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Do I need to activate my pass in order to make seat reservation?

  • 14 January 2024
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Ivy Oh
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Hi there,

This is the 1st time I am posting query in this community and so please bear with me.  I will be travelling with my family to a few destinations in late Apr/early May, with global pass.  We are planning to travel between Paris > London > Brussel and I understand I have to make seat reservation in advance for taking the Eurostar.  My question is do I have to activate my pass (I have added passenger details into the app but have not activate) in order for me to make the reservation online?  As I have never try online seat reservation, plus I understand that there will be a fee incurred if there is a need to rescheulde my train timing after making seat reservation, hence I need to understand in depth instead of doing something silly.

Appreicate your guideline in this matter.

Thank you.

 

 

 

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Best answer by thibcabe 14 January 2024, 12:42

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T
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Are those your only train journeys ? Regular tickets are likely to be cheaper as you need to add a 30€ reservation fee on top of Eurail (otherwise included in your ticket).

To answer your question : no, you do not need to activate the pass. Better not to do it even as once the validity period or a pass day start, you cannot cancel it.

Eurostar trains are popular and there's a passholder quota (quite unique in Europe) so yes you have to book in advance which limits your flexibility.

Reservations are often non-refundable nor exchangeable but Eurostar is an exception : 15€ per person to change, only possible once and there must be passholder reservations left.

Ivy Oh
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Hi there,

Thanks for the quick reply.  Yes I do have more other train journeys that these, such as from Schiphol>Lyon,  Lyon>Paris, and few other more on TGV/TER.  I am aware of the seat reservation fee for taking Eurostar between Paris>London & London>Brussel-Midi, I guess this is unavoidable, from the search result. Or is there somewhere I have missed out? 

And thanks for the answer pertaining to the seat reservation can be done prior to activate of the pass, I have a better picture now of what I should do next.  During my last used of the Eurail pass (in 2023), I have activated the pass when I took my 1st train, I will do so for my upcoming trip too. 

Thank you.

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Then the pass should be good value. Eurostars to/from London are pretty much unavoidable, it’s a bottleneck. Book in advance.

Schiphol - Lyon : if you wish to save a bit of money + the station transfer in Paris (RER not included) you could take this route :

  • hourly IC Schiphol Airport - Brussels-Midi
  • TGV Brussels-Midi - Lyon Part-Dieu 20€ (very limited passholder quota though) → departures at 06:37, 08:17, 10:17, 13:17, 16:17 and 18:17

Another cheaper but slower option is :

  • IC Schiphol Airport - Antwerp-Centraal
  • IC Antwerp-Centraal - Kortrijk - Lille-Flandres
  • TGV Lille-Europe - Lyon Part-Dieu 10€ limited fare, then 20€

Book through https://www.raileurope.com/ to avoid fees (add rail pass). Have a look at https://www.seat61.com/interrail-and-eurail-reservations.htm for general advice. Questions welcome too.

Ivy Oh
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Hi there,

Once again, thanks for the reply and additional information especially on making seat reservation via Raileurope, which will help me to save some $$ 😘, I would have book through Eurail’s website if not.

I will do my seat reservation via raileurope and will print out the pdf doc.  Just to clarify I will still need to add the Paris>London train journey into my eurail rail planner app, correct?  

For Schiphol>Lyon, I will explore the above 2 options and see which one work best for my family.

I do have another query on the London train, is it possible to continue here or I should create a new post?

Thank you.

T
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Yes you always need to log the train on Rail Planner, whether it requires reservations or not.

Continue here, we’ll gladly answer.

Ivy Oh
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Hi there, ok I will do so.  Earlier on I have did a trial to make seat reservation for Paris>London via raileurope and it work.  However, when I tried on Brussel-Midi>Lyon Part Dieu, it show “Rail Pass doesn’t apply for this trip” (see atttached snapshot).  I have checked the website of seat61, it mentioned to be booked online using the Eurail reservations service. Does this mean that only Eurostar can do via raileurope whereas train TGV I will have to book via Eurail reservations service?

Looking forward to your advice.

Thank you.

 

R
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Hi there, ok I will do so.  Earlier on I have did a trial to make seat reservation for Paris>London via raileurope and it work.  However, when I tried on Brussel-Midi>Lyon Part Dieu, it show “Rail Pass doesn’t apply for this trip” (see atttached snapshot).  I have checked the website of seat61, it mentioned to be booked online using the Eurail reservations service. Does this mean that only Eurostar can do via raileurope whereas train TGV I will have to book via Eurail reservations service?

