Hi
I'm looking to book train tickets from Budapest to Munich. The DB website is cheaper than the obb website for the same railjet train. Anyone know if it's ok to buy the first class tickets on DB website and just buy business class upgrade on obb website using the seats only option? DB and MAV doesn't offer business class tickets…
Thanks!
I don't know, but be certain it's okay before you do. Conductors are often petty beaurocratic tyrants, and even if in the end you paid enough (or more), if the process was incorrect they might still enforce against you.
Are you traveling overnight or something? The highest level seats on European trains are not really much better than the very comfortable first class. Of course someone will bring a beer to your seat and pour if for you maybe but if you don't want a dedicated service person then hardly worth it ....
The ticket prices depend on various factors: train, ticket type, booking situation, date of booking, etc.
The Hungarian Railroad normally offers the cheapest prices: https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en
If you have already a first class ticket, which is a prerequisite for the business class, it is possible to buy the upgrade via the OeBB website in the seat reservation section ("have already ticket"). But I have never tried that before, having tickets from two different train operators for one seat.
The Man in Seat 61 can advise.
Petty bureaucrats is right, I had a conductor on the Paris to Germany train who just couldn't accept that I had somehow managed to acquire AND use a discount card, he asked for every document I had except my laundry tickets.
Hi Winnie, By coincidence another traveler asked the same question 2 days ago on the Eurail community forum (www.community.eurail.com) and the answer appears to be yes. The question was under a post by Amy 22 under "OBB
Seat Reservation- buy first class tickets on DB website and business class upgrade on OBB?" It's an interesting read because it details the lounge you'll have access to at Budapest's Keleti train station with a business class ticket, along with where you can get complimentary drinks.
To simplify matters, "The Man in Seat 61" website says that the Business Class tickets on Railjet trains can be bought on the "Trainline" website (www.TheTrainline.com) but oddly can not be bought on many of the other websites.
First:
Both Eurail and Trainline are 3rd party ticket resellers you should stay away from. They make their profit by selling tickets at a higher price.
Second:
I have described what to to do in my previous post.
Yes, I read your post and I also read "The Man in Seat 61" section dealing with the issue of buying Business class train
tickets for OBB's Railjet trains. Apparently, you are not aware that the Hungarian national train website now redirects ticket purchases to "Jegy.mav.hu" Because that website only displays a partial list of trains--the trains that still offer discounted tickets they want to unload -- it is not displaying a comprehensive train schedule. Knowing all the trains available on a certain date is probably what most travelers would like to know before buying a ticket. The Hungarian train website is not going to give you that information.
Consumers have also reported difficulty in using the website. Not everyone is able to finish booking their tickets.
The Man in Seat 61 specifically includes using the Trainline website for its ease-of-use and comprehensive train schedules. It does say tickets include a small service fee.
For those who have spent up to an hour online trying to buy a pair of train tix but because of translation problems. web design flaws. glitches or a faulty platform were unable to actually buy the tickets--they probably would not object to a $5 or $10 service fee because they are considering the value of their time.
Indeed, I would always advise against using RailEurope -- but I use Trainline all the time. They are two completely different animals.
Apparently, you are not aware that the Hungarian national train website now redirects ticket purchases to "Jegy.mav.hu" Because that website only displays a partial list of trains--the trains that still offer discounted tickets they want to unload -- it is not displaying a comprehensive train schedule.
I cannot confirm this.
When you search for a train on https://www.mavcsoport.hu/en you get a complete list of trains for the selected route, date and time.
After you have chosen the train you want, clicking on the price tag will direct you to https://jegy.mav.hu where you buy the ticket for that particular train.
You don't use https://jegy.mav.hu for searching the train schedule normally.
Hey folks, this is a reminder that people giving advice can have different approaches and reasons for doing so. This forum is about presenting those options and letting the OP and other readers decide what's best for them.
