Buying Italian train tickets online
Mar 25th, 2015, 02:53 PM
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Buying Italian train tickets online
As the 2 Italian train websites are starting to post tickets near my dates in July, let me see if I have everything straight so I do better with the Italian trains than I did with the Venice to Innsbruck tickets bought earlier this month using the Austrian train website where everything went wrong.
1. Trenitalia, the national train system, does not allow foreigners to register for their website.
2. For a foreigner to buy on the Trenitalia website, just choose the ticketless option and show up on the train with your receipt and reservation number, no need to get a ticket from a kiosk or print anything out at home. This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.
3. Trenitalia will sell super economy tickets for the frecce trains with 1 child under 15 traveling free with a paying parent, even at the super economy rate.
4. Italo does not allow a free child with a paying parent, at least with the lowest fares.
5. There are regular sales on both train systems, right now for Rome to Florence Italo is 15.10 and Frecce is 17.00, although the standard super economy fares are more like 18-19.
6. The super economy seats will sell out __________ days/months before the departure date.
7. Registering for the bahn.com website was a complete waste of time because both the Austrian and the Italian train tickets go on sale on their individual websites weeks/months before they show up on bahn.com
1. Trenitalia, the national train system, does not allow foreigners to register for their website.
2. For a foreigner to buy on the Trenitalia website, just choose the ticketless option and show up on the train with your receipt and reservation number, no need to get a ticket from a kiosk or print anything out at home. This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.
3. Trenitalia will sell super economy tickets for the frecce trains with 1 child under 15 traveling free with a paying parent, even at the super economy rate.
4. Italo does not allow a free child with a paying parent, at least with the lowest fares.
5. There are regular sales on both train systems, right now for Rome to Florence Italo is 15.10 and Frecce is 17.00, although the standard super economy fares are more like 18-19.
6. The super economy seats will sell out __________ days/months before the departure date.
7. Registering for the bahn.com website was a complete waste of time because both the Austrian and the Italian train tickets go on sale on their individual websites weeks/months before they show up on bahn.com
Mar 25th, 2015, 04:07 PM
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1. I don't think that's true, but since I'm an Italian citizen, I can't be sure.
2. This is true both for foreigners and Italians. I always print out the confirmation, which shows the PNR (reservation number).
3. Only children under age 4 travel free with an accompanying parent, but they're not guaranteed a seat.If the train is full, you have to hold the kid on your lap. Children age 4-14 pay half price, and get a seat. There is a "Bimbi gratis" offer, which allows children under 15 to ride free with an accompanying parent, but this can't be combined with a Super Economy fare. If there is a Super Economy fare available, that would normally be a better bargain than the Bimbi Gratis. The Super Economy ticket is the same price for kids and adults.
4. And neither does Trenitalia unless the child is under age 4. I believe Italo also allows children under age 4 to ride free, but without an assigned seat.
5. Rather than sales, their is a tiered ticket price structure, which depends on the type of train and the route. Super Economy is the cheapest ticket, and it's always the same on a given route for the same type of train and level of service. This ticket is available in limited numbers, and when they're sold out, the Economy tickets will be the cheapest until they too are sold out. Most Italians always choose the cheapest level of service (2nd class on most trains, Standard class on the Frecciarossa trains, which have four class levels.) This means that Super Economy is usually still available for 1st class (or business class) after it's sold out in 2nd (or Standard) class. You'll see the whole grid of ticket prices, so you can choose what you want.
6. There's no specific date when they sell out. They sell out when all the tickets allocated to that price level are gone, which could be the day they go on sale on popular routes.
2. This is true both for foreigners and Italians. I always print out the confirmation, which shows the PNR (reservation number).
3. Only children under age 4 travel free with an accompanying parent, but they're not guaranteed a seat.If the train is full, you have to hold the kid on your lap. Children age 4-14 pay half price, and get a seat. There is a "Bimbi gratis" offer, which allows children under 15 to ride free with an accompanying parent, but this can't be combined with a Super Economy fare. If there is a Super Economy fare available, that would normally be a better bargain than the Bimbi Gratis. The Super Economy ticket is the same price for kids and adults.
4. And neither does Trenitalia unless the child is under age 4. I believe Italo also allows children under age 4 to ride free, but without an assigned seat.
5. Rather than sales, their is a tiered ticket price structure, which depends on the type of train and the route. Super Economy is the cheapest ticket, and it's always the same on a given route for the same type of train and level of service. This ticket is available in limited numbers, and when they're sold out, the Economy tickets will be the cheapest until they too are sold out. Most Italians always choose the cheapest level of service (2nd class on most trains, Standard class on the Frecciarossa trains, which have four class levels.) This means that Super Economy is usually still available for 1st class (or business class) after it's sold out in 2nd (or Standard) class. You'll see the whole grid of ticket prices, so you can choose what you want.
