Eurotunnel - what takes so long??
Whichever queue we get in at the Eurotunnel check in, there always seems to be someone who takes forever to check in.
When we (eventually) get to the window, the system has usually recognised our number plate and presents our details on a screen for us to confirm and go through in about 30 seconds.
So why do some people (usually in the queue that we chose) spend an age looking for paperwork and having extended conversations with someone over an intercom?
What didn't they understand about the very straight forward, simple and designed to be idiot-proof booking system??
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Not everyone is your level of perfect Ian some are Human
. These things were sent to try us(you)4 -
IanH, we've noticed the same thing, and again always in whatever queue we choose. However the first time we used the automatic check in we caused the same problem.
I think that often the problem is in presenting the card which was originally used for the booking. Often we 'choose' which card to use, for on-line bookings, depending on the date in the month we're going to have to pay, and therefore it isn't always easy to remember which card you used. In our case we have a potential of six cards which might be used - two credit cards, and four debit cards.................! Now we know that we have to input the card we make sure we record on the booking print out which one we used!
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At the Tunnel you do not have to put your card in all you have to do is put your ref. Number on the screen. Easy Peary and we have never been held up. Coming home from France very strict control and few queues because of it. No problem though.
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For several years now we have not checked in via a manned booth only the automatic ones. With the ANPR system it all comes up on the screen. Never had to put in card details only, as Dianne says, the ref number. The only issue I have had at one of the automatic booths was that the one I was using run out of paper to print the hanger but that was soon put right.
David
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ValDa - I don't want to be too pedantic but it should be easy to identify which card you 'chose' to book the crossing.
On the booking form, which you should have printed out, it says which Card you used (MasterCard,Visa, etc) and gives a lot of asterisk and the final four numbers of the card.
Mind you, queuing for Check-in isn't the main hold up problem returning to the UK but getting through the Customs area certainly is - forty minutes from Pet Passport control to the Car park area on an early morning crossing a month ago - and that was a quiet time of day.
Arriving at the Pet Passport Office to getting on the train took an hour and seven minutes - and that was before the 'holiday' season started.
Be prepared to arrive early and expect long waits - it doesn't say that on the booking form.
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Isn't it the same in supermarket queues, some people seem surprised when the cashier has finished ringing the items through that they then have to pay so spend an age searching pockets and bags for the purse/wallet instead of having it ready.
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The other line in the queue always moves faster than mine!
Yes there are times when this happens but most of the time it’s been proven mathematically that it just isn’t the case. There is a huge part of mathematics given over to queueing theory, or as the OP is quite keen on correct spelling should that be queuing theory
and its big business for most companies now and taught on maths and business studies degrees. If you’re really interested google itYou can look at this in one of two ways, either the universe hates you or there is a psychological bias that makes you think that the other line is moving faster, and yes it’s the latter. I observed a lesson on this once and basically two quotes sums it up nicely:
The other lanes or queues moving faster is one salient event, and my intuition wrongly associates it with the most salient thing in my environment – me. What, after all, is more important to my world than me. When my lane is moving along I'm focusing on where I'm going, ignoring the traffic I'm overtaking. When my lane is stuck I'm thinking about me and my hard luck, looking at the other lane.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20130827-why-other-queues-move-faster
one underlying truth: it’s not about the time you spend waiting, but how the circumstances of the wait affect your perception of time. In other words, the other line always moves faster because you’re not in it.
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I always use the Newhaven - Dieppe service which is usually very quick ( usually on my way by between 15 and 30 mins max from docking) but arriving at Newhaven last night it took an hour and three quarters to disembark due to a 'vehicle' apparently stuck on a ramp (?) and 120 giggling and Lycra'd young things on the Paris to London cycle ride. Bless!
One only has present the passport at Newhaven or Dieppe and the booking comes up on their computer in a few seconds. Nevertheless there are still some travellers who seem to spend ages fumbling for documents and engage in extended conversations at the check-in booths. Mind you it doesn't really matter as once checked in one then waits in the appropriate boarding lane for up to half an hour.
It's a fag when on my motorbike as I have to remove gloves, then helmet (for face recognition), open tank bag to take out passport, then put it away and refit helmet and gloves as it's the safest/only way to avoid risking losing the gloves or dropping and or damaging the helmet.
