I am trying to purchase tickets (for family of four) for the city night line train from Paris to Munich (40451) on August 5, 2009. It is clear to me after a lot of searches on bahn.de today that one can only purchase tickets there 90 days ahead, and that the least expensive tickets sell very fast. I have tried tvg.com and raileurope. On both it appears that I can buy those tickets now, but the problem is there doesn't seem to be a choice of couchettes; the second class tickets automatically come up as T6 (six person couchette). It is important to me, mostly to make my kids happy, to be in a four person couchette. So, does anyone know if sellers other than bahn.de can be selling tickets longer than 90 days out, and if so, is there a way to specify 4 person couchettes when purchasing? Thanks!
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
Your gonna have to wait until the 90 day window opens up. But you shouldn't have any problems booking a 4-person couchette at the discount price right after that window opens up. It's the private sleepers the sell-out quickly.
Posted by
Newton, MA, USA
289 posts
I actually thought all City Night Line sleeper trains (supplement/sleeper only, not ticket) could be booked 6 months out. I booked my Prague to Basel City Night Line 6 months out a few months ago for a May trip. Perhaps one of our experts will speak up and confirm.
Also, I would attempt to call directly and ask for an english speaker - I think it's easier to book these that way. If you do a search on this helpline you should fine a # to call.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
I just checked the DB site and the tgv-europe site. As of today you can book the Paris-Munich night train up to and including 5 July. There is a three-month window for booking on the tgv-europe site or the SNCF site. Perhaps it is because this train travels in France that there is the same three-month limit on the DB site.
If you choose 1st class on the tgv-europe site, you'll be given the option of choosing a 4-person couchette.
Posted by
OP
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
206 posts
Just thought I would post an update. I was able to purchase the tickets yesterday from bahn.de (start of 90 day window), and get a 4 berth couchette. The only problem was that my credit card company rejected the charge (I got a message that my transaction couldn't be completed), but I called the credit card company and they were able to change something to let the charge go through. So bottom line, I got what I wanted, and I will not have to pay higher prices to raileurope, or the $50 charge to euraide. Thanks to everyone who answered my questions.