PKP Ticket Issues

buy through koleo
https://koleo.pl/en/

I don't want to buy from a third parry where I can't choose my seat.

I thought I might have had success with the website and Google Pay but that has disappeared.

I'll be in Krakow on Friday. I might just buy my ticket at the station when I arrive. Hopefully the machines there will cooperate.

I think I went with PayPal for simplicity after my first card didn’t work.

Edit: Nope, looked back and my Citibank Mastercard seems to have worked. I THINK I booked through intercity but I can’t swear it wasn’t PolRail. It was definitely on my iPad in a browser.

I was there recently - when attempting to purchase tix on the website while on the tablet, the transaction got held up on the additional verification step with the third party processor - it wants to open additional windows, as I recall.

I switched to the PKP app on the iPhone and the sale went right through, using the phone wallet. The credit card was set as the default card for transit - don't know if that made a difference.

Just looked at polishtrains.eu - seat selection IS possible - 65.41 Euro for seat 32 on EIP 3506 departing 9:59. The 12:04 is a bit cheaper.

I was impressed with the selection and quality of the " snack" in first class. Good luck - Warsaw is amazing.

That's the problem I'm having...that last bit of authentification.

I've tried Citibank Mastercard, Chase Visa and Google Pay. Nothing. Both with the website and the app.

I went to check on my card in Google Pay and it won't let me access it. (I'm on Android.)

Something is going on.

What's really strange to me is so many rail companies make it difficult to buy tickets online for those not living in their respective countries. Airlines don't have these problems.

Hey rail companies, it's 2024, get your act together.

I'm in Gdansk right now, having started in Krakow almost three weeks ago. Also purchasing first class tickets, choosing our own seats. I had the same problems as you with the PKP website and app. Someone on this Forum had suggested the KOLEO app, so I decided what did I have to lose? There are no hidden/extra fees, you can choose your class and seats. Most importantly, my credit card has worked every time (seven tickets in all). The ticket appears in the app and has been easily scanned on the trains. I hope it will work just as easily for you!

I was there recently - when attempting to purchase tix on the website while on the tablet, the transaction got held up on the additional verification step with the third party processor - it wants to open additional windows, as I recall.

That's 3d secure verification. In principle it's mandatory for online transactions acrros the EU but with exemptions that may cause irregularities for non-EU cards and service providers vs 3rd parties (EU Payment Services Directive). The only time I had a problem with it was when there was something wrong with my browser settings. It was >10 years ago so don't remember the details.

So I download the Koleo app. I went to purchase the ticket via Google Pay--couldn't go through.

Tried a credit card--couldn't go through.

Used my VPN to connect to a Polish IP address. Went through without a problem.

So the moral of the story is....if having trouble purchasing tickets through a rail company app, try using a VPN to connect to its home country.

Thanks for letting us know how you got it to work.

I'm glad you found a workaround. Sorry the Koleo app didn't work.

The Koleo app did work once I connected via a VPN.

Frank - for the full picture - where were you when you encountered these issues?

With PKP, I had problems in the US, UK and Austria.

For Koleo, today, I am in Austria.

I also booked two separate tickets with Lux Express for Lithuania and Lativa from Austria and had no problem. (From the US both the app and the website would crash.)

I also booked a ticket on LOT airlines yesterday with no problems.

I'm having the same issue with PKP.

I'm flying into Chopin Airport then heading up to Gdansk. After multiple attempts it seems I need to go to Warsaw first and then I can retrieve ticket information from PKP on Warsaw (central?) to Gdansk (Glowny). I entered information, attempted to purchase ticket via card and it took me to a 3rd party for entry. Frustrating as it presents a conversion rate for you to accept. The website gives you a chance to accept this rate or not. However, the only options are Yes and Yes. Either poor programming or scam?

Also, I anticipated have the option to select seats (which I think is mandatory for 1st & 2nd class). This option was never presented....I'm a bit leery. I did check my credit card website and there's been no foul play (as of yet). I received confirmation of the attempted transaction with a caveat that it will take up to a day to confirm. If not, the ticket is cancelled. Again...very leery of this process. Automatic confirmation on a CC purchase is usually automatic in todays modern world.

Thought?

Re the 3D verification - it is a pain, but I encountered it the first time, and it finally worked.

As for the exchange rate - these tickets can be so cheap that it doesn't really matter.

What worked for me on the second purchase was to use the app on the phone - I was able to use the credit card in Apple Wallet - and it was flagged as the default for transit. No additional verification.

If you didn't complete the 3D verification, most likely your purchase didn't go through. Maybe try again on Koleo.

Seat selection is offered, but it's subtle. You can create a dummy trip - you can look at seats before you purchase. Look carefully where you specify number of passengers by fare class.

Or use one of the other Web sites I linked to on the other post.

Wow!! OMG!!!!!!!!!

None of the above suggestions worked....

I tried:
1. PKP <= FYI - Koleo has cheaper tickets for same train, route and number
2. Koleo - online, online w/VPN and w/mobile <= didn't recognize Wallet card either

All attempts seem to fail in the 3D verification.

So frustrating....in addition the website(s) are not very user friendly - I know because I program for a living. I've had no issues with rail tickets in Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, etc etc

Shoot me now!!!!

Ugh!!!

So....I tried www.polishtrains.eu next. I manage to get all the way to the authorization and then the same issue with verification. However, this site allowed apple and google pay. I tried it with google pay and the transaction was successful immediately using the exact same card!!! Harrumph!!!! There was a slight service fee of $8.00 (still cheaper than PKP direct) but that was the cost of my peace of mind.

Hope this helps other frustrated train ticket purchasers.....

A week ago I successfully purchased a ticket with a seat at PKP Intercity website using a Visa card issued by a Ukrainian bank, but I'm in doubts about the legality of such a purchase. I'm now sort of recalling that the previous time I was traveling on a similar ticket the controllers were repeatedly asking me too many questions about the ticket, the place I purchased it from, the place I was when I purchased it, the purpose of the travel (business or leisure). I don't speak Polish, but I felt they wanted to sell me another ticket claiming something were wrong with the one I've already had. I travelled with a Super Promo International ticket, which, I must admit, was nicely priced. They were making me feel like I was robbing their country taxpayers.

Now, one concern is whether I can buy a ticket at PKP Intercity website or app when I'm physically not in Poland. They seem to say that if I'm in Ukraine then I should try to buy it from a Ukrainian train company. It's sort of like a European-wide oligopoly, in which a railway company and only that railway company sells tickets for customers in their market.

Another one is the travel purpose. They seem to say that if I'm travelling on business that is if my employer is going to reimburse me the ticket or paying me a daily allowance for the day of travel, or simply paying me a salary for that day then I'm not an ordinary traveler, and I cannot travel on a low-priced ticket.

Am I overconcerned?