Success with OeBB purchase---kind of

Is this the 09:23 train ? I just did a dummy run on this and a drop down box " services " appears where reservations are possible with an already existing ticket . Are you registered on the OBB site ? If you enter the travel information - move to the right and click the green " sparscheine ticket " logo , the drop down box will appear on the next page .

Thanks, Steven. Yes, I am registered on the site. I do not get that drop-down menu when I click on "Products and Services". Maybe something to do with a Mac laptop?

I found one answer in German in the FAQ's:

Nachdem Sie im Bereich "Meine Reise" eine Reise gewählt haben, für die Sie bereits ein Ticket besitzen, kommen Sie zum Bereich "Unsere Angebote".
Klicken Sie dort auf Weitere Angebote unter dem Streifen Bester Preis.
Wählen Sie die Option Ticket vorhanden.
Unter "Extras" wird nun automatisch eine Reservierung ausgewählt.
Mit einem Klick auf das rote Feld rechts oben legen Sie die Reservierung in den Warenkorb.

Basically it says to go to "My Trip" and then click on "Our Offers". But I cannot find the "My Trip" thing to click. Maybe I need to log out and go back in? The site has kept me logged in on this computer all afternoon, even after I exit the site. I'll try logging out and try again later.

OK, while I am waiting, where did you start? Did you select the 9;23 train (yes that is the one) and start to proceed with a dummy booking when you say that option for reservation only?

Lola, this may sound ridiculous and I'm the first to admit I am not in the least tech savvy but....... I have noticed on my MacBook air laptop, I often have to switch from Safari to Firefox to get to where I need to get on some websites. Safari really seems um....particular (or peculiar). May not be your reason but I would try a server (or whatever those things are called) other than Safari if you have no success any other way. OK you techies...stop laughing at me now. Whatever works and this often does for me!

I got my reservations several weeks after I bought the tickets. For a long time, this option did not show up but then finally it did. Wish I could tell you what the trick was.

From the first page - tickets and services , I entered Thursday May 11 09:00 ( for a dummy entry ) Ljubljana to Wien . click on box with red icon that says services and tickets - the next page shows the 09:23 train at the top of the page - move to the right and click on " sparscheine ticket " ( in green ) - next page , scroll down to " Extras " You will see reservations listed , let me know if this works

I am using Google Chrome. . .

Maybe Janet has the answer---I should be patient. Maybe the reservations are not loaded into the system for September yet.

But I will try logging back in tomorrow, and maybe also try from a PC at the library.

I just tried this with your September date , and no reservation option appears , perhaps too soon , but a May date works .

Thanks! I will wait. Y'all just saved me the cost of a phone call to Austria!

Just buy the reservation a day or two before travel from any OeBB office. No need to do it now. Most people don't reserve anyway.

Thanks, Emily. Since we are starting this journey in Ljubljana, I will not have access to an OeBB station. Will the Slovenian station have access to the reservation system for the segment entirely within Austria(Villach to Wien)?

Good to hear that Amex card works for OEBB. Now we know.

I received an answer from OeBB in response to my query. They said reservations are available only from 3 months prior to the date of travel.

Sam--yes, the AmEx did work, and I am god Inread about that here. I did advise them via Chat of the upcoming purchase from Austria and they pre-authorized it. Had I not done that, I assume it would have been the same as my purchase of bahn.de tickets a few days ago. (I did not inform AmEx first). The transaction was initially declined. I immediately received a text from AmEx asking if this was a legitimate transaction. I responded that it was, and they said it would be approved. Bahn.de gave me the opportunity to "try again" and I did. That time it went through. Good thing my phone was handy.

Lola , a quick update FYI . I just encountered a similar issue to yours - I just purchased tickets - Vienna to Munich for late October . I was able to buy the tickets , on DB at a slightly better price than on OBB , but since OBB handles the reservations , those will need to be booked three months out . At that point , DB will provide my reservations , included with my tickets ( first class - only ten euro more than second class )