Through tickets to Europe

[Old Yard Dog]

I have tried to buy through tickets from Cheshire and Merseyside to Rouen via the Eurostar website but am always thwarted by the fact that the system won't let me use my senior railcard for the leg down to Euston.

Also the system won't let me print my own tickets if I want to travel beyond Paris and it won't post them to me. I am expected to turn up early at St Pancras and use a self service machine. So I ended up having to buy three separate tickets for the 3 legs. Its a good job Virgin let you travel in the peak at off peak rates with a senior railcard.

And I once tried to use my Carte Blanche points so my wife could travel with me to Luxembourg. It was impossible on the internet and the lady on the phone wanted to charge me twice the fare that was available on their website if we wanted to sit together. So I ended up paying the cheaper fare for us both.

Eurostar really need to get their act together.

 

[1E05]

With a through tickets to Europe, you cannot use any UK Railcard discounts as the fares are already discounted anyway.

You can however, ask for a senior fare which will provide an even better discount, so long as you meet the eligibility to criteria.

 

[Oscar]

If you want to apply a Railcard discount to the National Rail leg, you need to book through Eurostar Domestic Sales (01233 617913) after buying your Eurostar ticket. See the RailUK Fares & Ticketing Guide 7.4 Eurostar through ticketing for more details

 

[Old Yard Dog]

Thanks Oscar - that sounds useful.

As regards the so-called senior discount on Eurostar, every time I've tried this option on their website, the fare (standard premier) has been the same as for a younger adult.

 

[SS4]

Thanks Oscar - that sounds useful.

As regards the so-called senior discount on Eurostar, every time I've tried this option on their website, the fare (standard premier) has been the same as for a younger adult.

There may not be a discount for Standard Premier, there wasn't for being a youth which was confirmed by the Eurostar agent when I rang

 

[Oscar]

Youth and Senior discounts are only available for the cheapest tier of Standard fares (£1 off a single, £3 off a return) - see the Eurostar fares tables for more information. Previously Youth and Senior discounts were about 10-20% off all Standard single and return tiers but Eurostar increased its prices by the back door in May 2011, also eliminating the price difference between London - Lille/Calais and London - Paris/Brussels tickets, even though Eurostar carries passengers between Calais/Lille and Brussels.

Eurostar fares have risen sharply since 2009: the cheapest
London - Lille Youth/Senior,
London - Paris/Brussels Youth/Senior,
London - Lille/Calais Adult,
London - Paris/Brussels Adult,
London - Any Belgian Station Adult,
London - Any Dutch Station Youth,
London - Any Dutch Station Senior,
London - Any Dutch Station Adult,
London - Lyon Adult return tickets in Standard have risen
from £45/£49/£55/£59/£59/£59/£69/£89/£99* in 2009 (*£89 Youth/Senior?)
to £55/£59/£65/£69/£69/£59/£69/£89/£109* in January 2010 (£99 Youth/Senior?)
to £66/£66/£69/£69/£80/£84/£?/£89/£109 by May 2011
to £66/£66/£69/£69/£79/ - / - / - /£109 in 2013 (withdrawal of Any Dutch Station tickets)
I believe prices of tickets in other tiers have gone up at least accordingly. Changes to fares are announced on www.eurostar4agents.com, but not on www.eurostar.com. The high Eurotunnel (and HS1) track access charges are part of the reason for the high fares.