We'll be taking the Eurostar train out of St. Pancras station to Paris, and must insert the card with which the tickets were purchased into the ticket dispensing machine. My card is a regular Visa debit card...no chip. Will this present a problem? Will there be a human there at a ticket office (about 6:30 am) in case the machine doesn't like the card? Thanks.
Posted by
London
5 posts
We just did this transaction using a US issued Visa card without a chip. To be honest- as we entered the Eurostar office at St. Pancras- I don't recall seeing the ticket dispensing machines- but there was a counter with humans. That is where we headed- and just handed them the credit card we had used to make the reservation and they handed us the tickets! If you plan on taking the Paris Metro, you can also purchase a carnet of 10 tickets at the Eurostar counter- to get you started.
Posted by
sacramento, CA
102 posts
Last May we used our Am Exp to purchase 2 sets of tickets, so we had 2 reservation numbers. One worked fine in the machine with our CC, and printed our ticket fine, the other did not. We got to St. Pancras at 5:45am with a 6:30 departure for Paris. I was glad we had the extra time as we did have to go to an office to get hand written tickets and that line was long. The office was open and we did make our train in time. It wasn't the chip, though, as one of our reservations worked. My point is that even if there are problems, there will be someone there to help you. Have fun.
Posted by
OP
Mobile, AL, USA
4 posts
These replies seem to answer my question. We'll be sure to allow plenty of time for any glitches; I'm glad there will be a real person there, just in case!
Thanks so much!
Posted by
Anaheim, CA, USA
1455 posts
Marie,
You may want to check online for discount tickets. If you're not leaving right away, I believe I saved some money by purchasing my tickets in advance.
When you arrive at St. Pancras, you go straight to the station (pass the ticket booth) and check in.
Posted by
OP
Mobile, AL, USA
4 posts
Thanks, Michelle. We did, indeed, purchase our tickets in advance, online, and saved about 50%, as they had a limited-time sale. Round trip London to Paris for both of us - $208. Can't beat that!!!
Posted by
Paris
3 posts
Hi,
I travel regularly on Eurostar between Paris and St Pancras. If you purchase your tickets on the Eurostar Web Site (www.eurostar.com), there is now an option to print out your own tickets.
The print has a small bar-code on the page which you just touch onto the bar-code reader on the ticket machine and you are through.
Also, if you travel with a First Class (Leisure Select or Business Premier) you can use the Business check-in where there are usually no queues and get access to the Lounges.
Paul
Posted by
OP
Mobile, AL, USA
4 posts
Thanks so much; great information. I'm going to check the website now to see if it's possible to print out tickets already purchased there.