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After announcing the new tariffs would commence at the beginning of the year, then delaying them (presumably to sell more supertickets, last chance, prices will increase etc) they have finally implemented the new "Fairer"??? airline type structure.
I have resisted buying supertickets every time until now but this time did buy 10 tickets at £22 each.
On the new structure I could have bought 18 for £19 each, but more frustratingly could have just carried on buying last minute singles at non peak times as they are now only £15 each.
I tried a few random booking quotes, I could get crossings most days after the boat resumes service for £15 but interestingly the same crossings (for instance 29th March) to take the trailer cost an additional £144 each way.
It will be interesting to see how long they will keep this new structure before changing again but I fear the writing is on the wall for trailers (I must check again for vans/caravanettes) but it is good to see that if one is able to be flexible with dates the price has in fact decreased.
For my part I think that I will keep my £22 supertickets in reserve for the busier months and buy the £15 ones at other times.
Editted.
Just tried again and found that on the same day but in the other direction (Dover - Boulogne) there was some availability for car & trailer at £44, shifting the date forward got me some at £44 Boulogne - Dover so all is well.
On balance I like the new system, it rewards people who book early and/or those who can be flexible with times for last minute bookings but at the cost of those who book at the last minute and cannot be flexible.
The low cost airlines always seem to be in a quandary about last minute availabilty as they dont want to be seen selling the tickets cheap at the last minute, bigger airlines sell the excess at the last minute through consolidators or bucket shops but I fear the low cost operators just have empty seats that no-one wants to purchase at a sky high (pun not intended) price.
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