I am looking at fares between Orvieto and Venice and (with the economy fares sold out), I could save 15 Euros over "base fare" by booking: "Cartafreccia Senior Da 60anni - 2ª Classe." Does anyone know if a non-EU person (US citizen) over age 60 is allowed to book a senior fare ticket on Trenitalia? Thank you!
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1529 posts
In order to buy that fare you need a cartafreccia, i.e. a fidelity card, issued only to people resident in Italy.
Posted by
OP
New Orleans
1206 posts
Thank you, lachera! Not the answer I was hoping for, but how lovely to be able to post a question here and receive a quick and helpful response from another traveler.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
There is another senior discount card (Carta d'Argento) that you can buy, but it also only provides small discounts. Simply booking earlier provides the deepest discount on fast trains, e.g., about 3 months ahead.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15177 posts
Residents only need apply.
For example I couldn't get it either in spite of being an Italian citizen, because I don't reside in Italy (also not quite 60 yet).
Posted by
Lexington
49 posts
Just returned from a trip to Italy and traveling on trains and I think you have to be 65.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11327 posts
You CAN get a Cartafreccia Senior card and not be a resident. You need to create a codice fiscale but it will not obligate you to anything. There are many sites on the web that will help you create your CF. Many times we are asked to enter a CF on a website, which is annoying for residents and makes using he site impossible for foreigners, so one can calculate a CF for this purpose. Believe me, no one at Trenitalia cares if you apply for the Cartafreccia Senior with a calculated CF. You would have to enter an address (perhaps your hotel) to get through the process.
HOWEVER, the discounts on the super-economy and economy fares are better than the senior fares, so it should not matter to you except in cases like you mentioned, a sold out route.