Is a first class chunnel ticket worth it?
 

We are going from London to Calais- what is the downside to standard class?

It's called the Channel Tunnel. I assume that you mean the car train?

There is hardly any advantage; your car will be on the same train, there are no facilities on the train (apart from toilets), you stay in your car.
There's a special check-in for 1st class, and you get to drive onto the train first. Supposedly, you have a flexible ticket, and can take the first train that comes along. In reality you buy the cheapest ticket, and if you are early, ask if you can go on the first available train. This nearly always works. Only once (out of perhaps 20 trips), this didn't work, and that was because it was a holiday, and a very busy time, so all earlier trains were full.

I think Tulips is being sarcastic. Well "chunnel" may not be the official word, but it's hard to believe that anyone who has traveled in Europe, wouldn't know that you are speaking of taking a train between London and Paris when you say "chunnel". I don't see where there is any suggestion of having a car to do so. I suppose if you said you were going to fly across "the Pond" from New York to London, you'd also get a lecture that there is no pond, it is an ocean.

The downside to standard? Well, the seats aren't quite as spacious or comfortable. You won't be served a meal like in first. That's about it. I prefer the first class for a bit of "luxury", but if you want to save a few pounds, bucks, or euro -- there really is very little difference.

I think there's a little confusion here and it's worth being clear in which service you're talking about.

The passenger service between London and Paris (and Lille etc) is called the Eurostar and does not stop in Calais.

The car service between Folkestone and Coquelles (near Calais) is called the Eurotunnel and does not extend to Paris.

If you're taking the Eurotunnel you do indeed stay in your car for the 35 minute journey (though you can get out to stretch legs, use the toilets and access luggage should you wish). There isn't a first class to speak of though there is a priority club of sorts that gives access to a pre-boarding lounge. Hardly worth it in my opinion.

If you're taking the Eurostar between London and Paris you may want to consider the different classes available. The seats in Standard class are perfectly comfortable, certainly not too cramped and it's not a long journey. The seats in First Class are vaguely larger with a touch more legroom and a meal is provided. Nothing special but not bad either. I think there's also a premier first class experience with more formal meal service. I usually travel standard class but once travelled first class when a special offer meant the price difference was less than the cost of a very basic meal anyway. It was fine but I wouldn't pay much above standard for it myself.

Hi pes,

For only 2hr, I would go standard class for 27.5GBP ea way and save about 255GBP.

Eurostar certainly <u>does</u> stop in Calais. Four trains per day. See the timetable for details:

<b>http://www.eurostar.com/dctm/timetables/timetables_121204_english.html</b>

&gt;The passenger service between London and Paris (and Lille etc) is called the Eurostar and does not stop in Calais.&lt;

Hmmmmmmmm. They sell tickets London to Calais at www.eurostar.com.

Thanks so much for the info. A thousand pardons. Never again the chunnel...The Eurostar. Which I sure hopes stops in Calais. That is where we're buying a ticket to. That is where we are picking up the car for a side trip to Normandy before going into Paris. How can you get 27-30BP tickets? Is there a trick other than the Eurostar website's posted fares? Thanks for sharing your experiences!

Oops-forgot to mention...for such a quick ride, of course we'll save the moolah and sit up straight. I'm understanding the big difference between first class &amp; standard is meal service &amp; reclining seats. Is that simplifying it too much?

But please don't think you can walk into the Eurostar station at Waterloo and pay 23 pounds (like I foolishly did). Those tickets are for certain days, require a RT purchase and have to be purchased 21 days in advance.

Hi pest,

&gt;How can you get 27-30BP tickets?&lt;

Go to www.eurostar.com.
Choose UK as your country for quotes in GBP, US for quotes in USD. Often the GBP fare is less than the USD fare.

Purchase tickets up to 60 days in advance.

Purchase one-day RT tickets.

Apologies, obviously they do stop in Calais!

Last time I was looking to buy tickets and was looking for precisely that option they did not have an option to get off at Calais.

Sorry! Still, I hope the clarification of Eurostar versus Eurotunnel was useful.

We only go first class these days. Whether it's &quot;worth the money&quot; is an individual decision. To us, it definitely is. Normally we travel on a flexible business ticket, which allows us to use the first class lounge at Waterloo (note: the cheapest first class tickets do not allow you to use the lounge). We don't like standard class--too crowded, too noisy, less comfortable seats, harder to get any work done.
However, if your priority is saving money, then there's nothing wrong with standard class.

Thanks everyone. We are going Standard class. At least our travelogue will be colorful when we are seated next to people carrying live chickens or something!

pestrada...

i've done it many times in both classes... i don't find first class any &quot;higher class&quot; or quieter as far as the people are concerned.

the meal is ok in first and actually first class is nice if you are going for the first time. however, for just a trip to calais, it is too short to be worth it in my opinion (unless money is no object, of course). standard is perfectly comfortable and the meal is the main difference.

We found 2nd class quite comfortable.

Hi Kavey
&gt;..I hope the clarification of Eurostar versus Eurotunnel was useful.&lt;

Yes, it was.

Hi pes,

&gt;We are going Standard class. At least our travelogue will be colorful when we are seated next to people carrying live chickens or something!&lt;

You are traveling between to of the most sophisticated cities in Europe. You won't see any chickens. :)

I was thinking that too Ira!

Besides, the way the French protect their farmers, I don't think any chickens will be allowed on the train, alive or dead.

I've experienced both classes of travel.

The first class is disapointing as you expect more from its far greater price. The food is boring, and in my opinion akin to economy class food in planes. The people fancy themselves and are Essex wives types, it's pretentious, and hardly first class at all.

Standard class is less comfortable in that the seats don't recline, however, given the short journey, and far cheaper price I'd travel standard class.

As an aside, the washroom facilities in both classes are the same, and as such, very, very disappointing. They're not serviced well, nor do they look good - cheap plastics abound.

You must remember, it's not from the grand days of travel (think Venice-Simplon Orient express), but a modern interpretation which really leaves a lot to be desired.

Personally, with all the cheap airfares around, I'd rather fly. The two times are about equal (given check-in etcetera), and flying seems less laborious.