Changes to the Bayern Ticket

Actually, six Länder-Tickets representing eight of the Länder already had previously switched to this price structure. Bayern is the seventh. Three others, Hessen, Berlin-Brandenburg, and NordRhein-Westfalen stay the same, two with only one price for 5 people, NR-W with a 5 person and single price (or at least those four Länder have yet to announce a change). Apparently the change was prompted because there was some indications that a group of less than 5 people would recruit extras to travel on the same Ticket.

"Apparently the change was prompted because there was some indications that a group of less than 5 people would recruit extras to travel on the same Ticket." That makes sense. I've been approached 2 or 3 times by solo hobo travelers who boarded the train just before departure to find a passenger who'd already bought a Länder Ticket and who would agree to take them on on as travel-companions for free.

I get asked all the time at the airport as I am getting off the train, if I have a group ticket or a day ticket I no longer need. It isn't so much that people want to ride for free, like with the Laender tickets, but it is folks who are turning around and trying to sell them.

"I get asked all the time at the airport as I am getting off the train, if I have a group ticket or a day ticket I no longer need." That already shouldn't work with a Bayern-Ticket. There is a line on the tickets where one person has to sign, and that person has to be with the ticket for it to be valid. At times I've forgotten to sign the ticket and the conductor has made sure I do, right there. Selling a Länder-Ticket after you've used it shouldn't be possible, but I can see others "hitching" a ride with someone who has a five person ticket with less than five people. In fact, graduating the price by the number of people shouldn't prevent selling it after use, but it would prevent adding people once you purchase it. I suspect a lot of people are traveling in twos, and this change will actually save them some money (€26, now, vs. €29, before, for two).

I found this on the Toytown Germany website: 'There is a "family rule" applying for all Bayern Ticket versions. (Grand-)Children under 15 years of age related to the first adult traveller on the ticket - this is the one who has to write his/her name on the ticket - travel for free. Using the "family rule" there can be no more than 2 adults (= 15 years of age or older) on one Bayern Ticket. It plays no role if the 2nd adult on the ticket is related with the children or not.' Does this mean that if there are three adults on the Bayern ticket, then the kids aren't free? Seems a bit confusing. If I understand correctly, in order for me to travel with my wife and two kids, I pay the 26 euro price and my kids travel for free. EDIT: Looked a bit further and my understanding is correct. While it seems frustrating that it can cost 12 more euros if a third adult is on the ticket, it's only 12 euros and is still a pretty darned good deal.

"in order for me to travel with my wife and two kids, I pay the 26 euro price and my kids travel for free." I believe that is true, as long as the children are 14 or younger, and children 5 or younger are not even counted. As for a second person unrelated to the children using the Ticket, the English side of the Bahn website doesn't say, but the German side says, "Zusätzlich kann noch eine weitere Person für 4 Euro ... mitfahren. (Additionally, another person can accompany for 4 Euro.) It doesn't say the other person has to be related.