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Please help understanding Economy vs. SuperEconomy on Trenitalia

For our Napoli Central to Roma Termini train travel in June, we're debating between the Super Economy (no refund, no exchange on dates/time) of 95Euro vs the 145 Euro Economy (date/time change allowed with a fee).

From the Trenitalia site:

Booking/ticket changes: Changes are allowed once from the issuing date up to train departure.
The departure date or time can be changed only for the same train category or service purchased, *
subject to a change fee (which is equal to the difference to the corresponding full Base price)*.The new ticket (called "e;Economy ticket change"e;) has the same characteristics of the Economy ticket.

I'm confused about how much it would cost us if we buy the Economy and decide to change date or time. Our arrival to Napoli Central is dependent on our Italian hosts, so we want some flexibility and willing to pay the 50 Euro difference. But if we will be charged up to the full Base price in the event we need to change the date/time, then we might as well buy the Super Economy and prod our hosts to get us to the train station on time.

Am I understanding it right?

(PS: We looked at Italo trains but the time doesn't work, unless we travel to Tiburina, which would add time and expense to getting to our Rome destination, negating the convenience and savings).

Posted by
11613 posts

I just checked Trenitalia for a Sunday in June and find fares from €19-€39. How many of you are there to reach a €95-€145 fare?

I don't know what the change cost to an economy or base fare would be, I think it's a percentage of the fare but I haven't paid much attention when I have made changes, but the cost was not very much. Hopefully another poster will have better information on that.

Posted by
4152 posts

You'll basically pay the difference between the economy ticket cost and the base fare cost if you need to change tickets.

**subject to a change fee (which is equal to the difference to the corresponding full Base price)*

If you purchase the economy tickets for for 29 euros each then the difference between that and the base fare of 43 euros would be 14 euros each.

I'm not sure I understand about instead buying the super economy tickets. If you can prod your hosts to get you to the station on time you should do that. If not, why not just wait and buy at the station. That way you can get there when ever you wish.

Donna

Posted by
32459 posts

raf,

If you're able to commit to a specific train, date and departure time, using Economy tickets should work fine. Having to stand in a long queue to change tickets is going to be a real nuisance, so I would try to avoid that Is there an issue with your hosts getting you to the station in time to connect with your train?

If you do have to change tickets and pay a fee, you may as well just buy Base Fare tickets at the station on the day of travel. You may have a short wait for the next train, but it will be less of a hassle. As someone else mentioned, how many of you are travelling?

Posted by
70 posts

Thank you, Zoe, Donna & Ken for your helpful responses!

There are 5 of us traveling. So I did understand it right--I would have to pay up to the base price if we change. Excellent point about standing in long queue to change tickets (done that too often before, which is why I'm keen to avoid that this trip).

Checked with our hosts, they assured us no problem getting us to train station in time for our specific train, date and departure time.

If they can't, then we'll just have an adventure that day!

Thank you, all.

Posted by
22217 posts

If it was me, I'd buy 5 Super Economy tickets and pretend it was not a train, but an airplane. Then I'd be sure to make it on time.

Posted by
23787 posts

Keep in mind that the change has to be done before the train leaves the station. In order words, if you miss the train then the ticket is dead. Only the base fare ticket can be exchange within an hour after the train has left. So it would not make any difference is your host got your to the station after the train had left if you were holding a S economy or economy ticket - both are dead.

Posted by
70 posts

Ah... it has to be exchanged before the train leaves the station... We cracked up at the 'both Dead!'

Wow. Glad I bought it earlier today after Ken's post. Just checked now, and only Economy is available for the time we wanted.