Eurostar Ticket Advice

WickedWolfie

Several months ago I booked a Eurostar trip with a friend, non-flexible non-exchangable tickets, to travel next week. Unfortunately work commitments mean that my friend now can’t travel. Another friend is interested in travelling instead but that raises other problems.

I have spoken to Eurostar who officially say that nothing can be done but unofficially the employee pointed out that the only place that names on tickets might be matched with passports is at Brussels/Paris (and possibly also St Pancras) inbound by the UK Border Agency. They also noted that the Border Agency is concerned with stopping illegals not UK nationals coming back into UK and that the info on Eurostar tickets does not relate to Advanced Passenger Information (API) as used by airlines as no passport or nationality info is sought when booking tickets.

Additionally I work for the UK Government and have regular dealings with UK diplomats in Brussels. I am aware that many of them have used Eurostar tickets in names other than their own, apparently without any issues. Furthermore there are websites in France and Belgium which resell Eurostar tickets; presumably while non-contract compliant such resale must be non-problematic or such sites would not exist – true or false?

I know this site does not encourage anything illegal but would just ask if anyone has experience of travelling on Eurostar recently using in tickets in names other than their own and, if so, did any problems arise? My second friend is keen to come but concerned he could end up stranded abroad!

I would appreciate any advice.

balletshoes

i have no idea, as i've not done it yet (travelling on Eurostar next month on a non-flexible ticket for the first time).

But maybe the other people you know who travel on Eurostar on other named tickets had fully flexible or semi-flexible tickets? These state they are exchangeable and refundable, unlike the non-flexible ticket.

peachyprice

My son has travelled on a ticket in my husbands name (different surname)

Long and short of it, my husband get as discount on Eurostar but is supposed to travel himself, so he booked a ticket for him and me, but my son travelled with me instead. Nobody noticed. This was a non-flexible ticket btw.

When you check in on Eurostar you scan your ticket and you're through to departures, when you go through passport control you only show your passport. At no time are you asked to show your passport and your ticket together. This applies to St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Paris, Disneyland. Can't say for sure about Brussels as I've never travelled there.

angelil

peachyprice wrote: »

My son has travelled on a ticket in my husbands name (different surname)

Long and short of it, my husband get as discount on Eurostar but is supposed to travel himself, so he booked a ticket for him and me, but my son travelled with me instead. Nobody noticed. This was a non-flexible ticket btw.

When you check in on Eurostar you scan your ticket and you're through to departures, when you go through passport control you only show your passport. At no time are you asked to show your passport and your ticket together. This applies to St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, Paris, Disneyland. Can't say for sure about Brussels as I've never travelled there.

Yes, this is what I was going to say. I use the Paris-London service regularly, and at no point are you asked to show both ticket and passport together.

WickedWolfie

My friend did take the risk and travel.

No examination of the ticket, other than the QR code swipe, was done at St Pancras.

At Brussels Midi my friend entered the gate by means of the QR code swipe. The UK Border Agency did look at both passport and ticket and, despite the fact that the names (and indeed gender!) were different on the passport and ticket, were quite happy to stamp the ticket as inspected. It seems all they care about is that the destination is UK (there is now a seperate channel in place before the UK Border Agency line which allows Lille passengers to by-pass the UKBA line) and that the passenger has a valid passport.

AlexMac

Agree the above. It was a long time ago, but as you just scan in your ticket like going through a rail auto-gate, and then separately show your passports at Kontrol, my mate used a colleague's ticket on a business trip with me with no problemo. It's not like airlines where they (cursorily) match passports to tickets.

I'd chance it. Good luck