European Railroad Discussion > Eurostar reservations - flexibility if travel delayed

I am planning travel this summer and will be using Eurostar to get from London to Brussels.  What does one do if land travel to London is delayed and cannot make it to Eurostar terminal in time.  Will be bookinf fist class.

Thank you,

John

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am planning travel this summer and will be using
> Eurostar to get from London to Brussels.  What
> does one do if land travel to London is delayed
> and cannot make it to Eurostar terminal in time. 
> Will be bookinf fist class.
>
> Thank you,
>
> John

At the bottom of this page is a section on missed connections, the class of travel is irrelevant.

https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/connecting-train#Book-with-Eurostar



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/20/25 10:41 by 86235.

Thank you.  Will be arriving in Londo via hired car.  Eurostar websitre speaks to connecting trains, not delays on the motorways.  John

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thank you.  Will be arriving in Londo via hired
> car.  Eurostar websitre speaks to connecting
> trains, not delays on the motorways.  John

I've never known any TOC make formal provision for motorway delays. Personally when I go anywhere by road to catch a train or a flight I allow 50% more time than necessary to avoid missing my train / plane.

You are on your own if arriving by car.  

I was told on our last trip on Eurostar to be at St Pancras in plenty of time because
the train leaves whether I'm on it or not.  

I bet those trains are bursting at the seams today, what with the Heathrow situation.

 

DocJohn Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am planning travel this summer and will be using
> Eurostar to get from London to Brussels.  What
> does one do if land travel to London is delayed
> and cannot make it to Eurostar terminal in time. 
> Will be bookinf fist class.

You get nothing back and have to buy a new ticket.

A friend was recently on Eurostar.  He travelled in what most people call first class, now called Eurostar Premier.  In addition to perks one would expect at those fares such as priority station processing, food and Champagne, tickets are refundable without charge up to two days after the booked trip.  

About a year ago I took various trains in Belgium, Netherlands and France and realized quickly that the connections that the sites suggest were too tight. I had given myself at least 45 minutes to see sime trains in the connection stations and it was not enough. If your connection is a " regular" train, you can just take the next one. But if the next train is a reservation only TGV, Eurostar etc, i would recomment a 90 minute window.

egonzinc Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> About a year ago I took various trains in Belgium,
> Netherlands and France and realized quickly that
> the connections that the sites suggest were too
> tight. I had given myself at least 45 minutes to
> see sime trains in the connection stations and it
> was not enough. If your connection is a " regular"
> train, you can just take the next one. But if the
> next train is a reservation only TGV, Eurostar
> etc, i would recomment a 90 minute window.

Interesting. I took 13 trains in my various French travels recently. Not one was the slightest bit late.

If you're booking in Eurostar Plus then your ticket is exchangeable up to one hour before departure.  Hence if you know you're going to miss your train then you need to rebook before that T-1 hour cutoff.  For Eurostar Premier it's up to 48 hours after departure in terms of both an exchange or refund.

If your Eurostar from London to Brussels or Paris is delayed and you miss your high-speed connection there then you can take the next available train: https://www.railteam.eu/en/services-on-your-journey/hop-on-the-next-available-train-hotnat/

If you are travelling from a UK station to London and then on to Paris or Brussels you can request a ticket to "London International" and this will be issued subject to CIV conditions: https://www.raileurope.com/en/CIV-train-tickets

 

Here are the current terms and conditions. Tickets all classes are exchangeable up to 1 hour before departure. May need to pay current fare difference. Get the app to make it seamless.

“Eurostar Standard & Eurostar Plus tickets can be exchanged free of charge up to 1 hour before the original departure time. If your new ticket is more expensive, you will have to pay the difference. If the new price is cheaper, the difference will not be refunded. Tickets exchanged less than 7 days before the departure date become non-refundable. You can also get a refund up to 7 days before travel for 25€/£.

With Eurostar Premier, you can exchange your tickets or get a refund up to 2 days after travel. If your new ticket is more expensive, you will pay the difference. If your new ticket is cheaper, you will not receive a refund of the difference.”

Posted from iPhone