6. There's no specific date when they sell out. They sell out when all the tickets allocated to that price level are gone, which could be the day they go on sale on popular routes.
Mar 25th, 2015, 04:13 PM
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For example, http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp# has September 18 fully loaded for Venice to Munich (and all days till then), there's nothing on bahn.com after June 25. On to Italy, trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD
has Rome to Florence loaded to July 23, nothing on bahn.com for any date I check.
has Rome to Florence loaded to July 23, nothing on bahn.com for any date I check.
Mar 25th, 2015, 04:21 PM
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bvlenci: I am finding that trenitalia prices out the child cheaper or free (can't tell easily, it just lists the lump price for all tickets), although they don't ask you to verify the birthday when buying the ticket (Austrian train webiste does ask this). The note that pops up says "National trains a child is 4-14, regional trains a child is 4-12. I assume a frecce is a "national train"?
I should have said earlier that only Italian residents can register for the trenitalia site.
I should have said earlier that only Italian residents can register for the trenitalia site.
Mar 25th, 2015, 04:26 PM
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bvlenci: You are right, it is about 50% off for a child (they round it up to the next euro, so 19 + 10* = 29.
*half is 9.50 round up to 10.
It appears that under 4 is free but not a concern of mine right now.
*half is 9.50 round up to 10.
It appears that under 4 is free but not a concern of mine right now.
Mar 25th, 2015, 06:58 PM
#9
>>>1.Trenitalia, the national train system, does not allow foreigners to register for their website.<<<
I don't think it's true either. You probably don't understand how to register (I admit Trenitalia doesn't make it easy).
>>>This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.<<<
>>>2
For a foreigner to buy on the Trenitalia website, just choose the ticketless option and show up on the train with your receipt and reservation number, no need to get a ticket from a kiosk or print anything out at home. <<<
Yes.
>>>This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.<<<
Very odd comment. Not even sure what it means. What did you expect from an online purchase?
>>>3<<<
Possibly. Sometimes Trenitalia doesn't let you combine discounts.
>>>There is a "Bimbi gratis" offer, which allows children under 15 to ride free with an accompanying parent, but this can't be combined with a Super Economy fare.<<<
bvlenci - If you do a walkthru on Trenitalia, it does seem to allow you to select the supereconomy fare and the child travel free. You can click either supereconomy or bimbi gratis. If you click supereconomy only, the next screen you enter the travelers info and there are spaces for both the adult and the child. Price shows as one adult. From my walk-thru:
**** Viaggio 1
Da:Roma Termini (10:20) A:Firenze S. M. Novella (11:51) Data: 14.05.2015 FRECCIAROSSA 9520
1 Adulto
Super Economy - Standard
1 Ragazzo
Super Economy - Standard
26,00 € ****
>>>For example, http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp# has September 18 fully loaded for Venice to Munich (and all days till then), there's nothing on bahn.com after June 25. On to Italy, trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD
has Rome to Florence loaded to July 23, nothing on bahn.com for any date I check.<<<
You were mistaken on your other thread and you are still confused. You were blaming Bahn for not getting a discount, but it was oebb's crappy processing that didn't complete your transaction(had nothing to do with Bahn). Here, you are not understanding that different countries have different policies about when they will sell tickets. Oebb sells one certain type of ticket 6 months in advance which is why it shows on their schedules. I don't believe Bahn can sell it. Trenitalia only sells tickets for fast trains 120 days in advance which is why you are only seeing through July 23 (tomorrow you will see through July 24 and so on). Count 120 days back from the day you plan to travel and that's when they will appear on Trenitalia to buy.
Italo allows purchase 6 months in advance or through the end of their schedule (June or Dec) once loaded. Trenitalia does not.
I don't know why you are even talking about Bahn at all. It's the German train site.
>>>5. There are regular sales on both train systems, right now for Rome to Florence Italo is 15.10 and Frecce is 17.00, although the standard super economy fares are more like 18-19.<<<
From what I see, those special prices are only available from March through May. They are not typical.
>>6<<<
It used to be you couldn't get the discounts on Trenitalia within 24 hours of travel. I think that has changed.
I don't think it's true either. You probably don't understand how to register (I admit Trenitalia doesn't make it easy).
>>>This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.<<<
>>>2
For a foreigner to buy on the Trenitalia website, just choose the ticketless option and show up on the train with your receipt and reservation number, no need to get a ticket from a kiosk or print anything out at home. <<<
Yes.
>>>This is really the only way a foreigner can use the website to buy tickets online, anyway.<<<
Very odd comment. Not even sure what it means. What did you expect from an online purchase?
>>>3<<<
Possibly. Sometimes Trenitalia doesn't let you combine discounts.
