How do I make sure both my partner and I buy the same train ticket.
Can I purchase both tickets in one place.
I have a eurail
my partner does NOT have a eurail pass
Best answer by thibcabe
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booking a ticket for 1eurail ticket holder and 1 NON eurail ticket holder
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You can only see the availability of sests through the Interrail/Eurail website after you have bought the pass.
If you looked at the Interrail/Eurail before you bought the pass you only see the price and this doesn't mean that there are free seats available.
Yeah I know. I did everything right --- and it still failed
Which ticket did you buy for partner ? Maybe it is a first class ticket. How much did you pay for it ?
Otherwise get a refund of their ticket, it should be possible. Then go to the train station and book another 2nd class ticket via Mulhouse or Strasbourg. It isn't direct but doesn't take that much longer. Also ask for a seat reservation next to your partner for you
That way your seat reservation will only cost 20€/CHF (maybe 10€/CHF if you're lucky) as the TGV ride is only within France (way cheaper)
The TGV Lyria Switzerland - France has the most expensive seat reservation fees unfortunately
Here is a schedule that would work :
- Leaving Zurich at 05:59 or 06:08
- Change in Basel, Mulhouse and Dijon
- Arrive in Paris at 11:12
Zurich - Basel :
- about 11 CHF saver ticket (half-fare) OR
- about 21 CHF saver ticket (full fare)
Basel - Paris :
- 100€ 2nd class (40€ with 2nd class pass) OR - 110€ 1st class (41€ with 2nd class pass = seat reservation + surcharge)
Does your partner have a half-fare card ?
Let us know
Otherwise travel later if you can = leave Zurich at 10-11:00 and there are lots of cheaper options with more availability
I appreciate the details and the options - thank you. but here’s where I’m netting out --- I get that I can do this, or that, and even another thing to get this to work. remember - This was my FIRST experience and why do I need to do this/that/another thing to make their system work. they have been in business far too long to have the customer do this/that/another thing to get it to work (but not work as marketed)
OH - and to answer your question --- I purchased my partner the 2nd class seat, so we could travel together (at least in the same class if not the same car)
Lastly, I was so excited about this pass. I bought it because I wanted a fun experience for both of us and we could travel less challenged then other way’s. I guess this isn’t to be.
Unfortunately you lose a lot of flexibility in the countries requiring seat reservations like France and Spain (Italy is doable).
On the other hand the pass is simply a dream in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK or Scandinavia, etc. Almost all European countries to be frank. There are frequent trains and you can board any one you'd like last-minute and find a free seat (reservations optional, not needed or not possible)
Unfortunately you lose a lot of flexibility in the countries requiring seat reservations like France and Spain (Italy is doable).
On the other hand the pass is simply a dream in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK or Scandinavia, etc. Almost all European countries to be frank. There are frequent trains and you can board any one you'd like last-minute and find a free seat (reservations optional, not needed or not possible)
I want so badly to believe you --- but as of now it’s 100% failed.
Where would you like to go after Paris ? There are reservation-free TER trains to most of the country but unfortunately they don't run often…
You could go to Lille : dozens of TGV for 10€, even last-minute and then cross the Belgian border to Bruges and/or Gent with reservation-free IC trains.
Yeah it's a real shame that your trip couldn't start properly
Where would you like to go after Paris ? There are reservation-free TER trains to most of the country but unfortunately they don't run often…
You could go to Lille : dozens of TGV for 10€, even last-minute and then cross the Belgian border to Bruges and/or Gent with reservation-free IC trains.
Yeah it's a real shame that your trip couldn't start properly
If I can’t START my trip --- then do I have a trip at all?
I was sooo excited about this trip and the ability to travel with little to no concerns --- but now, tomorrow - I get to go to the train station and “fight” for a refund on a ticket I purchased and then spend time on figuring out another travel plan.
I’d have to say the primary frustration I have is, I wrote an email to customer support hours ago - and I haven’t received any support/return communication from the company.
so here’s the latest -- and I hope the final on this message.
I woke up this morning and tried again, and it worked -- yup, it just worked. I used the eurail website and it worked. It worked like you’d think it would/should work.
