Saving on Vienna to Salzburg Train Tickets

Yes. Railjet, like most high-speed trains in Europe, use airline style pricing. So the sooner you book the less you pay:

http://tinyurl.com/4cwkkyn

Thanks, I booked them at 19 euro each. :-)

I recommend to buy a seat reservation, too (€3 per seat). So you need not to walk through the train with your luggage to search for a vacant seat, and you can choose where to seat (window, aisle, or at a table).
If you buy it online, proceed as if you were buying tickets for that train, select "more options" and "have ticket already".

IT did not give me that option, however, I have done it for longer rides. Thanks.

It did not give me that option ...

Sorry, I don't believe that. I have done this several times before, and - to be sure - I performed a test just before writing this.

After having entered date, time, route and number of passengers in the section "Buy Tickets", and having clicked on your train in the results' list, a page titled "Our Services" opens. There you click on "More Results" and "Ticket Already Exists". After first choosing between 1st and 2nd class in the section "Extras" then there is the seat reservation. Clicking on "Reservation Details" and "Go to Seat Selection" will bring you to the coach (car) selection first and then to the seat selection (aisle, window, table).

I agree that the OeBB ticketing page is a pain in the ass and source for many complaints. By the way, this displeasure extends to the ticket vending machines at the train stations. Both seem to be programmed by railroad insiders who have a different thinking compared to ordinary travellers.

Sorry, I do not get those option screens.
I have attached hyperlinks to whay I do get

https://tickets.oebb.at/en/ticket/offer/journey?orderitemId=sZbmMQQerHYdxACr

https://tickets.oebb.at/en/ticket/voucher/sZbmMQQerHYdxACr

OK, I got it, I had to go back one more screen to the START screen and I got that option. They said it would reserve 2 seats next to the window but it did not specify the seats. 6 euro. Thanks

Hi,

If you want flexibility and savings, I would not even bother booking OeBB on-line, unless savings takes precedence over flexibity. Between Salzburg and Vienna I would board the Westbahn train that makes that run, last min and pay on board when approached by their staff member. That way I don't need to lock myself in to a specific date and time of dep.

Paying your ticket in the train is always the most expensive option, for both Westbahn and especially OeBB. Westbahn is less bureaucratic, but they have an abundance of different special fare offers on their website. I guess that most travellers prefer a cheap fare over flexibility.

They said it would reserve 2 seats next to the window but it did not specify the seats.

On the printout of the seat reservation there must be both car and seat numbers.

For some reason they would not give me assigned seats/car for the first leg of the trip (Wien Westbahnhof > St. Polten on a Regional Express 1622 2nd class) but after we change trains in St. Polten we did get a coach assignment and seat assignments ? I am OK with that. We travel light. Thanks

Why do you depart at Wien Westbahnhof? The RailJet trains start at Wien Hauptbahnhof (main station) from where you can go to Salzburg without having to change trains.

If there was an absolute necessity to leave from Wien Westbahnhof, I would have chosen Westbahn - a fierce competitor of OeBB - as carrier. Westbahn operates high-speed trains between Wien and Salzburg at cheap prices.

Our pension is within walking distance of Westbahnhof

No need to go Wien Hbf in that case. I catch the Westbahn at Westbahnhof too, you don't have to be tied down to a specific date and time by taking OeBB. There are two very nice Pensionen within walking distance of Westbahnhof, Pension Anna and Pension Hargita.

Direct trains to Salzburg depart from three train stations in Vienna: Main, Meidling, and West. Which to choose depends where you stay and which connection to public transport you have, respectively.

For some reason they would not give me assigned seats/car for the first leg of the trip (Wien Westbahnhof > St. Polten on a Regional Express 1622 2nd class) but after we change trains in St. Polten we did get a coach assignment and seat assignments ? I am OK with that. We travel light. Thanks

I would think you'll be fine. There is some commuter traffic on that line, so if you hit the peak it might be crowdy, but that's not a long journey.