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Maybe it depends on who you booked with, through the club I drive up and the cars number plate is recognised, hello Mr ********* your train time is *******, pull the printed ticket and away.
All in under a minute.
Perhaps they hold others up by not doing the advanced passenger information details beforehand.
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You're going on holiday for what? Two weeks minimum? That's over 20,000 minutes and you're concerned about a 10 minute (max) delay? RELAX, you're on holiday and I doubt you'll miss your train.
Any Eurotunnel trip is likely to be shorter than a ferry.
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Whenever we're in a queue, be it at the tunnel, supermarket or post office, the other queue(s) always seem to move faster!
We usually get through the check-in quite quickly, ANPR works very well. If we're early it then gives alternative earlier crossings, so that's a bonus.
In common with others, we've never had to input credit card details though.
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I think the reason we have to input our card into the auto-check in is that we 'share' a Frequent Traveller account with our son, and a booking can be done with either our card or his, so they insist you show the original card you booked with on arrival. I suppose this proves one of the 'partners' is actually travelling.
After our first 'bungled' attempt, we then noted which card we were using each time a booking was made.
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It's the same at traffic lights too. It seems to come as a complete surprise to some that the light has gone to green ...... then look to see where 1st is, then let the hand brake off then find the clutch bite ..... by which time the lights are ready to go red again
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Went out in April and back a few days ago, both at around 1030hrs. Did not have to show anything. Pet control empty, no queues at check in, machine read our number plate and I was offered three choices for train times.I book direct with Eurotunnel so do not get all the snags which are input to hold up CC customers
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We book directly with Eurotunnel, but still have to input our card on arrival at the automated booth. Each person will have different experiences - and not everyone is an 'expert' at negotiating strange machines. Be patient......................!
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Haha love this thread - queues always have an element of' sods law' about them. Just back we were directed at the customs to the lane full of coaches, vans etc. OH thought it would be quick as coaches are large (geddit), no, they must have checked every passenger's passport and details on each coach + a check on the luggage compartment - we took nearly an hour to get through. (good security tho, obviously no illegal people could be found)
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Pippah, not so sure about that. Coming out (we are Italy at moment), we got to the tunnel terminal a little early, straight through check in and got an earlier crossing, just over an hour after arriving at Dover terminal we were driving in France.
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I agree, it's not quicker by boat. Using Eurotunnel we have arrived in France within an hour of check in. Once you're through check-in it's so quick that you can't believe you're on the train, doors shut, and setting off............... and then a few pages of a book and you're there and quickly off again. Loading and unloading seems to take a lot less time then on the ferries.
Coming back from France it's just about possible to arrive in this country 'before' you set off, because of the hour difference.
The thing we miss the most is being able to have a meal and a drink on the ferry - after a long drive from Yorkshire we need a break. We've booked a ferry for our next one-way trip but we shall be taking out another Frequent Traveller subsciption with Eurotunnel, for our return journey in September
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The biggest problem with the tunnel is that they built it in the wrong place. If they hadn't put it 300 miles away I just might use it.
So yes, it takes ages - just to get there. Not quick at all. I can be down to the ferry at Plymouth in half an hour and having dinner on board before I could even get through the traffic at Bristol. And to make matters worse, instead of landing in lovely Brittany, the tunnel would spill me out at Calais. Yuk!
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As most people are right handed, most people tend to go for that queue so the right hand queue is usually slower. We were told to always go for the left hand queue. Works most times
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We had a good old delay going out on Eurotunnel last month - over 3 hours! Took an age to get us on - we were parked up on the down ramp to the trains for ages (still don't know why?) and then loaded - only to find they couldn't close a front door. They kept us on board for over 2 hours before letting us off to take us back into the loading area...not a happy bunny.
Yes, an email of complaint has gone in.
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When we came home last week we had no problems. I just put in the CC Booking number then we had to wait as a short delay in the hanger coming through which they apologised for on screen due to extra checks at the gate. You can always get someone in front as a novice who can take longer. But why worry you get there in the end the train will not move till you are on board and chucked up.
As for delay for security checks it is all for your own good. Sit back and relax. You get there in the end. So much less messing about than going by ferry.
DianneT
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