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Scrambling after flight change - question on German Rail tickets

Posted by on

We land in Munich from Charlotte at 7:30 AM. I had booked a flight on Lufthansa to depart Munich at 11:15 AM to get to Vienna. Yesterday Lufthansa cancelled that flight and booked us on an 8:40 AM flight. The next available flight is not until 3:40 PM.

I think I might keep that flight and see if we can make it. I bought refundable tickets, so seems like no harm in keeping it.

However, I'd like to also book a train from Munich airport to Vienna central, in first class.

I am having trouble understanding the ticket rules for trains on Dbahn. Is there a type of ticket that I can buy that is refundable, at any time, but also comes with a a seat assignment on a specific train?

If we land on time and can catch the 8:40 AM flight, I would cancel the train. Also, if our flight got delayed and I could not make it to the train in time I would cancel the train, but this might be after the train was scheduled to leave.

Posted by
2502 posts

The only fully refundable tickets are normal tickets. And there is no need to buy these in advance. Normal tickets are the same price a year or a second before departure. So for your train backup plan just don't buy a ticket. Go to the ticket office, or a ticket machine, and buy your ticket at the airport, once you have decided that this is what you want to do.

So there is no need to pre book and cancel afterwards. Just wait till you are there.

Normally 1h10min should be enough for a connection in MUC. But is this on one ticket or separate? On one ticket I would not have the least bit of trepidations regarding this connection.

Posted by
43 posts

We are all on one itinerary, but it is separate tickets: one on AA, one on LH. They're not part of the same airline alliance.

Posted by
21163 posts

Do you have checked luggage? If so, will you have to collect it ,recheck to the Lufthansa flight?

If you are not particular about arriving at Vienna Hbf, you could take a Westbahn train to Vienna Westbahnhof. You can get a flexible 1st class ticket for about 150 EUR including a seat reservation. You still need to pay for the S-Bahn train from the airport to Munich Ostbahnhof. for 13 EUR.

There are trains at 9:48 an 11:48 for Munich Ost.
https://westbahn.at/en/ticket-shop/buy-tickets/

Also, when is this trip, as there is replacement bus service for a time for the S-Bahn? This will be until November 12.

Posted by
2480 posts

it is separate tickets: one on AA, one on LH.

In this case, 1:10 transition time is way too risky, especially if you have checked luggage that you would have to pick up, carry from terminal 1 to terminal 2 and check in again. But even so, with a new security check, it will be very tight. I'd take the train.

Posted by
14980 posts

You have another choice: take the tram #18 from Wien Hbf to Westbahnhof if you don't want the train. Direction: Burggasse. ...very convenient.

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