The rail carrier for my train ticket from Stockholm to Hamburg is issuing tickets for my particular journey, but RailNinja hasn't issued my tickets yet. I'm a bit tempted to go ahead and purchase tickets directly from the rail carrier, having read the mixed reviews about RailNinja... I've chatted with their AI Agent, who cheerfully tells me that I will be emailed the tickets as soon as the rail carrier releases them...and that generally carriers release tickets 90 to 120 in advance of travel day...I'm less than 3 weeks away and getting restless... The RailNinja tickets we bought are noncancellable, nonrefundable... go figure... We did buy travel insurance.... Any advice?
Posted by
Virginia, USA
6763 posts
We did buy travel insurance
Will your travel insurance or credit card company cover the cost of the RailNinja tickets if they fail to deliver? If so, I’d probably just wait until closer to the date and buy tickets only if they fail to deliver.
Another possibility would be to buy refundable tickets (from the train operator) if you just want some peace of mind. If Rail Ninja comes through, you could cancel. These will cost more.
Posted by
594 posts
No admonishment??? So you already know what we were going to say about the Ninjas!
For a start ask the AI Bot (don't credit it with human qualities) how it could sell tickets that weren't released. How would it know the price? You are sure they have taken your money...?
When did you book the tickets and when is the journey? RDC are selling direct right up to the end of the season in mid December - but they don't start operations until 1st September.
Posted by
OP
Setubal, PT
52 posts
Laura, thanks so much for your very helpful suggestion. I so appreciate it.
Posted by
OP
Setubal, PT
52 posts
me.crewe...yes, hence my request for "no admonishment".
RailNinja is not known for its low prices. "AI Agent" is the name RailNinja bestows on the bot that you chat with, not the name I created.
Yes, I paid, as if it's any of your business, as are the dates I'm traveling.
RDC EuroTrain is selling tickets now. SJ (in Sweden) is supporting Sweden's Eurotrain operation in Stockholm.
Thank you for your help.
Posted by
Paris 🇫🇷
11555 posts
Well,whether you paid or not has bearing on what process to follow next; it's absolutely pertinent to your request for help. As is the date of travel - it's not that anyone wants to go follow you around. It's that, in order to better respond to the request for assistance that you posted here, it also makes a difference.
Posted by
OP
Setubal, PT
52 posts
Kim, I guess I should have been clearer that by stating that since it was "noncancellable, nonrefundable" that I had paid, and that by saying that "I'm less than 3 weeks away" that those things were apparent...
Posted by
Lake District, England
12237 posts
If you are travelling in 'less than 3 weeks time" then it isn't hard to work out that you are either on the inaugural or second southbound trip of the RDC train, or on one of the final SJ trips.
Looking at the RDC website both the 1 and 3 September currently have tickets available.
If it is an earlier date then you need to book with SJ.
So the advice if you have to make the journey by train is to go ahead and book with RDC or SJ. As Rail Ninja are now in breach of contract then raise a chargeback with your credit card issuer.
The alternative is that Rail Ninja fail to issue tickets, and at that stage the train is booked full, so you have to make alternative travel arrangements.
Now of course you could go back to the bot, tell it you know that tickets are available, and give an ultimatum to issue the tickets within 24 hours, or you will take things further. That way you have an audit trail for the chargeback process.
You have asked for advice, well that is my reasoned advice.