Brittany Ferry Pricing Structure.

[MrPG]

Has anyone experience of being questioned or stopped boarding due to discrepancies in van dimension booking details?
Just about to book a flexi ticket to France. My van is 6.4m and will have a rear mounted bike carrier.
They ask for van length, choices are 6m max or 7m max and then charge according to length plus extra for the bike rack.
My combined length with the rack will be 7m max so I'm inclined not to include the rack at 7m or book at 6m plus rack.
I don't understand why the extra charge if the rack is within the length and width of booked van dimensions?

 

[franknjan]

Our van is 8.5m plus bike rack. I always book upto 9m. I think I tick the bike rack box, although it doesn't change anything with the price.
Hope this helps

 

[Littlewheels]

Yes they check, Brittany are the most officious ferry operator. They have the old wind out cloth tapes in a Leather carrier it’s happened to me twice and both times within what l had entered.

 

[MrPG]

Our van is 8.5m plus bike rack. I always book upto 9m. I think I tick the bike rack box, although it doesn't change anything with the price.
Hope this helps

I've just tried adding/removing the bike rack and the cost increases by £10.00 each way
Not much I know but if the total length including the rack is within 7m why the extra charge? Because they can?

 

[bobandjanie]

We saw someone removing a roof box one day from their motorhome roof, don't know if they wouldn't pay extra or they couldn't accommodate the extra height. Bob.

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[Al-Di]

we included bike rack in overall length, so 7m, nobody checked,

 

[PJGWiltshire]

I've just tried adding/removing the bike rack and the cost increases by £10.00 each way
Not much I know but if the total length including the rack is within 7m why the extra charge? Because they can?

Take the bikes off and fold up rack. Every little helps

 

[Two of usI]

I have had the lady come out the kiosk and measure !!!!!!!!

 

[Vennwood]

We saw someone removing a roof box one day from their motorhome roof, don't know if they wouldn't pay extra or they couldn't accommodate the extra height. Bob.

We had our caravan length checked at Plymouth and the family in front were told to remove their bikes off the roof of their car. Silly really as their total height was less than the height of the luton van they were parked behind

 

[Kozikot]

It's Cubic, so you have to pay for the fresh air above and below the bike rack...

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[Fragle]

We are 7.5m inc a ladder on the back that is the original build. The bike rack folded does not extend further than the ladder and I book for 8m

I called and asked Brittany ferries there answer is if you have a bike rack even if its not used you pay £7.50 each way I think. I explained the set up as above and straight in one ear and out the other. Bike rack adds cost

Bloody con merchants

You can just act ignorant and say you assumed as the bike rack is not used or within what you have paid for but believe me I've seen the tape measure of shame out on numerous occasions and access denied until payment is made. Funny enough this only happens in the UK leg of the trip

 

[Brains]

I've seen measurement of both height (for vans with stuff on the roof)
and length (Trailers and vans with bikes/boxes on the back) many times at the ports,
I don't think it's down to a single operator, I suspect it's something they do when they know the ferry is full, as they sell space by the lane meter

 

[Bolti]

If we have bikes we pay the extra. But rack folded up not used we don't declare it.
My van is 5.4m but have to book 6m. If they did get stroppy it's only 6 bolts to remove to put it in the back.

 

[gpat]

I have had the lady come out the kiosk and measure !!!!!!!!

yes but we are talking about ferries here

 

[gpat]

I think if you tick the bike rack box you don't have to included it in your measurement. Otherwise you would be paying twice.

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[Popty]

I booked a 9 mtr slot on Brittany Ferries, Portsmouth-Bilbao (our rv is 8.6 mtr) when l asked BF, about bike rack (still came in at just under the 9 meter slot booked) had to pay £13.50 extra each way, there reasoning is with bike rack, vehicle behind has to leave a larger gap, so puts us over 9 metres, still a bit of a con me thinks, but hey how, if you take bikes, you have to pay, something has to pay for the new LPG powered Salamanca ship

 

[Jonny1953]

I am tugging now and the caravan height is 2.560m, with the TV aerial in the lowered position it is 2.645m and BF heights are up to 2.60m or 3.0m, it is an extra £36 to go up to the 3.0m, that seems a rip off too

 

[The Wino]

If the vans 6.4m why is one of your options 6m plus a bike rack!!. Its a bit like saying there are loads of spare seats so there ought to be no charge for extra passengers!. It's their t and c of booking and I suspect on a take it or leave it basis. We are thinking of going over the bridge to Sweden and are 5.99 m plus rack but the plan is to put it and the bikes in the MH to go over the bridge!. As far as I remember it's only 2 allen keys to remove it although it's 7 years since I put it on.

