The Man in Seat 61Feb 11, 2023
Eurostar say leisure travel is back to 100% of pre-pandemic levels & business travel 80-85%. But due to Brexit they can only provide 70% of pre-pandemic capacity. They've plans to resolve this including trialling online check-in, I've added a summary at https://www.seat61.com/news.htm
The Man in Seat 61:  What's new on the site

News page on the Man in Seat 61 website

Show threadGabriele PollaraFeb 11, 2023
@seatsixtyone
So depressing. What's making them cap it at 70%? Simply can't process travellers fast enough at passport control?
Show threadDan
@gpollara @seatsixtyone essentially yes.
Since brexit before EITAS every single person now needs to be asked all the normal 3rd country. questions you get at immigration, business or pleasure. How long are you staying, where are you staying, how are you financially supporting this stay and so on.
Before the passport is stamped and handed back, what used to take 5 seconds can now take 30s or more
Feb 11, 2023 at 11:23amWeb
Show threadGabriele PollaraFeb 11, 2023

@Dasy2k1
Thank you for clarifying, all makes sense.

I know it's a debate that no one wants to reopen but reading what you wrote, it still all seems ludicrous that anyone would celebrate such a regression in travel flexibility / ease in 2023. 🤷‍♂️
@seatsixtyone

Show threadMarjorieRFeb 11, 2023

@Dasy2k1 @gpollara @seatsixtyone Having travelled to Paris and back by Eurostar in Jan I don't recall of being delayed by lots of questions at either French or UK Passport control (you have both when onboarding). Though there was an additional booth to pass through for my Passport to get stamped. Maybe that's my UK Passport/White privilege.

Also AFAIK what I did was an online check-in where I went to the website and got my 'boarding pass' (with QR) for my phone and printed off a paper backup.

Show threadMarjorieRFeb 11, 2023
@Dasy2k1 @gpollara @seatsixtyone I would agree with the suggestion that if they can't fill the trains at St. Pancras because of congestion then it would make sense to fill them up at Ebbfleet/Ashford. In fact if they are diverting those who would prefer to use Ebbfleet/Ashford to St Pancras they are only making the problem worse.