Ferry: 2 day returns instead of normal return?

MoneyGypsy

P&O have day return offers from £25 so my question is whether instead of just buying a normal return I could buy two of these - one from Dover and one from Calais - but not use the return portion on either. Buying two day returns would work out about 1/2 the price for a two week holiday.

Is there anything that would prevent me from doing this?

k12479

There can be. I recall seeing ferry T&C's saying something along the lines of being charged extra if you fail to show up for your return journey. Have a look on the website, will say there, I'm sure.

davidlizard

Depends on the Ts and Cs.

Brother in Law tried this a couple of years back, and they charged him a full rate fee for both ways. He complained to his credit card company but had no luck.

However I know others who have done this with no comeback at all.

paddedjohn

I used to do this all the time, buy a day return going out and a one way coming back, saved £70-£80 a time. Never heard of being charged extra for a no show, i mean you have already paid so i cant see how they can legally charge you again.

agrinnall

paddedjohn wrote: »

I used to do this all the time, buy a day return going out and a one way coming back, saved £70-£80 a time. Never heard of being charged extra for a no show, i mean you have already paid so i cant see how they can legally charge you again.

I think what you are doing is fine. But what the OP suggests isn't.

It would be fine with the first day return, you're simply a no show on the return portion of the ticket. However, on the second one you are a no show on the outward portion, and the T&Cs may then allow them to cancel the return portion, forcing you to pay the full one way fare on the day - if there is still space on the ferry at all, as your reservation may have been sold to someone else by then.

MoneyGypsy

The 'return' would be calais-dover/dover-calais and I would be a no-show on the return portion again. (Full journey for clarity would be out on a dover-calais return - not using the return - and back on a separate calais-dover return - again not using the return).

I guess I don't see how they could charge you for being a no-show for the return portion of either ticket - that's surely up to the passengers. We could put one ticket in my name and the other in the OH's - not that I see it makes any difference.

Although if there is some penalty for turning up for a 2nd day return when you haven't used the return portion of the other one, the idea of a day return plus single might work. I presume people who travel are allowed to extend their holidays without the ferry company policing them.

MoneyGypsy

Just found this:

"If you fail to travel on one part of your booking then we may charge you a supplement. That supplement will be the difference between the amount you have paid and the price for the standard single fare appropriate to the sailing used. This payment will be collected using the credit card details provided when paying for the original booking."

littlereddevil

There's your answer then.
I think there was a long thread about this not long ago.

MoneyGypsy

I just booked normally, but found an apparently expired discount code which worked for me (CSMA01 at P&O if anyone needs it).

Thanks for the help.

joess

P&O wont be bothered that you don't turn up for the 1st day trips Calais/Dover. BUT when you don't show up for the 2nd days Dover/Calais they will cancel the Calais/Dover trip as in their eyes you are not in France.

You'll then have to purchase a single Calais/Dover at the port