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OBB website or Deutsche Bahn website to book train tickets?

As a follow-up to a prior post I made recently, I am looking to book: Budapest to Vienna, then Vienna to Prague. Being that OBB website is temperamental to those trying to pay with an American credit card, would I be better off using the Bahn website to buy the tickets?

I noticed that the Bahn website does not let me pick specific seats, while the OBB website lets me pick specific seats for Budapest to Vienna, but not for Vienna to Budapest.

Any thoughts? The pros and cons of each website?

Posted by
32523 posts

I'm surprised that the DB - Bahn - website allows you to buy tickets on either of these journeys. They provide information throughout Europe but only sell tickets on trains which originate, terminate, or pass through Germany; neither of yours do.

Did you give up on Trainline?

Posted by
39 posts

Yes, I gave up on Trainline.eu. Whenever I plug in my journey, they only offer bus tickets. Ironically, trainline.eu states in the text of its website that they offer this journey by train, but my efforts have been fruitless.

Posted by
19658 posts

I just got to the payment page at www.bahn.com for a 19 EUR 2nd class Sparpreis Ticket from Budapest to Vienna for July 11. You can use credit card or Paypal. This is for a print-at-home ticket.

Apparently Deutsche Bahn can sell certain international train tickets, just like other ticket agencies.

OEBB uses 3-D Secure for on-line purchases. This is something like Verified by Visa, where during the purchase process, the credit card company has a pop up window where you enter your PIN.

Posted by
5508 posts

I had mentioned LOCO2 on your previous post. It is very easy to use and does not have any fees that Trainline randomly, occasionally throws in.

Posted by
19658 posts

I notice that OEBB accepts Paypal as well.
OEBB, as well as Deutche Bahn, allow you to reserve your choice of seat on Railjet trains only, not the EC trains operated by MAV.