Can You book specific seats? and if you buy a 2nd class pass, can you buy one leg as 1st class?

  • 22 May 2023
  • 9 replies
  • 145 views
L

Hi, 

We are looking at this journey. 

---------------

LON - EDI (booked via LNER) 

EDI - Glasgow 

Iceland inbetween

Paris - Brussels

Brussels - Amsterdam 

Amsterdam - Berlin

Berlin - Prague

Prague - Munich

Munich - Venice

Venice - Naples

Naples - Rome

Fly to Athens. 

--------

Question’s are:

  1. Can you book specific seats? Like window seats and what not. I want to ensure we are together and maybe window seat/near luggage. LNER let us. Its got me thinking If I should Direct buy. 
  2. If we book a 2nd class pass, can we book maybe one leg of the journey 1st class? It seems you can in the seat reservation section. Like the Munich to Venice or any of the longer ones
  3. and how do you validate your tickets? I see people getting stung with this mainly in Italy. 
  4. and finally. any tips on the above journey

 

thanksssss

9 replies

T
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

It is rarely possible to upgrade and when it is, it's expensive. To book a 1st class seat reservation, you need a 1st class pass. Simply buy a 1st class pass : the price difference is small.

London - Edinburgh : free seat reservation available on LNER (seating map)

Paris - Brussels : 27€ for the direct Thalys (32€ 1st class). Cheaper to take a TGV to Lille (limited 10€, then 20€ in both classes) and then 2 IC trains to Brussels

Brussels - Amsterdam : use the IC -> reservation not possible so show early and you'll be good. Otherwise it's the very expensive Thalys.

With a 1st class pass you get free seat reservations in Germany, Austria, Czechia,... through tickets.oebb.at (3€ per train in 2nd class). 4,50€ per journey on bahn.com (not needed for your itinerary). Sometimes there is a seating map.

AFAIK it's not possible to book a seat between Prague and Munich. Show early and you'll get seats. 1st class is less crowded anyway.

There is a Munich - Venice night train if you'd like. Very popular so book well in advance. Again through tickets.oebb.at

Also use the same website for Italy : 13€ for Frecciarossa high-speed trains and no booking fee.

Let me know for questions

Ilkka Virjo
Rank
Userlevel 1
Badge +1

London-Edinburgh, rarely is 1st class so worth the money as it’s there, you get compilmentary service (drinks, small meals, snacks). LNER lets you book and choose seats, enter 0 for “reference” when doing so. Elsewhere on your journey, it’s probably worth the money if your budget isn’t really tight. The price difference is small, in the end, I think, compared to what it is when buying separate tickets. 

Edinburg- Glasgow is such a short journey that it’s probably cheaper to get tickets instead of a travel day (unless you have one to spare). 

Angelo
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +10

For TGVs inside France it is possible for a little difference to use 1st class with a 2nd class pass. You have to book it via https://travel.b-europe.com/Eurail-GE/en/booking-tgv#TravelWish and you need a cover number

 

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask in the community! Known languages: Deutsch, Italiano, English.
A
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

If you travel during high season, do make seat reservations between Berlin and Prague, and Prague and Munich.  I travelled there last summer at the end of July, and the trains were extremely crowded. Luckily, my daughter and I had seat reservations. If the trains get too crowded, everyone without a seat reservation will have to leave the train. 

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
T
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +5

@AnnaB How did you manage to reserve Prague - Munich ? ALEX (the operator) says that it is not possible but you can still make one for the Czech part (through cd.cz)

A
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

At least last year I could make reservations through DB.

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
A
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

@AnnaB How did you manage to reserve Prague - Munich ? ALEX (the operator) says that it is not possible but you can still make one for the Czech part (through cd.cz)

In that case you just make reservations for the Czech part.

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
R
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9

@AnnaB How did you manage to reserve Prague - Munich ? ALEX (the operator) says that it is not possible but you can still make one for the Czech part (through cd.cz)

It should be possible to book reservations via DB, ÖBB or CD but only 30 days in advance.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
R
Rank
Userlevel 7
Badge +9
  1. and how do you validate your tickets? I see people getting stung with this mainly in Italy.

You don't. It's enough to have a pass and (if required) a reservation. Nothing needs to be validated.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.

Reply


Terms and Conditions & Privacy PolicyCookie settings