 

[Wanders from Glos]

I think if you tick the bike rack box you don't have to included it in your measurement. Otherwise you would be paying twice.

That is my interpretation too, but I might have done it wrong!

 

[TDub49]

It's reassuring to know that there are so many funsters with detailed working knowledge of the technicalities of loading ferries safely and efficiently and of the economics of doing so.

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[2657]

It's reassuring to know that there are so many funsters with detailed working knowledge of the technicalities of loading ferries safely and efficiently and of the economics of doing so.

Don't think that many on this forum have the detailed knowledge that you mention.
I suspect that most will have the detailed knowledge to understand that a 6.4m motorhome with 0.5m bike rack still comes in at under 7m.
BF expect that motorhome length be declared at 7m and then pay an additional fee for a bike rack.
I don't think that the unfairness of that requires much in the way of detailed knowledge

 

[P Bentley]

They check.
It is not a difficult calculation for the person booking the ticket to make.
Measure the length of the van including bike rack and book ferry according to that length.

If you have van that is 6 meters and you add a bike rack then the length is over 6 meters (or up to 7 meters) so no longer qualifies for the 6 meter (or up to 6 meter) You book as "up to 7 meters" and off you go.
It is not difficult unless you have tried to chiv the company by declaring a shorter length or height than you are.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Brittany Ferries have got stricter. P&O North sea have always been strict.

I list as 7m (we are just under) if no bike rack. Adding a bike rack is Approximately £10 - £20 dependent on the trip.

The problem I have is with my Car. It has three height settings. The Manufacturer lists the car data at its highest setting, thats over the BF car height. The ride height and access height are both under the BF standard car height of 1.83m So if I put my Car registration into the BF website when booking, it will eventually charge a higher rate.

So, I have to book as not knowing the car reg at time of booking, then explain upon check-in. I have not had the car measured, but do get some grumoy responses.

But, I can understand why the Ferry companies get strict. After all, its is clear on the website. You dont buy a 1/2 pint and expect a pint.

EDIT: I have just noticed, BFhave allowed you to input amended dimensions now

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

we included bike rack in overall length, so 7m, nobody checked,

7 metres?

 

[2657]

They check.
It is not a difficult calculation for the person booking the ticket to make.
Measure the length of the van including bike rack and book ferry according to that length.

If you have van that is 6 meters and you add a bike rack then the length is over 6 meters (or up to 7 meters) so no longer qualifies for the 6 meter (or up to 6 meter) You book as "up to 7 meters" and off you go.
It is not difficult unless you have tried to chiv the company by declaring a shorter length or height than you are.

The point that has been made by others is that is what does not happen!
6.4 m motorhome booked up to 7m and then made to pay for the additional bike rack although total length is still under 7m.

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[Fragle]

It's reassuring to know that there are so many funsters with detailed working knowledge of the technicalities of loading ferries safely and efficiently and of the economics of doing so.

Nothing to do with loading the ferry it’s the economics of being charged twice for the same space

Although it might be an idea that once I’ve pulled up I then mark out the 8 m I’ve paid for and refuse to have a car bonnet under my bike rack

 

[P Bentley]

he point that has been made by others is that is what does not happen!
6.4 m motorhome booked up to 7m and then made to pay for the additional bike rack although total length is still under 7m.

I suggest you speak with them direct when making the booking rather than on line, you may find it different.
If they insist on that's how it is then at least you get the shorter length discount but have to pay for the rack.
they have no competition on the routes so can call the shots, and because I have no power to change it I stopped getting miffed about it it and found the crossings (often 10 or more a year) to be much more enjoyable as aresult.

If paying for the rack is a step to far, then the only option is to find an alternative crossing.

 

[2657]

I suggest you speak with them direct when making the booking rather than on line, you may find it different.
If they insist on that's how it is then at least you get the shorter length discount but have to pay for the rack.
they have no competition on the routes so can call the shots, and because I have no power to change it I stopped getting miffed about it it and found the crossings (often 10 or more a year) to be much more enjoyable as aresult.

If paying for the rack is a step to far, then the only option is to find an alternative crossing.

Doesn't affect me as my PVC is 5.99m and I pay the extra for the bike rack when in use.
If I was affected by this I certainly wouldn't let it spoil my journey

 

[gus-lopez]

Funny enough this only happens in the UK leg of the trip

Yes ,same with dfds at Dover.no one at Dunkirk interested. No one at Dover in the"bungalow" interested either.

 

[Jonny1953]

It's reassuring to know that there are so many funsters with detailed working knowledge of the technicalities of loading ferries safely and efficiently and of the economics of doing so.

There are a lot of people who work on ferries that know a lot less about loading ferries safely and efficiently than quite a few of the funsters

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