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Eurail

  • June 23, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 59 views
A

Hello,

I have purchased seat reservations on the Bernina Express and I am about to do the same for the Glacier Express. I chose reservation only as I will be purchasing a Eurail Global Pass very shortly and intend to use that for the ticket itself. A local travel agent has advised to book the ticket itself and link the seat reservations immediately as I risk not having a seat on my chosen travel date. I am wondering if this is correct as I was under the impression that a seat reservation was a guarantee of seat. I am reluctant to link the reservation just yet and book the ticket itself as I understand this deems my Eurail pass non-refundable as it is ‘activated’ and my trip is still some time away. 

Can anyone please confirm if this is correct?

 

Best answer by Al_G

If you have purchased reservations then you have reservations. You should have a PDF or equivalent with date, time coach and seat numbers.

There is no linking of a pass to a reservation, they remain separate.

 

If you have only reservation and not ticket then you must purchase and activate Eurail pass, entering the same train to the pass, you can do this at any point before travelling.

    5 replies

    A
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    • Al_G
    • Full steam ahead
    • Answer
    • June 23, 2025

    If you have purchased reservations then you have reservations. You should have a PDF or equivalent with date, time coach and seat numbers.

    There is no linking of a pass to a reservation, they remain separate.

     

    If you have only reservation and not ticket then you must purchase and activate Eurail pass, entering the same train to the pass, you can do this at any point before travelling.

    A
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    • Al_G
    • Full steam ahead
    • June 23, 2025

    Just to add:

    Both Bernina and Glacier Express are expensive tourist products, they are typically busy to full and have a comprehensive but pricey on-board service. If you want this type of experience then carry on.

    You can however travel on the same route (and even on the same train on the Bernina Express) without reservation or any additional cost on top of the Eurail pass on the frequent regular trains that run.

    A
    • AaronWa
    • Author
    • Rail rookie
    • June 23, 2025

    Thank you for your response. Yes, I have a pdf with seat, carriage and date etc on the Bernina. I am hoping to acquire Glacier reservations soon once they open. 

    Yes, I only have a reservation at this point and not a ticket on the Bernina. So I just enter the train reservation on the Eurail app once activated (just prior to leaving for Switzerland) and will have no problems. The agent said the ticket needs to be acquired through the app as early as possible so I was confused.

    Am I correct in assuming once any reservations are made (and linked to my reservation on the panoramic trains) it is considered activated and non refundable?

    A
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    • Al_G
    • Full steam ahead
    • June 23, 2025

    Thank you for your response. Yes, I have a pdf with seat, carriage and date etc on the Bernina. I am hoping to acquire Glacier reservations soon once they open. 

    Yes, I only have a reservation at this point and not a ticket on the Bernina. So I just enter the train reservation on the Eurail app once activated (just prior to leaving for Switzerland) and will have no problems. The agent said the ticket needs to be acquired through the app as early as possible so I was confused.

    Am I correct in assuming once any reservations are made (and linked to my reservation on the panoramic trains) it is considered activated and non refundable?

     

    You have confirmed reservations, you need not do anything else with them.

    Refund conditions on these are down to the operator/provider you got them from, refer to their documentation.

    When using it the Eurail pass is your travel ticket and on reservation compulsory services you need both ticket and reservation for valid travel but as I said, there is no connection between reservations and Eurail passes, each exist separately and have their own separate conditions.

    A
    • AaronWa
    • Author
    • Rail rookie
    • June 23, 2025

    Thank you for your response.

    I know the reservations themselves on the Bernina and Glacier are non-refundable. I made an error by purchasing 1st class reservations on the Bernina not realising I need a first class Eurail so a little stuck. Only way around it I believe is to repurchase second class on the Bernina or purchase 1st class Eurail. The agent also advised 1st class class on the Glacier on my travel dates are sold out by a travel group so not entirely sure 1st class is worth it. These have sold prior to the 93 days that they become available to the public. 

    As far as the Eurail Global pass, it states it is refundable as long as not activated so I won’t add any seat reservations yet.

    That is helpful to know with the Eurail in that I do not need to do anything else as far as the panoramic trains. Once I have purchased and activated the Eurail pass closer to the travel dates, I will enter the same train on the pass.

    It is great to know there are many other trains that offer the same route etc as these trains and I will keep that in mind when planning if I get stuck.

     

    Thank you for your help

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