TICKET GATES

Your arrival time depends on what ticket you have. If in doubt, arrive with time to spare and relax with a coffee and a croissant before you board.

Standard, Standard Premier, and Eurostar™ carte classique travellers

Arrive at the station at least 30 minutes before departure, 45 minutes at busy times like weekends and bank holidays.

Business Premier and Eurostar™ carte blanche travellers

Arrive at least 10 minutes before departure.

If you arrive a little early in London, Paris, Brussels or Ebbsfleet, head to our exclusive Business Premier lounge to enjoy complimentary wi-fi, drinks and snacks for up to 90 minutes before departure.

Groups of 10 or more

Regardless of class, groups will need to arrive at least 1 hour before departure. Allow more time at busy times such as weekends and bank holidays.

Travellers needing assistance

Please allow yourself an extra 30 minutes on top of your normal arrival time.

All travellers for ski trains

Arrive 1 hour before departure.

You’ll need your ticket and your passport or identity card. If you’re travelling with children they’ll each need their own passport, even babies.

You don’t need to check in your luggage as long as you’re within your allowance and are able to carry it yourself.

When you arrive at the ticket gates, simply scan the barcode on your paper ticket or on your mobile. If you have any problems, just ask one of our team for help.

Some tickets, valid on Eurostar but issued by other carriers, may not have a barcode so you'll need to check in at one of the desks.

If you don't have a seat number on your ticket, go to a check-in desk and we’ll let you know how and when you'll be given a seat.

Ticket gates at Brussels-Midi/Zuid open once the previous train has departed, so ticket gate opening times will vary.

Access to the Business Premier lounge for Business Premier travellers and Eurostar™ carte blanche holders is allowed up to 90 minutes before departure.

Standard and Standard Premier

Ticket gates and checks close 30 minutes before departure.

 

Business Premier

The Business Premier ticket gates close 10 minutes before departure.

If you arrive after the ticket gates or checks close, we reserve the right to not allow you to board your train. If you’ve arrived before your train’s departure time, you can ask at the ticket office for a seat on the next available train. If there’s space, we’ll rebook your ticket and you’ll need to pay a £30 (€40) fee.

If your European passport has an electronic chip in it, you can scan it at the ePassport gate, rather than using the passport control booth.

These are for EU and EEA citizens who are over 18 and have a valid electronic passport.

Look for this symbol on the front of your European passport.

1. Put the photo page of your passport face down on the glass and wait for the gate to read the chip. When the green light shows on the screen, the first gates will open so you can step forward.
2. Stand on the footprints, look at the camera and wait for the facial recognition camera to scan you.
3. If the scan matches your passport photo, the second gate will open and you can walk right into our departure lounge.

1. Walk through the first gate.
2. Put the photo page of your passport face down on the glass, look at the camera and wait for the gate to read your passport and the facial recognition camera to scan you.
3. If the scan matches your passport photo, the second gate will open and you can walk right into our departure lounge.