Myself and my wife (Both in our late 60`s) are contemplating visiting Belgium in Late October this year. We are hoping to use SNCB train service App to purchase train tickets and keep the tickets within the App. We have used DB App while traveling in Germany and SBB App in Switzerland. I found both these Apps user friendly and made purchase of train tickets easy during our travel. I have downloaded SNCB App and have set up an account. I note the tickets could be purchased through PayPal. Has any of our fellow travellers in the forum used SNCB App and if so what was their experience while using the App? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or advice concerning this issue.
Posted by
Southeastern US
2622 posts
I am curious to see if you get any responses to this. I'm heading there next month.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1613 posts
I have used the app and it works great for me. I however don’t use PayPal to purchase tickets, instead I pay by credit card.
You mentioned you’re in your late 60’s, are you aware of the special senior tickets? https://www.belgiantrain.be/en/tickets-and-railcards/senior-ticket
Posted by
OP
Eastern Canada
68 posts
Yes, I am aware of the reduced rates for seniors on Belgian trains, a great deal indeed. Pleased to know that you found the App user friendly. Due to issues with purchases using North American credit cards directly on European trains in general, I tend to use PayPal for these type of purchases.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7936 posts
I am an old-fashioned guy who doesn't "live on" his phone. (Not a compliment to me, just saying.) I haven't been to Belgium lately, but I have sometimes bought a paper 10-trip "anywhere in Belgium" ticket for my wife and me, that worked out very well financially. It was also liberating from paperwork. Just to mention the option, if it still exists. You have to write in a destination(s) before the first train starts out.
Last time I went from Brussels to Cologne and back, I bought round trip advance discount fares and printed them out to paper before our air departure. Despite the short ride time, the return was delayed by some kind of equipment problem where we had to transfer from a German train to a Belgian train at an unscheduled remote stop. No ticket inspection because no one else was at the station.
Posted by
OP
Eastern Canada
68 posts
I did not find any option for purchase of 10 trip "anywhere in Belgium" ticket on SNCB website recently. I guess it is no more available.
Posted by
The Netherlands
1613 posts
The 10 trip card is definitely still available, but it costs € 87 for 10 trips, so €8,70 per single trip. This means that a return costs € €17,40, whereas a senior return ticket only costs €7,20. So for seniors a senior ticket works out much cheaper.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8123 posts
We used the app last November, very easy to use, loaded our credit card in with no issues. Tickets are pretty cheap, so we just bought as we went.