Hello!
Now that I've read through Eurail topics, I see it was probably unnecessary to purchase a pass, however, I'm trying to figure out if I'm in a pickle. Two of the passes that I received have transposed first initials and these passes were for a youth and adult. Essentially, my husband's and daughter's first initials got switched. The protocol for exchanging passes and tickets is to book a new reservation and send the misprints back for a full refund. I'm nervous about several possibilities - not receiving the correct passes before we leave, not sitting together, or another unforeseen mishap on their part. So, my question is this: Has anyone ever traveled with a family wherein a couple of initials were assigned to the wrong age? Wondering if we need to send our passes back and hope that the new ones arrive in time and are correctly printed, OR if we bring what we've got and hope for solution at the station.
Posted by
Chicago
8164 posts
I think you will be alright. Outside of Switzerland and maybe England the train conductors do not ask for ID to check names. I would call the company that sold you the pass right away
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
"not sitting together" - that is nothing to do with your passes. It is to do with train occupancy and reserving seats.
If you reserve seats (and for some trains you must do that if you have a pass), then make sure you reserve a block together. For non-reserved trains, it is pure luck to get a group of sets together, the more people you are, the more luck you need. if you are a big group (4+), this is an incentive to reserve seats even if not necessary, so you get seats together.
As for your jumbled initials, I have no experience, but if the ticket inspector checks ID, I doubt they would notice initials, and it is obviously a mistake.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
If you had separate printed passes - one for a youth and one for an adult - and they wanted to split up and travel separately, then there's a possible issue. But if they'll always travel together, it should be no problem. (Passes for a family are often printed all on one document, but that was different during the recent sale offers.)
Passes need to be activated at the station before first use, which is the only time I would plan to (briefly) explain the issue. Conductors on board the train could ask to see passports, but they usually do not, unless they suspect you of some other misuse. (Don't forget to fill in travel details as you go, according to directions on the pass.)