Austrian train pricing
Feb 18th, 2015, 06:28 AM
#1
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Austrian train pricing
I am surprised that the Austrian train website now has fares posted for July as I had read that fares are never posted more than 92 days in advance, especially when the June timetable change is looming.
Looking at these fares, 2 questions for my desired itinerary:
1. I can only pull up 2 adult fares at the super discounted rate of 29 euros per day, if I try 3 adults I get 2 seats at 29 and then 1 seat at 39. Is this because only 2 seats per day are at the super low price, or does it only let you buy 2 seats per reservation at the lowest price?
2. In trying for the family rate, I get 2 adults at 29 euros, 2 youths 14-25 at 39 euros, and 1 youth 13 and under free. This is strange, is it correct?
Looking at these fares, 2 questions for my desired itinerary:
1. I can only pull up 2 adult fares at the super discounted rate of 29 euros per day, if I try 3 adults I get 2 seats at 29 and then 1 seat at 39. Is this because only 2 seats per day are at the super low price, or does it only let you buy 2 seats per reservation at the lowest price?
2. In trying for the family rate, I get 2 adults at 29 euros, 2 youths 14-25 at 39 euros, and 1 youth 13 and under free. This is strange, is it correct?
Feb 18th, 2015, 10:49 AM
#2
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Playing around with the website it appears that there are 4 tickets at the super discount price set aside for each day. 2 have already been bought for my date in July.
In trying to push my order thru, I've tried 5 times and can't get the last payment screen to process. This is on the Oebb.at website.
In trying to push my order thru, I've tried 5 times and can't get the last payment screen to process. This is on the Oebb.at website.
Feb 18th, 2015, 11:18 AM
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Have you also tried the competitor to OBB - Westbahn?
https://westbahn.at/en - pretty much flat fares - cheap I believe - uses same rail lines but runs its own trains. Subsidiary of OBB I believe but not sure.
maybe check www.seat61.comn - the guru of discounted train tickets and see if he says anything?
https://westbahn.at/en - pretty much flat fares - cheap I believe - uses same rail lines but runs its own trains. Subsidiary of OBB I believe but not sure.
maybe check www.seat61.comn - the guru of discounted train tickets and see if he says anything?
Feb 18th, 2015, 11:42 AM
#4
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This is an international run to Italy so there is no other choice. There is a topic on another website suggesting people use debit cards or keep trying cards until something works.
Not really sure if these fares are even for sale, they are posted and I can select them but maybe 5 months out they are phantoms not really for sale? Can't see them on trenitalia or europerail or bahn.com.
Not really sure if these fares are even for sale, they are posted and I can select them but maybe 5 months out they are phantoms not really for sale? Can't see them on trenitalia or europerail or bahn.com.
Feb 18th, 2015, 12:03 PM
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You have I'm sure notified your bank of a foreign transaction coming in so they don't block it and yes 90 or 60 days is often the most in advance you can buy them - are you sure they are not 2014 summer trains!!!
Feb 18th, 2015, 02:48 PM
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Yes, sure about the year, prices are loaded well into August. I have read on here that there is another country that loads fares 6 months in advance, maybe Spain?
Here is the error:
Order failed!
Your order could not be processed! An error occurred while processing your request and it has not been possible to process it.
Please try again later or contact the ÖBB Customer Service on 05-1717. (Error number: 01002, Support ID: 35.78519)
According to the other website, calling the card company to approve the purchase does not help.
Here is the error:
Order failed!
Your order could not be processed! An error occurred while processing your request and it has not been possible to process it.
Please try again later or contact the ÖBB Customer Service on 05-1717. (Error number: 01002, Support ID: 35.78519)
According to the other website, calling the card company to approve the purchase does not help.
Feb 18th, 2015, 04:37 PM
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Seems to be related to 3D Secure, another credit card security verification system. US Mastercards so not have this capability, so will have to switch to a trying a Visa, and somehow get it a "verify by visa" code or something.
Jeesh, why does all this stuff have to be HARD!
Jeesh, why does all this stuff have to be HARD!
Feb 18th, 2015, 08:19 PM
#8
>>>Can't see them on trenitalia or europerail or bahn.com.<<<
Trenitalia is notoriously slow loading their new schedules.
>>>US Mastercards so not have this capability, <<<
Yes, they do depending on where you get your Mastercard. I had mine Securecode years ago (early days of internet shopping and some website required it for purchase). Check your Mastercard issuer and see if you can register for it. Find your bank.
http://www.mastercard.us/securecode-sign-up.html
>>> In trying for the family rate, I get 2 adults at 29 euros, 2 youths 14-25 at 39 euros, and 1 youth 13 and under free. This is strange, is it correct?<<<
I'm not clear if you are trying to book a family rate or smart fare. Smart fares can't be combined with other discounts.
