Last week I made a one-way May 9 Amsterdam to Paris train reservation through Thalys. I got a notice saying the credit card transaction was made and I received a seven-letter booking code for the journey, but the promised e-mail confirmation of my trip never came. That confirmation also would have provided a link to my paper ticket for the trip. I've e-mailed Thalys customer service three times but have yet to receive a response. My next step, I guess, is to to call Thalys, which means running up a phone bill, especially if I get shuttled from representative to representative. I've been told that the number to call is the Dutch booking office; I have that number. Any advice on how I get my train trip confirmed -- and even my paper ticket -- without phoning? Or help on the right phone number if I must phone? One last query: If I have a booking code, doesn't that mean I have a ticket, and could simply pick up the ticket at the Amsterdam Central train station a few days before my trip to Paris?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
You did check your spam files.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Thalys doesn't sell tickets. When you purchase tickets at the Thalys site, you get redirected to the train operator where your trip originates...in this case the Dutch high-speed operator NS Highspeed. The number to call would be +31 302 331 676. To save on phone charges use Skype, you will only pay around .03 cents a minute. But if I were in your shoes, I would wait to take care of this in Amsterdam. NH Highspeed has a very big service center at Centraal Station. As long as you have a booking code and the credit card you made the purchase with, I'm sure they can reprint the tickets for you.
Posted by
OP
Wilton, New York, USA
58 posts
Thanks, Michael, you're the only person who answered my question about simply picking up my ticket at Amsterdam Central. I asked that question elsewhere. Yes, that does seem to be the sensible way to go. I'm planning a day trip or two while in Amsterdam days before the train trip to Paris, so I'll go to the NH Highspeed service center and attend to matters then and there. I understand now that Thalys more or less passes the ball to NH Highspeed. Nevertheless, I think it would have thoughtful for Thalys "customer service" to have at least answered my information request and point me in the right direction. What's the point of acknowledging my info request, which they did three times, but not following through by providing me with help, which they did three times? I did go on the NH Highspeed website. I looked for a search engine where I could type in my seven-letter booking code and get a confirmation for the trip, or at least a record of it. (I can do that, for example, for my flights on USAir.) But NS Highspeed doesn't provide that option. Odd.
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
You're very welcome. Not to ask the obvious...but they did charge your credit card, right? If they haven't then that complicates things;)
Posted by
OP
Wilton, New York, USA
58 posts
Yes, the credit card transaction went through. I called my credit card company, and it's recorded.