Pricing anomaly !!

[Wiggo]

Earlier on today I made my first post on this site and, given the considered responses that I got, I thought I would risk another post with a niggle I have about pricing on BF. I have to say that, notwithstanding my ‘looking forward’ to being on board a BF ferry during the summer, I find the cost quite expensive. As it happens I am booked via a travel company and I can only assume they get some kind of volume discount however I had looked at piecing together the holiday myself to see how much cheaper I may have been able to get the holiday.
I will be travelling with four adults (3 + me) and one 5 year old. I will be taking a car that just fits into the minimum ‘car Dimensions (IE: less than 5m long and 1.83 High).
According to the BF website tonight, the cost of doing that Outbound from Portsmouth to St Malo on July 27th 2004 and returning on the 11th August 2004 on the same route with both legs having 2 x 2 berth Outside Cabins and 1 reclining seat is £829 GBP .

I think that is quite expensive in itself however I then thought that rather than take our own car, we would shave a serious amount off that figure if we were to travel as foot passengers on the ferry and rent a car from St-Malo instead! Clever Ehh? Well I thought it was up until the point that I priced the journey, identical to above only ‘without the car’ and the price came to £846 GBP , ie: £17 MORE!
So how can that be? Does anyone understand how BF operate their pricing policy?

[Seb]

Brittany Ferries encourage people to use their cars!

[Wiggo]

They obviously do although you would think that by taking 1 1/2 tonnes less baggage (the car) and not taking up any 'real estate' on the car deck that there would be just a little bit of a discount!

[Seb]

Brittany Ferries has grown up with freight & car passengers, the idea being a driving holiday. You are right though it is a bit wierd! ??? ???

[Wiggo]

I could understand it Seb if it was the same price, IE: with or without car the same cost, but to be actually cheaper with the car is a little 'strange' I think!

[memorykarl]

yes this is very strange, i checked myself and found it to be more expensive without a car

[James]

If you're not worried about taking the car then try Ryan Air from Stanstead to Dinard then book car hire via the Hertz link from the Ryan Air site for a cheap deal.

Alternatively, you can get a really cheap deal on the Commodore Clipper (Portsmouth to Cherbourg) on Sundays. A flat price of £375 return in the summer including a trailer or caravan if you have one. You must travel on Sundays. Cherbourg to St. Malo is now only 2 hours by car on the new road which bypasses St. Lo. You can book on the Condor Ferries website.

[Andy]

Brittany Ferries pricing policy does indeed appear to have changed from previous years.

It looks as though it has come even more into line with that found on air lines, where ticket types are allocated per crossing, therefore even if your going, for example, for only 5 days if the 5 day ticket allocation has gone your ticket will move up to the next price bracket.

This can easily be avoided by simply booking early, as with most companies (including the new Speed Ferries) the later you book the fuller the ferry is so the prices will be higher.

Incidentally this does not only apply to car fares, as pointed out by 'Wiggo'. I was recently looking at Santander foot passenger fares, but all mini cruise and short breaks allocations had gone. At least this means that the Pont-Aven is filling nicely

[Wiggo]

Andy, I am ever so sorry but I did not notice your response to my post. Sorry…..
Are you suggesting that the reason I got a cheaper price quoted when wanting to take a car as oppose to going on foot would be down to the fact that they, (BF), had filled up a particular level of ‘Foot Passenger Only’ allocation and therefore were quoting a price in the next band up compared to the ‘taking a car band’ whereby they still had some availability in the ‘lower price bracket, hence the difference?
You may well be right but I have to say that it is still a complete anomaly! Does anyone on this forum work for BF and possibly shed some further light on the matter?

[Andy]

This is getting very complicated! ???

Yes, I was trying to put across the price 'bracket' policy, but it doesnt seem to apply completely to you in this case. All I can think of is that your going to be abroad for 15 days, perhaps the rate for 4 adult and one child foot passengers (all priced individually) works out more expensive that the price of the car (which includes all persons travelling).

But your right, it certainly is an interesting one! :-\