***Prices include reservation of seat (2nd class only), couchette or bed, and are differentiated depending on the accommodation chosen and requested journey section.
The offer cannot be added on to other reductions in price for any reason (including those for children or groups) or to any special offers running on the purchase date.***
Trenitalia is notoriously slow loading their new schedules.
>>>US Mastercards so not have this capability, <<<
Yes, they do depending on where you get your Mastercard. I had mine Securecode years ago (early days of internet shopping and some website required it for purchase). Check your Mastercard issuer and see if you can register for it. Find your bank.
http://www.mastercard.us/securecode-sign-up.html
>>> In trying for the family rate, I get 2 adults at 29 euros, 2 youths 14-25 at 39 euros, and 1 youth 13 and under free. This is strange, is it correct?<<<
I'm not clear if you are trying to book a family rate or smart fare. Smart fares can't be combined with other discounts.
***Prices include reservation of seat (2nd class only), couchette or bed, and are differentiated depending on the accommodation chosen and requested journey section.
The offer cannot be added on to other reductions in price for any reason (including those for children or groups) or to any special offers running on the purchase date.***
Feb 19th, 2015, 05:12 AM
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No, Capital 1 is not on that mastercard list.
Playing around with the website I can bring up the shopping cart if I am buying only 1 ticket. I wasn't clear before, I can't put the family ticket into the shopping cart and then bring it up to pay. I don't get to the part where the credit card number is submitted for payment-- the error comes before that, although the system knows the credit card number because it is in my profile. I emailed oebb so I'll see what they say.
On another note, does it make sense to wait for the trenitalia website to open up tickets because they may be allotted some of the super discounted tickets?
Playing around with the website I can bring up the shopping cart if I am buying only 1 ticket. I wasn't clear before, I can't put the family ticket into the shopping cart and then bring it up to pay. I don't get to the part where the credit card number is submitted for payment-- the error comes before that, although the system knows the credit card number because it is in my profile. I emailed oebb so I'll see what they say.
On another note, does it make sense to wait for the trenitalia website to open up tickets because they may be allotted some of the super discounted tickets?
Feb 19th, 2015, 05:52 AM
#10
Do you have a Visa that might be eligible for the Verified By Visa?
>>>On another note, does it make sense to wait for the trenitalia website to open up tickets because they may be allotted some of the super discounted tickets?<<<
You haven't stated your itinerary so it's hard to advise you since we don't know what you are trying to buy. In the past, international tickets bought on Trenitalia had to be picked up in Italy at a station with a self service kiosk (you can't print the ticket at home, only at the kiosk). At least that's what it stated (with a link to stations that had kiosks), but I would imagine you could retrieve that ticket with the code at other Italian stations that have ticket windows (although they might not be happy printing it for you).
Here's a list/chart of the family discount for Italy/Austria. Trenitalia does not translate a lot of their discounts and other info to English so it's in Italian, but you can easily see the options from the chart.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
>>>On another note, does it make sense to wait for the trenitalia website to open up tickets because they may be allotted some of the super discounted tickets?<<<
You haven't stated your itinerary so it's hard to advise you since we don't know what you are trying to buy. In the past, international tickets bought on Trenitalia had to be picked up in Italy at a station with a self service kiosk (you can't print the ticket at home, only at the kiosk). At least that's what it stated (with a link to stations that had kiosks), but I would imagine you could retrieve that ticket with the code at other Italian stations that have ticket windows (although they might not be happy printing it for you).
Here's a list/chart of the family discount for Italy/Austria. Trenitalia does not translate a lot of their discounts and other info to English so it's in Italian, but you can easily see the options from the chart.
http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...008916f90aRCRD
Feb 19th, 2015, 06:00 AM
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That's interesting, Austrian train website only offer children under 14 a free ticket, for Italian trains it's 16, so that's an extra free ticket for us. Even though the trains that run from Italy to Austria are Austrian owned? Not an intuitive result.
There may be an advantage to waiting.
There may be an advantage to waiting.
Feb 19th, 2015, 08:39 AM
#12
>>>Austrian train website only offer children under 14 a free ticket<<<
For international tickets? The rules may be different for cross-border tickets as they have agreements between the countries.
>>>Italian trains it's 16, so that's an extra free ticket for us.<<<
15 and under isn't free unless you are talking about tickets within Italy only (bimbi gratis promotion). There's a difference between Trenitalia discounts within Italy and any international offers. Even domestic tickets within Italy might be cheaper booked another way instead of bimbi gratis which may come to an end with the schedule changes.