Why did it work --- who knows….
I then checked the sbb website and there are 2nd class seats available.
For everyone that has helped I appreciate it.
Sadly the time I picked was the time I was available, so the many other travel times you offered would not work.
Can you imagine if the Airline industry worked like this? Or a Car rental agency or the hotel industry, why do we accept this type of service from this company? Seriously - there are so many opportunities to make this a good experience, but instead it chose another route.
If eurail is watching this thread -- just know that I still haven’t received a return to my communication, and if you need a person to fix your website/app let me know - I have experience in the web/it world and I’m happy to say the websites I built back in 2000 are FAR superior.
conclusion:
--- I can’t imagine I would EVER recommend this service to anyone.
--- I am happy I don’t have to go and “fight” with the SBB to get a refund, however I fully expect eurail is just waiting to fail me again, on my continued trip.
It seems that 6 seats have been released, surely due to the cancellation of a group
Nobody could have predicted that
Hope your trip goes well regardless
I fully expect eurail is just waiting to fail me again, on my continued trip.
The Eurail/Interrail websites should only be used to book a reservation if you can't avoid it. They're often more expensive and not always reliable.
what other way is there to book a ticket. I’m now researching my next leg of the trip and am having challenges finding an available seat (1 seat) on a train.
Let us know the route and we'll help
Here are some useful links :
https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish (TGV within France)
https://www.b-europe.com/EN/Booking/Pass#TravelWish
Eurostar to London, Thalys to Brussels and Amsterdam. These seats can sell out weeks in advance. There is the possibility to go to Lille-Flandres via TGV and then take 2 IC trains to Brussels (journey time 3h in total) or Amsterdam (5h30). Also TGV to Lille-Europe and Eurostar to London (always more seats). There is a 27-32€ seat reservation for these trains but regular tickets are always way more expensive for Thalys or Eurostar
https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm (general advice)
My travel continues
Depart paris on Sunday April 30 after 4pm (1600 hrs)
Arrive Amsterdam airport
one person only and I have a 2nd class eurail ticket
There are no seat reservations left to Brussels, Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam. You'll have to go via Lille-Flandres :
- Paris-Nord - Lille-Flandres 15:16 - 16:18
- Lille-Flandres 17:03 - Kortrijk - Antwerpen-Centraal - Schiphol Airport 21:19 reservation-free
Or
- Paris-Nord - Lille-Flandres 17:46 - 18:48 20€
- Lille-Flandres 19:09 - Kortrijk - Antwerpen-Centraal - Schiphol Airport 23:19 reservation-free
There are no seat reservations left to Brussels, Schiphol Airport or Amsterdam. You'll have to go via Lille-Flandres :
- Paris-Nord - Lille-Flandres 15:16 - 16:18
- Lille-Flandres 17:03 - Kortrijk - Antwerpen-Centraal - Schiphol Airport 21:19 reservation-free
Or
- Paris-Nord - Lille-Flandres 17:46 - 18:48 20€
- Lille-Flandres 19:09 - Kortrijk - Antwerpen-Centraal - Schiphol Airport 23:19 reservation-free
how did you find this…. I like the 17:46 timeframe.
Unfortunately all direct trains are sold out, even regular tickets...
I've found here the TGV ride : https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish
20€ for 2nd class seat or 19€ for 1st class seat with 2nd class pass (9€ surcharge + 10€ seat)
I used bahn.de and SBB app as planners :)
Let me know
The Interrail/Eurail pass is your ticket, for any train.
You add the train to the app before boarding (switching a toggle) so you get a QR code. You need to add any train to the app, even the one with mandatory seat reservations.
And then you can get on the train :)
Trains requiring seat reservations : whenever a ticket inspector comes you show both your pass (QR code in the app) + seat reservation (printed or PDF)
You only need to connect every 72 hours to wifi/4G, otherwise everything works in airplane mode
I’d have to say the primary frustration I have is, I wrote an email to customer support hours ago - and I haven’t received any support/return communication from the company.
Did you mention the start date of your travel to Customer Support? They give priority to assisting travellers that currently are travelling and those travelling in the near future. But you should receive a confirmation email. How did you contact Customer Support?
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