I have a Eurail pass and my friend will buy an interrail pass soon (they are hoping for a spring sale). In the meantime, I wanted to make seat reservations for both of us on a train from Rome to Zurich (1st leg is Rome to Milan and then Milan to Zurich.) However, when I try to book seat reservations for both of us together on Rail Europe, it is asking for a Eurail pass number. I have one, but my friend is using Interrail and hasn’t purchased their pass yet. Is there a way for me to book both passes at once, even though my friend doesn’t have an Interrail pass number yet? Also the spot to type in Eurail pass number says “Eurail Global Pass 1st Class” for both of us, instead of Interrail for my friend. How would I get the other one to say Interrail instead? Thanks!
Book Seat Reservation on Rail Europe without Interrail pass number for Rome to Zurich
+1Best answer by Sebastian Vetter
You can just add your number for both of you. Or generate a pass cover number from this site https://www.interrail.eu/en/book-reservations#/generatePassCoverNumber (enter any combination of 6 letters and digits, like A2BC34)
Raileurope will not check whether this number is valid, nor will it be printed onto your ticket. So as long as you can show both your reservation (bought through raileurope) and a valid pass to the train staff on your travel day, you will be fine.
You can just add your number for both of you. Or generate a pass cover number from this site https://www.interrail.eu/en/book-reservations#/generatePassCoverNumber (enter any combination of 6 letters and digits, like A2BC34)
Raileurope will not check whether this number is valid, nor will it be printed onto your ticket. So as long as you can show both your reservation (bought through raileurope) and a valid pass to the train staff on your travel day, you will be fine.
You can enter the same pass number twice.
It doesn't matter whether you choose Eurail or Interrail. The reservation will just show "Global pass”.
+1What if I use my pass number and it ends up changing between now and the reservation, which isn’t until this summer? For example, if there is a Eurail sale and I buy a new pass and refund the previous one? (I had paid the $8 cancellation fee so all it would cost to cancel is $8.)
Reservations are tied to your name. The system simply wants to confirm you've got any kind of pass (too many fraudsters or so they say).
I mean you could also wait before booking seats. Italian high-speed trains do not sell out until perhaps the day itself (esp. on Rome-Milan-Zurich). Nothing like Eurostar.
+1So the seats are unlikely to be sold out? Is this true even more so in 1st class? Or do a lot of people take first class on these trains? Also, when I looked online to book reservations on Rail Europe I was surprised how many seats it showed were already booked for those trains, since the trip isn’t until this summer (at least according to the seat map and available seats shown.)
There could be a group booking on the train you've checked. Or check Trenitalia like you were purchasing a ticket (maybe Rail Europe doesn't have access at all seats 4+ months in advance? No idea).
But yes, in general, availability on the main Italian corridor is never an issue outside Easter, Ascension and mid-August.
Don't leave it to the day itself and check once in a while how it's going.
What if I use my pass number and it ends up changing between now and the reservation, which isn’t until this summer? For example, if there is a Eurail sale and I buy a new pass and refund the previous one? (I had paid the $8 cancellation fee so all it would cost to cancel is $8.)
No need to pay extra to be able to cancel. You can buy a fully refundable pass on https://allaboard.eu/eurail (https://allaboard.eu/interrail for Interrail). I'd expect a sale later this month, like in most previous years.
+1What if I use my pass number and it ends up changing between now and the reservation, which isn’t until this summer? For example, if there is a Eurail sale and I buy a new pass and refund the previous one? (I had paid the $8 cancellation fee so all it would cost to cancel is $8.)
No need to pay extra to be able to cancel. You can buy a fully refundable pass on https://allaboard.eu/eurail (https://allaboard.eu/interrail for Interrail). I'd expect a sale later this month, like in most previous years.
Wow, never heard of the fully refundable passes! Will they go on sale there too when Eurail has a sale?
No need to pay extra to be able to cancel. You can buy a fully refundable pass on https://allaboard.eu/eurail (https://allaboard.eu/interrail for Interrail). I'd expect a sale later this month, like in most previous years.
Wow, never heard of the fully refundable passes! Will they go on sale there too when Eurail has a sale?
They did last time, in November/December.
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