Train seat reservations

Do I need to wait until closer to September to purchase the seat reservations?

Exactly.

... regiojet train with automatic seat reservations, however, the reviews are terrible.

RegioJet uses older cars than RailJet trains. RailJets were introduced 2009, before that the cars RegioJet uses were the standard for long-distance trains and are still in use in most countries. RegioJet has an aggressive pricing, consequently trying to cut costs wherever possible. The trip to Budapest is less than three hours, for me not a problem in a RegioJet train.

Where are you trying to buy tickets?

There are two train companies that offer trains from Vienna to Budapest...OBB and MAV. You should buy direct from the train operator and not a third party.

It's also a little early to buy tickets and get seats. They are usually on full sale three months prior to the journey.

The "currently not reservable" is from the OBB website, & it already has two times that are fully booked. The mav website, does not show acceptable times. They are either at around 0400 or late in the day, but that may be user error on my part. I've already booked tickets/seat reservations from Berlin/Prague/Vienna. Thanks for the response, & I'll consider Rejiojet, the bad reviews are for being hours late & receiving last minute cancellations.

Here is my experience buying tickets and seat reservations, using the OBB website. In all cases I was able to purchase seat reservations at same time as tickets. (Yes, I purchased far in advance. This is part of a complex trip far from home.)

On Aug 16 we are travelling from Budapest to Vienna. On Feb 20 (6 months before travel) I was able to purchase tickets on an EC (Eurocity) train and seat reservations.

On Aug 21 we are travelling from Vienna to Brno. On Feb 24 (as with the above purchase) I was able to purchase tickets on an RJ (Railjet) train and seat reservations.

To test if I have same experience as you described, a few minutes ago I attempted to find a ticket from Vienna to Budapest on Sep 30. I was able to choose an RJX (Railjet) train departing at 9:40am; on the same screen I was presented with the option to purchase seat reservations. After selecting the ticket + seat reservations I was able to click through to the next screen (where one enters passenger name).

Booking on OBB and MAV

I am like you, and I like to get all the reservations done and out of the way early.

For mid-September OBB / MAV are not yet prepared to offer discounts and/or seat assignments. I know this because I checked a few dates for you in September. OBB didnt offer seats (the post above is incorrect as the option for a seat assignement, when available, pops up when the train is selected -- I even checked a May train to make sure my memory was correct).

When attempting on the MAV site (https://jegy.mav.hu/) the discounted tickets were not offered and when attempting to book a seat only one train car is shown, and that car is shown as sold out. Same car number and the same sell out on the few different dates and times (including the 9:40 train mentioned above) that I checked in September. Well these trains have more than one car and they never completely sell out, so the system is just not accpeting seat reservations. I also tried using the MAV app on my phone. It woudnt even let me select a date in September.

If you just had to have a ticket I suspect you would be successful if you paid the full price that MAV wants and let the rail company assign the seat (that is one of the options presented). But don’t do that.

ANSWER: If you want to use a national carriers, check back every week or so and eventually the situation will resolve itself. These trains typically do not sell out and typically through MAV you can save half the cost of the OBB site (but not always so check both sites).

RailJet ECC or the private RagioJet trains

RailJet trains. It’s a 2.5-hour ride, the EuroCity trains are fine and just as fast on this route. Pick a train that departs at the time you want to depart and don’t worry if it is a RailJet / RJ / RJX / / EuroCity / EC; just doesn’t matter. First or Second class doesn’t matter either. Second class seats are pretty large and comfortable. But if you snag a discount ticket, or just want to try it, nothing wrong with an upgrade.

RegioJet trains. The equipment, on the inside, from the photos I have seen looks nicer than the national carriers. The ones I have noticed on the outside at the station look as good as the national carriers. I havent heard any bad reviews, but I havent looked either. Are they on time more or less than the national trains? I don’t know. The last OBB train from Vienna that I met at the station in Budapest arrived 40 minutes late.

The RegioJet prices are generally a few euro lower than the best price of OBB or MAV and they come lots of options for perks like entertainment, food, drinks.

The drawback of RegioJet is that it goes to Kelenföld and Deli suburban stations in Budapest and not to the main Keleti station in the downtown. From a practical standpoint of getting to the center of town at worst its 5 minutes more by taxi or by metro than arriving at Keleti. From a holiday tourism point of view Keleti is a grand old turn of the century station …. Kelenföld and Deli are 1960’s looking, Commie looking bus stops. But they get the job done.

Mr E, how is my experience purchasing tickets incorrect? I have my tickets and seat assignments, purchased on the OBB site in Feb for Aug. Please enlighten me. Editing to add: and when I select "Book Ticket" on the OBB web site (again) now, I am presented option to choose Sep 30, 9:40am Vienna to Budapest Railjet ticket, with option (on same screen) to select seat. What am I doing wrong (or right)?

GeoffB, sorry, I didnt mean to offend. Maybe I am doing something wrong.

Right now I have two windows open for Obb. One 15 May and one 15 September (the OPs date more or less). If i select that 9:40 train on 15 May a drop down window appears where I can select class and if I want a seat reservation. BUT, when I try if for the 15 September date that same drop down window does not offer a seat selection option. And I have tried a few dates and a few trains.

Mr E, that clears it up: I get same experience as you for Sep 15 (different from Sep 30): seat assignment choice does not appear. So my experience was not incorrect -- nor was yours -- for the dates each of us specified.
Have a great day.

I took mid-September to be close to the 15th not the 30th.

But what is curious as all get-out is that no trains that I can find from 1 September until 27 September are offering seat assignments. After 27 September, yes, even in October, yes. Maybe they are moving stock around those weeks? Nothing special going on in Budapest those weeks that would cause a sell out and its not high season.

Just for S&Gs I checked the trains in the opposite direction. Same issue on the same dates (well, i didnt check as many dates).

Wait a few weeks and watch things. I bet this resolves itself.

I can book on regiojet train with automatic seat reservations, however, the reviews are terrible.

First of all, it's way too early to worry about booking tickets on this route so far in advance.

As for RegioJet - I took them from Budapest Deli to Vienna back in December and it was absolutely fine - comfortable seat, good snacks available, arrived on time. I would take them again in a second. Look at a video or two on YouTube.

it already has two times that are fully booked.

No it doesn't.

Trains selling out months in advance is something that just does not happen. If trains sold out months in advance they would be useless.

So no, there are no trains that are already fully booked. September is ages away. What you are seeing is trains where you cannot yet reserve seats because no rolling stock has been assigned yet.