference. I believe that's still a very good option if you can roughly tell when is the likeliest that you'd arrive.
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Do you need to book in advance Eurotunnel?
Am I able to purchase a ticket when I arrive? Usually yes, but occasionally we need to restrict this at peak times or during degraded service or disruption. We strongly advise purchasing a ticket in advance to avoid disappointment, and the further in advance you book the more you save.Can you check-in early for Eurotunnel?
If you check-in within 2 hours either side of your reserved time, within the validity of your ticket you may be offered a space on the next departure with availability without charge.What if I miss my Eurotunnel slot?
You are likely to be subjected to delays and we therefore strongly recommend that you arrive in plenty of time for your reserved departure. If you miss your booked departure you may also be required to purchase a new ticket.Can I turn up and pay at Eurotunnel?
We require a vehicle registration at the time of booking which enables immediate identification at check-in by our automatic number plate detectors. You can however book up to an hour before arrival, or you can pay for your travel upon arrival.How to book a Eurostar Ticket
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