Like during the last world cup four years ago DB German Rail this year as well offer a "Fan-Card". It costs €25 and grants 25% discount on any rail ticket (regular priced as well as "Spezials"). The Fan-Card works like a Bahn-Card 25 and is valid April thru July 31st BUT with every new round the German team qualifies for the exp. date moves back one full month. Should Germany win the final the card remains valid until Dec 31st, 2010.
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
Andreas, I've hunted up and down the Bahn.de site and can't find this - is it on sale yet? It would be very helpful for us this summer - but Germany has to win the first round! We'll be there in August. So tell the boys to work hard.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Andreas, I assume this Fan-Card is a one time thing, not an abonnement (subscription), like the Bahn-Card, that keeps renewing every year.
Posted by
OP
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
The Fan-Card isn't up for sale yet. I assume it will be advertized on Bahn.de after Easter. Germany will definitely make it beyond group stages so August coverage should be quite a sure bet. My sincere apologies up front to all Australians on here by the way. And no, it's not a subscription. It expires on whatever the final expiration date turns out to be - Nov 30th or Dec 31st ;-)
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9221 posts
I looked for this on the English translated pages, both for the US and for the UK. No luck. It did just get posted in German though.
http://www.bahn.de/p/view/bahncard/ueberblick/fanbahncard.shtml
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
Yes, it looks like a great deal. But the conditions page says it will automatically renew each year at normal Bahncard 25 prices unless you cancel in writing. Just a heads up.
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
Update on Fan BahnCards:
I am now the proud owner of two of these 25% discount cards (one for me, one for husband). I have already saved a little money on just one train trip, and have several more to go, so it paid off. BUT it's complicated, so here are my lessons learned.
(Note: this will reveal that my obsession with bahn.de rivals Lee's. I have been stalking the site daily and have built comparative pricing spreadsheets. If you are not equally obsessive, just laugh and walk away, don't mock me.)
the 25% discount does apply to Sparpreise (discount fares). But if you can get the rock-bottom discount fare, it won't help much (25% of €23 is not much). Lesson: buy the cards only IF you can't get the cheapest fare for your first trip on DB Bahn. Or build a break-even financial model for all your planned trips. Ummm yes. I did.
German marketing is different than ours. When the card arrived, the letter told me I was granted a "surprise extra" - one accompanying passenger could travel with the same 25% discount inside Germany without buying a card. Thanks a bunch. I already bought the second card because that "surprise" was not mentioned anywhere on the website. So there's €25 wasted. Lesson: only buy one card for every two adults traveling together.
The card is sold as a subscription only, meaning it renews automatically for another year, and you are legally obligated to pay the (higher) renewal fee, if you don't cancel in writing six weeks before the card runs out. Lesson: write the cancellation letter in advance and mail it by the deadline.
Sadly, there is no information about this specific Fan BahnCard in English on the website, so if you're interested in this and need help with German, PM me (I suspect others would be willing to help too)
Posted by
OP
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
Nelly, thanks, great and valuable information. What I do when buying a BahnCard is I send the cancellation letter out right the day I get the card mailed in. Just mention you cancel effective whatever the regular expiration date of the card is and ask them to return a cancellation confirmation. That way you can use the card for half a year or year but don't have to worry about any extension fees. About their marketing: Two thoughts: a) They're not telling about the 2nd free on purpose so you buy two and maybe invite friends for a free rides so those friends get a test drive on DB. b) DB German Rail still is and works like a government entity. Last but not least: Cheer for Germany during the WorldCup to extend validity of your FanCard until year's end ;-)
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1088 posts
not only will we be cheering, I think we may actually drop in on one of those giant fan scenes where everyone is outdoors watching the game on a giant screen and screaming their heads off. I have two soccer-mad girls. Or...maybe...I'll send them with their Dad and go sit in a quiet beer garden by myself...