In this case it means there are no pass holder seats left on that train. There's still availability on the train at 16:16 (also direct), both in 2nd and 1st class.

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.
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Yes the quota is very limited… you could board it in Lille-Europe or take another earlier or later TGV from Brussels (if travelling that day).

Ivy Oh
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Hi both, I have checked again with a later date and now I can see the available seat for passholder.  Earlier on I was checking with the date I intend to travel (29Apr) and it says “Sorry, we didn’t find any result for this journey” as it is too early for 29Apr, hence I have changed to early Feb and I got that result.  I have changed to mid Mar and it’s available now.  The April’s schedule will probably be out in few weeks time and I will make the reservation by then. 

Thank you so much for the guadiance, which I have learnt more now!

 

 

 

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Bookings open on 24th January. Do not wait too long afterwards as the quota is quite limited as you could see...

You’re welcome, happy to help!

Ivy Oh
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Hi there, I need some advise on the IC train from Brussels airport to Schiphol, as well as from Schiphol to Brussel-Midi.

As to avoid paying for the seat reservation cost, I am planning to take the IC train from Brussel airport to Schiphol, and also from Schiphol to Brussel Midi (then continue with the TGV train to Lyon). 

I am a bit confuse with regard to : “Supplement included”, “Supplement required” and “You’re ready to board.  Actually do I have to pay anything for below 2 trips?

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.

 

 

 

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For Brussels Airport, there's an extra supplement to enter or exit the station, currently €6.70 per single journey:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/airports/diabolo-fee

The Intercity from Schiphol to Brussels has a supplement (for Schiphol-Rotterdam), but only for holders of domestic tickets, not for international tickets, including Interrail and Eurail. There's nothing extra to pay for you. The information on the website and in the app about this is incorrect. Interrail/Eurail pass holders don't have to pay a supplement for Schiphol-Rotterdam.

@Mukhammad @Camilo. The information about this IC Direct supplement Schiphol-Rotterdam is still incorrect, e.g. here and in the planner and app. Pass holder never have to pay this, not even for a domestic journey. Can this please be removed? We've discussed this often enough.

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.
Ivy Oh
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Hi there, thanks for the clarification.  I will take note of the addtional fare €6.70 for my train fm Brussel airport to Schiphol. Have a nice day ahead.

Ivy Oh
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Hi there, this is me again 😅.  With regards to you last message on train to/from Brussel airport, the supplement cost of €6.70 is mandatory.  I am now search for train from Brussels Midi to Brussels airport, the “Supplement required” is not reflecting on the page, see below snapshot.  Or have I misintepreted your message wrongly? 

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.

 

 

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Hi there, this is me again 😅.  With regards to you last message on train to/from Brussel airport, the supplement cost of €6.70 is mandatory.  I am now search for train from Brussels Midi to Brussels airport, the “Supplement required” is not reflecting on the page, see below snapshot.  Or have I misintepreted your message wrongly? 

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.

 

 

There is no supplement for Interrail/Eurail and previously there was a wrong text about supplement in the Railplanner.  

Please note that I don't work for Interrail/Eurail and that I don't reply to personal messages.
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Hi there, this is me again 😅.  With regards to you last message on train to/from Brussel airport, the supplement cost of €6.70 is mandatory.  I am now search for train from Brussels Midi to Brussels airport, the “Supplement required” is not reflecting on the page, see below snapshot.  Or have I misintepreted your message wrongly? 

There is no supplement for Interrail/Eurail and previously there was a wrong text about supplement in the Railplanner.  

There's indeed no supplement for travelling Schiphol-Rotterdam.

However, there is a supplement when you travel from or to Brussels Airport (not when just changing trains, but when entering or leaving the airport station). This supplement is for everyone, except for the tickets mentioned here. Interrail/Eurail pass holders have to pay the supplement.

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.
Ivy Oh
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There's indeed no supplement for travelling Schiphol-Rotterdam.

However, there is a supplement when you travel from or to Brussels Airport (not when just changing trains, but when entering or leaving the airport station). This supplement is for everyone, except for the tickets mentioned here. Interrail/Eurail pass holders have to pay the supplement.

 

Hi, in my case, I am taking the trains with my global pass on :

25Apr - from Brussels airport to Schiphol, no seat reservation on IC train, but I will have to pay €6.70 for the “Supplement - Diabolo”. This is clear.

