Friends coming to visit in summer with children who are diabetic. I wondered if there was any special treatment (priority, I suppose) for families like that. I mean, if me and the cat got priority, …
Also, any tips on cheap tickets other than Tesco vouchers?
Merci bcp.
Cheaper tickets, use the ferry 
Yes - especially Newhaven - Dieppe, where the crossing fares are subsidised by the Seine-Maritime Département. Also both ports are small and sleepy and the ferries are not huge, so you get on and off quickly. And for kids I think they would find the ferry crossing more fun than going through the tunnel.
Depends where they are coming from in the UK of course.
For me in Guildford it makes no sense to drive all the way east to Folkestone then all the way back to Rouen and points south on the French side - I’d rather relax on the boat for 4 hours than sit on the M25!
As for Eurotunnel, the tunnel crossing is so quick (35 mins) if there was a crisis they’d be in France before they knew it.
Eurotunnel do have a “priority boarding” ticket called Flexiplus which might suit them if they are bothered about being stuck in a queue - though it doubles the cost for the car (but not passengers).
Not the season to find it on offer but I have at least once seen mention of carnet on Eurotunnel since covid. I’d thought they’d stopped and whether they offered it was always intermittent and very discreet anyway but worth it if doing a relatiely low number of journeys per year.
10 trips= low number? You could in the past share with another person which made it a bargain.
Do they still exist? Shareholders only?
Saw it once since covid as mentioned, it started at 5 return/10 single trips could be mixed, nothing said not still shareable. Obvs a bargain in summer, which is probably why I’ve only ever seen it advertised out of season even though once bought could be used anytime within validity.
Personally I’d keep a watch separately in F and GB markets as it’s not unknown for offers to be different in each for transport of all sorts - that’s if it’s not discontinued.
Something to keep an eye open for
I’ve not seen anything offering good value for the tunnel in the last couple of years. We’re using it later in the year because Tesco vouchers paid most of the cost.
Just off topic for a minute, DFDS just messaged and between June 9 and June 14, 23.00 hours Newhaven departures will not arrive until 08.00 in the morning! Dont know what they will be doing for an additional 3 hours but really glad we have a cabin 
Tesco clubcard points?
Oh sorry I see @Porridge already mentioned Tesco vouchers.
Still waiting for a response from DFDS, called them but customer services are trying find out why the doubling of the crossing time. I am not that bothered but our pets down in the car for 9 hours! DFDS havent considered this.
It’s not le shuttle but Eurostar has a website called Snap on which you can buy cheaper tickets, from up to two weeks prior to travel. The catch is that you don’t know the time of the train except that it will be either AM or PM, until the day before. Also tickets are non refundable. You have to be able to be flexible but there are good savings to be had! Eurostar Snap: last minute train tickets
My experience of the tunnel is that there’s no guarantee of getting a train even when you have a booking - one occasion in 2023 several Flex+ vehicles slipped through at the last minute taking up our spaces, and we were bumped back.
I used to have a carnet for the tunnel but since those ended the prices have become uncompetitive. Newhaven-Dieppe is often the best option but to get the over 60s discound you have to book by phone and the details are not easy to find on their website (but they are there).
Phoning is a but clunky because you are restricted to office hours on a weekday only and not public holidays. It is also not changeable other than also over the phone, which is a bit awkward if travelling at the weekend, which means you have to just show up and take a chance you can get on the alternative crossing.
That said, the (French but with perfect English) staff are unfailingly pleasant and helpful and a pleasure to deal with. Even if you dial the UK number it gets put through to Dieppe.
For those travelling with pets, but not wanting to pay Eurotunnel prices nor consign their pet to a vehicular prison for several hours, P&O have a fabulous service on the Dover-Calais route, where there is a pet lounge which allows you to take your pet on board with you in a restricted area.
It is a couple of years since I used it but it was astonishing, to be honest. More or less club class service for something like £25. We were reluctant to use it because of the scandalous actions of the company in their labour relations (but our dog was not well at the time) but I have to say the staff were incredible. We told them our meal and drink choices and they went and fetched food and drink for us (and soft drinks were in a free minibar with free coffee as well) bypassing the queues. Can’t believe the accountants haven’t wised up to that though and put a stop to it by now!
Wont use P&O because of their scandalous actions. In defence of DFDS, they allow you to go to the car decks mid voyage to check on your pets.
Nobody has responded to the first part of your post, regarding diabetics. As a diabetic myself, I can see no reason why a diabetic could expect, or would want, ‘priority treatment’. As it is children in this instance, I am certain that the parents will be well accustomed and briefed on the particular problems involved in traveling, and will have all necessary stuff safely packed for blood sugar testing and ongoing treatment . In the event of, for example, a hypo or other event, I’m sure that they will know what to do.
