On 29 July I am taking this journey:
San Sebastian 10:59 to Valladolid 16:01 with Renfe MD 18012
Wait 1:32
Valladolid 17:33 to Oviedo 19:48 with Renfe AVE 4161
This is my first time in this part of Spain, so I would really like a window seat. Especially on the first long section.
What is the best/cheapest way to get this?
Raileurope.com can't sell reservations for the first section. They say it has to be bought at the station. But I am worried that the window seats will be sold out.
Raileurope.com can sell a reservation for the second section. And I can ask for a window seat. It is not possible to select a specific seat, but I can see the seat number before paying. And try again if I want a better seat. (I can find a seat map on other sites). This train has a 2+3 configuration. So I would prefer to sit in the 2 seat side if possible. It costs 10€ plus a 2€ reservation fee (but no booking fee - I don't know the difference)
Another option is Interrails own reservation system. Here I can book a seat for the first section. But I can't select a specific seat. It costs 4€ + 2€ booking fee.
Interrails can find the train for the second section, but it can't make reservations for it. There is a massage saying that "No price results were found. Pass holder seats may be sold..." That is not true, since other systems can sell them. But if look at other dates, it is not possible to choose a seat on this train either. It costs 10€ + 2€ booking fee.
I have also looked at happyrail.com. This site is new to me, but it looks a bit expensive. It is small amounts, but it all adds up…
They claim that they charge a 2€ reservation fee per route (not per train). But because of my extended stop in Valladolid, I can't find my wanted route. It only finds a route with a 17 minute stop in Palencia. To get my wanted route, I have to make 2 seperate bookings = 1 extra reservation fee.
At Happyrail.com it is actually possible to select a specific seat from a seat map. But it costs 5€ per seat. On the first section that is more than the reservation itself. If I don't select a specific seat, it looks like I can see the automatic selected seat before i pay. (By clicking at "Schedule" in the shopping cart). But the ticket is only held for 5 minutes.
It is not possible to book seats only at Renfes own site (Why not? Their system already have an option to select other discounts). But if I make a dummy-booking for a normal ticket, it is possible to add the option to select a seat from the seat map. The actual selection is done just before paying. (Btw. this add-on cost 5€ - just like happyrail). At the seat map I can also see how sold out the train is.
Are there any other options that I have missed?
Right now I think my best option is to book the first section from Happyrail (with trial and error until I get a good seat) and the second section from Raileurope.