11May - from Brussels Midi to Brussels airport, no seat reservation on IC train, and I will also have to pay €6.70 for the “Supplement - Diabolo”.  Am I correct?  

As you can see from my snapshot, there is no “Supplment required” (the orange exclamation mark) being stated on the Railplanner for Interrail/Eurail pass holder to know they will need to pay for the Diabolo.  

Looking forward to hear from you.  

Thank you.

 

 

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Hi, in my case, I am taking the trains with my global pass on :

25Apr - from Brussels airport to Schiphol, no seat reservation on IC train, but I will have to pay €6.70 for the “Supplement - Diabolo”. This is clear.

Indeed.

11May - from Brussels Midi to Brussels airport, no seat reservation on IC train, and I will also have to pay €6.70 for the “Supplement - Diabolo”.  Am I correct?  

No, because you don't leave or enter the station. You don't even leave the train. No supplement needed.

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.
Ivy Oh
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Hi there, ok understood now.  Thank you for the guidance.

Camilo.
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@Mukhammad @Camilo. The information about this IC Direct supplement Schiphol-Rotterdam is still incorrect, e.g. here and in the planner and app. Pass holder never have to pay this, not even for a domestic journey. Can this please be removed? We've discussed this often enough.

Dear @rvdborgt 

Remember we confirmed with the product specialist that indeed a supplement is needed for Schiphol - Rotterdam? 
Ambiguous reservation system | Community (eurail.com)

Please note that I won't reply to any of my private messages at the moment. Thanks for your understanding
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@Mukhammad @Camilo. The information about this IC Direct supplement Schiphol-Rotterdam is still incorrect, e.g. here and in the planner and app. Pass holder never have to pay this, not even for a domestic journey. Can this please be removed? We've discussed this often enough.

Dear @rvdborgt 

Remember we confirmed with the product specialist that indeed a supplement is needed for Schiphol - Rotterdam? 
Ambiguous reservation system | Community (eurail.com)

@Camilo. 

Remember that NS confirmed some time ago that no supplements at all are needed for Interrail and Eurail?

NS added it to this page (still not on the English page) and are consistent in their answers on social media.

Please, remove these supplements from all planners and communication, unless it is a remark that it is not needed when travelling on Interrail/Eurail.

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.
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Hi there, I would like to make enquiry for my day trip from Paris to Mont St Michel on 3-May-2024.  I happened to read 1 of the forum related to Mt St Michel (post since 9 months ago) and I am not sure exactly the 0732am train is going to Pontorson Mont St Michel or Villedieu-les-Poëles?  I have searched Railplanner with the date of 3-May and the train is to Pontorson, but when I searched with the date of 12-Apr, the train is to Villedieu-les-Poëles, and then a transfer of BUS36871 to Le MSM.  I guess I am too early for 3-May?  From the past forum, I can make reservation for the train at a French ticket office or ticket machine (now @ €1.70), how about the BUS36871?  Any idea what is the reservation cost and where can I make the reservation?  

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you.

 

 

 

 

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You can book a seat reservation for the train on www.raileurope.com (€1.70), or in France indeed at a ticket office or ticket machine.

I doubt that you need a reservation for the connecting bus. For some reason, SNCF often say in their timetable data that buses have mandatory reservations but I have yet to see one where this is really the case and where you can actually book a reservation. Last time I tried, the ticket office could not issue a seat reservation for such a bus.

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.
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Hi there,  thanks for the reply and I will make seat reservation for the train via raileurope. Any idea by when seats will open for reservation?  As my plan is a day trip from Paris to MSM, do you know if there is an alternative route for return between the 1341-1703 & 1811-2206 train? I have tried searching the website but not successful. 

Looking forward to hear from you.

Thank you 

Regards. 

R
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Hi there,  thanks for the reply and I will make seat reservation for the train via raileurope. Any idea by when seats will open for reservation?

They're already open.

As my plan is a day trip from Paris to MSM, do you know if there is an alternative route for return between the 1341-1703 & 1811-2206 train? I have tried searching the website but not successful. 

Please carefully check what the planners propose. 13:41 is not from Mont St Michel and neither is 18:11.

From Mont St Michel, there seems to be just the one bus at 17:31, connecting with a train from Pontorson at 18:14, arriving in Paris at 22:06.

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.

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