I've bought a through London-Frankfurt ticket from Eurostar, which has a reserved seat on a specific Eurostar from London but allows me to use any DB train beyond Brussels. I tried reserving a seat for a specific journey on bahn.de, but they don't sell reservations without tickets on international trains. Seat 61 suggests that it's impossible to reserve seats in this situation, but has anyone here found a sneaky way of doing it?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Unless you have some reason to think all trains will be crowded that day, you don't have to have a reservation on German trains. Or, get a reservation at a ticket counter in Brussels when you get there. Or try contacting DB in the UK.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Why would you want to be sneaky? Just do it up front as Lee suggests.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I don't think he means "sneaky" as in dishonest, but as a work-around.
In that vein, I wonder what happens if you book a standard (fully flexible) ticket, with reservation, then cancel the ticket? Worst that could happen is that the reservation get's cancelled too and you're back where you are now.
When I got a Saver Fare ticket with reservation in 2004, the reservation information was printed right on the pdf file I printed. I wonder if a "by mail" ticket has a separate reservation.
Posted by
Oregon
111 posts
I agree with Lee's first answer. A seat reservation is not necessary on an ICE or IC connection and not worth taking extraordinary measures.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
If you are just more comfortable with a reserved seat:
You could have the ticket sent to your London hotel if you are traveling soon or your home address or perhaps email
Deutsche Bahn UK Booking Centre
For enquiries/bookings:
Tel.: +44 (0) 8718 80 80 66*
Fax: +44 (0) 8718 80 80 65*
You may book your ticket and seat reservation over the phone and have your tickets sent to your home address. Alternatively, you may collect your ticket from ticket vending machines at major train stations in Germany. Timetable information is also available.
You can also make an enquiry online by filling out a sales booking enquiry form.
Opening hours: (GMT)
Mon-Fri: 9am-8pm
Sat- Sun: 9am-1pm
*Calls cost 8p per minute from a UK BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may cost more.
Inspection on the train
Remember that if you book online, you may be asked to show proof of identification you selected in the booking process. This can be a credit card, your BahnCard, or an electronic cash (EC) card. Please keep your original ticket with you at all times while on board.
Posted by
OP
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
I'll try calling DB by phone. I'll be travelling on a Wednesday evening leaving Brussels by the ICE at 1825. My main worry is whether that train will be very crowded with returning business travellers - anyone used it?
Posted by
OP
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
I suppose at worst I could see if it calls at Aachen and get a reserved seat from Aachen to Frankfurt.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
"get a reserved seat from Aachen to Frankfurt."
That would work. The Brussels to Frankfurt direct ICE does stop in Aachen. Hint: Look up Brussels Noord to Frankfurt first to see what time the train leaves Aachen, then use that time for Aachen to Frankfurt.
With any luck, if someone is sitting in the seat when you leave Brussels, they won't have it reserved to Aachen and will be going farther, and will give up the seat and find another one since they'll have to give it up in Aachen, anyways. And if you get to Brussels in time to get an empty seat, try to take the one you've reserved from Aachen.