So I just read in another forum about some changes rail companies are making to their seat allocation policies for pass holders. Apparently, Trenitalia and SNCF are working out on plans to limit seat availability to pass holders on trains that require reservation. To a certain extent, this already happens with TGV, where a limited number of seats can be reserved for € 8 or else the reservation fee goes to € 18 (set to increase after summer). Now, I have some reports of people being unable to reserve certain international Milan-Paris trains on passes, but able to buy point-to-point ticket on the same class. I personally believe this trend is here to stay. If the rail companies get their act together and solve problems with electronic ticketing so that buying tickets online, point-to-point is as reliable as buying air tickets, the trend might be positive. More and more railways are going like airlines in term of ticket pricing (for medium and long distance), with an array of early purchase, train-and-time-specific discounts, reserved seats and so on. What is your stake in this issue?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
As is often pointed out on this site, due to high supplemental fees and the advent of big advance purchase discounts and regional tickets, rail passes have become anachronistic. This change will just hasten their demise.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
For our first European trip of five weeks, we used rail passes every 2-3 days, but rarely needed reservations/supplements/etc. We had a fairly firm itinerary worked out, but with no hotel reservations we could - and did - change our plans on the fly. Once, we actually changed which country we were traveling to while on the train. So a pass was great for that trip. These days, we know when and where we're going, and for how long - EVERYTHING is reserved in advance. I don't wander the streets or visit TIs looking for a hotel anymore. I know exactly how many steps my hotel is from the train station LOL! Since we aren't moving around as much, we save lots of money - moving = money. Since we pin down our itinerary at home, I can purchase deeply-discounted tickets in advance - another thing I don't have to spend time and money on in Europe. (cont.)
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
(cont.) With so many train routes (tracks) and/or cars being upgraded, and thus typically coming with revenue-raising reservations when before there were none, having a pass can be a pain in the rear. And knowing how much cheaper it is to buy PTP tickets - sometimes insanely cheaper - I'll probably never buy a pass again. I'd only recommend them to certain types of travelers after making sure they're aware of the trade-offs. I'd really hate the idea of airline-type reservations where there's only a certain number of seats on each route, and a very good chance that routes routinely sell out - like air travel. I like the train system that allows you to (usually) be able to walk up, purchase a ticket on a whim, and head for the platform. Not, like with the airline industry, make plans months in advance. And I really don't want to see anything like the airline system of increasing the price as you go along...with NO IDEA of what the final price might be. With the trains, you at least know what the full fare is before you 'play'...and with some companies you even know what (and how many) discount fares are available. The scarcity of passholder fares/reservations/supplements are starting to sound like trying to cash in your FF miles...Good Luck!