It looks like onward rail journeys after arrival in Europe will be somewhat easier in some countries due to this new arrangement. Hopefully everyone will be able to read it......
https://www.travelandleisure.com/air-canada-european-train-link-8414385
I suspect that the number of rail operators will increase in future, and perhaps more airlines will be able to offer this as well.
I love this idea and hope it does catch on for other airlines!
This is a great idea but it is not a new one. My husband did this 20 years ago on a business trip to Lyon. His flight to Paris was bundled with an onward rail ticket to Lyon. He actually got to Lyon faster than his colleagues who were flying to Paris and then onward to Lyon.
Thanks Ken.
This is my favorite part: "Travelers can also check in for both their flight and train before departure — and if any travel snafus arise that results in delayed or canceled flights, they can reschedule their train tickets without any hassle. "
German Rail has had this with American Airlines, Condor, Lufthansa, United, and Icelandair (amongst others) for years. I think it's about 30€pP to connect from the airport to any rail station in Germany, and it's an open ticket, good on any trains, including ICEs, on the arrival day or the next.
It's called Rail&Fly. Their current list of participating airlines does not show Air Canada, but it might just not be updated.
This ticket is particularly nice because it avoids the specific train/late arrival risk of a Saver Fare.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing that.
One of my favorite things about Europe has always been the intermodal options you find there. For instance fly into Schiphol, take train in to Amsterdam, take tram to your lodging.
Back in the 1970s Icelandic Airlines offered a $30 voucher that would get you by train from Luxembourg to anywhere in Germany or Switzerland (and perhaps other countries). At that time Icelandic was the only non-IATA carrier on the transatlantic run and was substantially cheaper than all the other options. I used the $30 voucher several times, at least once for a trip to Italy, on which the voucher got me to Chiasso.
Bundling a rail ticket with an airline ticket is even more useful now that you so often need to buy your train tickets well ahead of time to get them a good price.
ITA Airways is now offering plane to rail connections at FCO with Trenitalia - fly into Rome, then take train to Florence, Venice, etc. on one ticket.