When needing train help, you need to state the cities, the number/ages of travelers, the date and time of day, type of discount you are trying to book, etc. You are making us guess instead of posting pertinent info necessary. I still have no clue what you are trying to book because you haven't posted it.
For international tickets? The rules may be different for cross-border tickets as they have agreements between the countries.
>>>Italian trains it's 16, so that's an extra free ticket for us.<<<
15 and under isn't free unless you are talking about tickets within Italy only (bimbi gratis promotion). There's a difference between Trenitalia discounts within Italy and any international offers. Even domestic tickets within Italy might be cheaper booked another way instead of bimbi gratis which may come to an end with the schedule changes.
When needing train help, you need to state the cities, the number/ages of travelers, the date and time of day, type of discount you are trying to book, etc. You are making us guess instead of posting pertinent info necessary. I still have no clue what you are trying to book because you haven't posted it.
Feb 21st, 2015, 05:41 AM
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Just an update, a reply from customer service (wow, working on Saturday and perfect English):
"I contacted my colleagues from the IT department and due to technical issues it is not possible to book this route the way you choose."
So I either book via email (he offered this service) or wait for IT to fix the glitch.
"I contacted my colleagues from the IT department and due to technical issues it is not possible to book this route the way you choose."
So I either book via email (he offered this service) or wait for IT to fix the glitch.
Mar 17th, 2015, 06:40 AM
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It did not really work out well after all. I gave up waiting for them to fix the software (more than 3 weeks) and emailed them my credit card information. Unfortuately the last 2 cheap tickets sold that day and I missed them. This is for travel from Venice to Innsbruck at the end of July.
I have also missed the cheapest tickets Innsbruck to Munich for the same time frame.
I wish I had NOT relied on advice here and seat61.com and had started checking for tickets at 6 months out. The cheapest tickets, at least on the Austrian trains, are gone within the first 5-6 months before they are even offered on websites like bahn.com.
When websites like bahn.com and trenitalia.com say that there are no tickets available until 4 months out, it only means that there software refuses to even check more than 4 months out-- there may be tickets on the various state rail systems already.
I have also missed the cheapest tickets Innsbruck to Munich for the same time frame.
I wish I had NOT relied on advice here and seat61.com and had started checking for tickets at 6 months out. The cheapest tickets, at least on the Austrian trains, are gone within the first 5-6 months before they are even offered on websites like bahn.com.
When websites like bahn.com and trenitalia.com say that there are no tickets available until 4 months out, it only means that there software refuses to even check more than 4 months out-- there may be tickets on the various state rail systems already.
Mar 29th, 2015, 10:27 AM
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Posting current information for those who are interested, for tickets Venice to Innsbruck on the Austrian national train system, same train continues to Munich.
The tickets I bought arrived via registered mail yesterday, they only charged 5 euros for this service (less than the postage on the letter). There is no pickup onsite in Italy possible for Austrian trains and the print the tickets at home feature was not available due to a technical problem.
Tickets for this train showed up on trenitalia now that the departure date is less than 120 days. Bahn.com says it will offer tickets for sale on this train in 30 days. Oebb.at offers tickets 6 months in advance for this train.
Current prices:
Oebb.at is offering 2nd class for family of 5 people at 196 euros, with 1 child under 15 going free. There is 1 sparscheine ticket unsold. There appear to have been only 8 sparscheine tickets offered per train. The full price for these tickets is 216 euros on oebb.at.
trenitalia.it is offering the same seats for 292.50 euros with the child paying full price. Trenitalia only offers the full price tickets then adds 4.50 euro service charge onto each one.
So the discounted sparscheine (super economy in Italian parlance) never make it to trenitalia.it
The tickets I bought arrived via registered mail yesterday, they only charged 5 euros for this service (less than the postage on the letter). There is no pickup onsite in Italy possible for Austrian trains and the print the tickets at home feature was not available due to a technical problem.
Tickets for this train showed up on trenitalia now that the departure date is less than 120 days. Bahn.com says it will offer tickets for sale on this train in 30 days. Oebb.at offers tickets 6 months in advance for this train.
Current prices:
Oebb.at is offering 2nd class for family of 5 people at 196 euros, with 1 child under 15 going free. There is 1 sparscheine ticket unsold. There appear to have been only 8 sparscheine tickets offered per train. The full price for these tickets is 216 euros on oebb.at.
trenitalia.it is offering the same seats for 292.50 euros with the child paying full price. Trenitalia only offers the full price tickets then adds 4.50 euro service charge onto each one.
So the discounted sparscheine (super economy in Italian parlance) never make it to trenitalia.it
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