If a person has a rail pass for a certain amount of days and it is noted as 1st class, is a person able to walk up to a train station and get a 1st class seat on a train as long as they have seats available? if this is an AVE train, and you are a walk up, do you pay a seat fee? In addition, is this recommended at all? Thanks
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
You'll pay an extra fee for the reservation on the AVE trains in Spain at the ticket window....but it's relatively minimal...I think 10 or 15 Euro per person in first class. I would suggest you make a train station or travel office (like those in El Corte Ingles stores) one of your first stops, to make ALL your reservations at once, so you get the trains you want. Depending on what routes you're travelling, there are lots of trains/day available on the AVE routes.
Posted by
OP
Wilder, Kentucky, USA
25 posts
As always, thanks. I say as always, because I see you post a lot of replies! Your advice is always spot on! I am asking because I have encountered an issue with Rail Europe (see my post in General Europe >Rail Europe -before you buy) I am trying to decide if I return the pass and book on another site, or keep the pass and "book" a seat once I arrive. Rail Europe has told me there are no seats on any of the morning trains I need.
Posted by
Ottawa, Canada
4555 posts
Tamara....NEVER believe Rail Europe....give us details of your planned journeys, and we can check it out!!
Posted by
OP
Wilder, Kentucky, USA
25 posts
I bought a Eurail Portugal-Spain Saver pass for 2 travelers (it was 1st class) When I went in on day 60 to get a ticket from Barcelona to Madrid on the 3090AVE train, I then discovered I had to pay extra for the seat at a cost of $70USD for 1st class. They came back and send there are no seats available and I could only have 2nd class. Apparently having a 1st class pass doesn't even matter.
Can I use the Rail pass I have and "reserve" a seat from another vendor that would be less expensive? we have discovered that for 1st class we will be needing to pay a total of $210 USD for the trips we are planning. (assuming they will even give us 1st class) I am okay with sending them their pass back, and disputing the charges with my credit card company as they have been horrendous and deceptive (in my opinion) and buying once in Spain, but my husband wants the comfort of having tickets in hand and guaranteed.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Tamara,
I'll defer to Norm's excellent knowledge on the subject, but have a few comments.
I don't think you'll be able to reserve "with another vendor", as you'll probably find that you're dealing with only one railway. The Railpass provides your "ticket", but you still need a seat reservation on those trains where it's compulsory (most often the high speed trains).
If you're able to get a reservation only in second class, you could certainly sit there even though you have a first class Railpass. You could also buy the reservations when you arrive (a few days before you'll be travelling), and it's possible there could be some available in first class.
You may find it useful to download the free PDF Rail Guide that's available here. Click the "Railpasses" link at the top and look in the lower right corner.
Hope this all makes sense?
Good luck!