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Eurostar fare differences
I've checked them on Eurostar.com and the SNCF site as well.
First, I see some fare differences if I choose US as my location as opposed to the UK at the eurostar.com site. Do fares charged to Americans include shipping the tickets out to me or am I suppose to collect them in London or Paris? Also, at least on SNCF, it appears a round-trip journey from Paris to London and back could be had for as low as 60 euros but a round-trip journey for the same dates from London to Paris is more like 134 euros or greater. When I checked fares a few months back, it appeared the SNCF site was lower for the London-Paris trips. Now, eurostar.com is coming up lower (59 pounds). On SNCF, Paris-London trips can be had for as low as 70 euros. The idea is either to fly into and out of London or Paris but go to the other city via the train and return for the return flight. So if I take a train which arrives at London Waterloo at 9 AM, will I be able to make an 11 AM Virgin Atlantic flight at LHR? Considering the transit time and the check-ins and security procedures? |
#2
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"poldy" skrev i meddelandet news I've checked them on Eurostar.com and the SNCF site as well. First, I see some fare differences if I choose US as my location as opposed to the UK at the eurostar.com site. Do fares charged to Americans include shipping the tickets out to me or am I suppose to collect them in London or Paris? Also, at least on SNCF, it appears a round-trip journey from Paris to London and back could be had for as low as 60 euros but a round-trip journey for the same dates from London to Paris is more like 134 euros or greater. There's more demand for trips originating from London than Paris which explains price differences. |
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#4
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"poldy" wrote in message news I've checked them on Eurostar.com and the SNCF site as well. First, I see some fare differences if I choose US as my location as opposed to the UK at the eurostar.com site. Do fares charged to Americans include shipping the tickets out to me or am I suppose to collect them in London or Paris? Also, at least on SNCF, it appears a round-trip journey from Paris to London and back could be had for as low as 60 euros but a round-trip journey for the same dates from London to Paris is more like 134 euros or greater. That rather depends on when you travel When I checked fares a few months back, it appeared the SNCF site was lower for the London-Paris trips. Now, eurostar.com is coming up lower (59 pounds). Prices fluctuate dependent on seasonal demand. August is the peak month for French holiday travel and business hotels in Paris offer cut rates as the city empties and fares into Paris fall while fares elsewhere rise. On SNCF, Paris-London trips can be had for as low as 70 euros. The idea is either to fly into and out of London or Paris but go to the other city via the train and return for the return flight. So if I take a train which arrives at London Waterloo at 9 AM, will I be able to make an 11 AM Virgin Atlantic flight at LHR? Considering the transit time and the check-ins and security procedures? No , you need to be at the check desk at LHR by 9AM and you have to allow at least 1.5 hours for transit Waterloo to LHR. Keith |
#5
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One of the reasons for price differences is that Eurostar and SNCF are
different companies with their own pricing structure. Also, the SNCF does not sell tickets directly to the public outside of France. They mandate other companies in each country and these companies do have some leeway. For instance I've noticed that in the USA the notion of "peak period" (which costs more if purchased from the SNCF) and "standard period" pricing generally does not exist. Thus making certain tickets purchased in the USA actually cheaper than if purchased in France. However, you can only purchase a SNCF ticket from the web site of the country where the ticket will be delivered. If you live in the USA you must purchase from the USA website. So, someone living in the UK can not purchase SNCF tickets from the USA site and have them delivered to the UK. With regard to delivery of tickets, they are shipped to your doorstep. There is an extra charge for this depending on how quickly you want to receive your tickets. From time to time there is a "free delivery" incentive... but, there is also generally a minimum purchase in order to benefit from this offer. You can see the delivery cost when you begin to fill in the reservation and purchase form on the website. Bon voyage, BonjourLaFrance.net |
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On 23 Aug 2005 01:26:17 -0700, "BonjourLaFrance.net"
wrote: However, you can only purchase a SNCF ticket from the web site of the country where the ticket will be delivered. If you live in the USA you must purchase from the USA website. So, someone living in the UK can not purchase SNCF tickets from the USA site and have them delivered to the UK. Could not an American order from the UK Eurostar site and pick up the tickets from Waterloo (or from the French site and pick up at Gare du Nord) on the day of travel... With regard to delivery of tickets, they are shipped to your doorstep. .... I've chosen to pick up tickets at Waterloo when I've used the UK site: having them delivered to home just means one more piece of paper to remember when I leave Incidentally in answer to the original poster So if I take a train which arrives at London Waterloo at 9 AM, will I be able to make an 11 AM Virgin Atlantic flight at LHR? Considering the transit time and the check-ins and security procedures? Not if 11am is take-off time (you'd be OK if 11am is recommended checkin time). For a long-haul flight from LHR an hour before take-off is an absolute minimum - the LHR website recommends three hours. You would also be doing very well to get from Waterloo to LHR within an hour Martin |
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"BonjourLaFrance.net" skrev i meddelandet oups.com... One of the reasons for price differences is that Eurostar and SNCF are different companies with their own pricing structure. Also, the SNCF does not sell tickets directly to the public outside of France. They mandate other companies in each country and these companies do have some leeway. For instance I've noticed that in the USA the notion of "peak period" (which costs more if purchased from the SNCF) and "standard period" pricing generally does not exist. Thus making certain tickets purchased in the USA actually cheaper than if purchased in France. However, you can only purchase a SNCF ticket from the web site of the country where the ticket will be delivered. If you live in the USA you must purchase from the USA website. So, someone living in the UK can not purchase SNCF tickets from the USA site and have them delivered to the UK. With regard to delivery of tickets, they are shipped to your doorstep. There is an extra charge for this depending on how quickly you want to receive your tickets. From time to time there is a "free delivery" incentive... but, there is also generally a minimum purchase in order to benefit from this offer. You can see the delivery cost when you begin to fill in the reservation and purchase form on the website. Bon voyage, BonjourLaFrance.net No need to deliver tickets to foreign countries as you can pick up them at the station or take advantage of the opportunity to print out them yourself. |
#8
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"poldy" wrote in message news I've checked them on Eurostar.com and the SNCF site as well. First, I see some fare differences if I choose US as my location as opposed to the UK at the eurostar.com site. Do fares charged to Americans include shipping the tickets out to me or am I suppose to collect them in London or Paris? Also, at least on SNCF, it appears a round-trip journey from Paris to London and back could be had for as low as 60 euros but a round-trip journey for the same dates from London to Paris is more like 134 euros or greater. When I checked fares a few months back, it appeared the SNCF site was lower for the London-Paris trips. Now, eurostar.com is coming up lower (59 pounds). On SNCF, Paris-London trips can be had for as low as 70 euros. The idea is either to fly into and out of London or Paris but go to the other city via the train and return for the return flight. So if I take a train which arrives at London Waterloo at 9 AM, will I be able to make an 11 AM Virgin Atlantic flight at LHR? Considering the transit time and the check-ins and security procedures? Why not fly into Paris and return from London, or vice versa? Even if not a great deal less expensive, it would save the time involved with a return trip on Eurostar. Also you won't have to worry about making a flight with a tight schedule. GG |
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