>>>There is a "Bimbi gratis" offer, which allows children under 15 to ride free with an accompanying parent, but this can't be combined with a Super Economy fare.<<<
bvlenci - If you do a walkthru on Trenitalia, it does seem to allow you to select the supereconomy fare and the child travel free. You can click either supereconomy or bimbi gratis. If you click supereconomy only, the next screen you enter the travelers info and there are spaces for both the adult and the child. Price shows as one adult. From my walk-thru:
**** Viaggio 1
Da:Roma Termini (10:20) A:Firenze S. M. Novella (11:51) Data: 14.05.2015 FRECCIAROSSA 9520
1 Adulto
Super Economy - Standard
1 Ragazzo
Super Economy - Standard
26,00 € ****
>>>For example, http://www.oebb.at/en/index.jsp# has September 18 fully loaded for Venice to Munich (and all days till then), there's nothing on bahn.com after June 25. On to Italy, trenitalia http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...005817f90aRCRD
has Rome to Florence loaded to July 23, nothing on bahn.com for any date I check.<<<
You were mistaken on your other thread and you are still confused. You were blaming Bahn for not getting a discount, but it was oebb's crappy processing that didn't complete your transaction(had nothing to do with Bahn). Here, you are not understanding that different countries have different policies about when they will sell tickets. Oebb sells one certain type of ticket 6 months in advance which is why it shows on their schedules. I don't believe Bahn can sell it. Trenitalia only sells tickets for fast trains 120 days in advance which is why you are only seeing through July 23 (tomorrow you will see through July 24 and so on). Count 120 days back from the day you plan to travel and that's when they will appear on Trenitalia to buy.
Italo allows purchase 6 months in advance or through the end of their schedule (June or Dec) once loaded. Trenitalia does not.
I don't know why you are even talking about Bahn at all. It's the German train site.
>>>5. There are regular sales on both train systems, right now for Rome to Florence Italo is 15.10 and Frecce is 17.00, although the standard super economy fares are more like 18-19.<<<
From what I see, those special prices are only available from March through May. They are not typical.
>>6<<<
It used to be you couldn't get the discounts on Trenitalia within 24 hours of travel. I think that has changed.
Mar 25th, 2015, 07:39 PM
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I will research this tomorrow more thoroughly. But kybourbon posts errors so does bvlenci and especially www.seat61.com. Why isn't there a single source online to get all the info needed to buy European train tickets? Why do I have to trailblaze?
Mar 26th, 2015, 02:16 AM
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KyBourbon, the ticket prices you show don't have a free child ticket; they represent two super economy tickets, where the kid's ticket is half the adult price. If you price that trip just for one adult, the fare is €17. This is also something new; the kid's price for super economy was always the same as the adult price until very recently.
Mar 26th, 2015, 02:31 AM
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Tom, you posted something full of incorrect information. Of your six items, all had mistakes. I spent half an hour correcting your incorrect information, and you complain that I was a bit outdated about one point (that about the super economy price being the same for adults and kids)?Even information that's 100% correct today could be outdated next week.
That's what I call outrageous ingratitude, and also towards KYBourbon.
In any case, the most useful information I gave you was this:
<<You'll see the whole grid of ticket prices, so you can choose what you want. >>
The rule, as it stands today for super economy is as follows:
<<... Prezzo minimo 9 euro. Non è possibile cumulare lo sconto con altre riduzioni ad eccezione di quella a favore dei ragazzi, fatto salvo il minimo tariffario dell'offerta.>>
Translation: ... Minimum price 9 euros. It's not possible to combine the discount with other reductions, except for the reduction for kids, within the limits of the minimum price.
This means that if you find a super economy fare of €9, which is available on some routes and on some train classes, the price will also be €9 for kids. So my point about super economy prices was only partly outdated.
That's what I call outrageous ingratitude, and also towards KYBourbon.
In any case, the most useful information I gave you was this:
<<You'll see the whole grid of ticket prices, so you can choose what you want. >>
The rule, as it stands today for super economy is as follows:
<<... Prezzo minimo 9 euro. Non è possibile cumulare lo sconto con altre riduzioni ad eccezione di quella a favore dei ragazzi, fatto salvo il minimo tariffario dell'offerta.>>
Translation: ... Minimum price 9 euros. It's not possible to combine the discount with other reductions, except for the reduction for kids, within the limits of the minimum price.
This means that if you find a super economy fare of €9, which is available on some routes and on some train classes, the price will also be €9 for kids. So my point about super economy prices was only partly outdated.
Mar 26th, 2015, 04:11 AM
#14
>>>KyBourbon, the ticket prices you show don't have a free child ticket; they represent two super economy tickets, where the kid's ticket is half the adult price. If you price that trip just for one adult, the fare is €17.<<<
Sorry. Didn't do a walk-through with one adult only. I selected one adult and one child.
>>>But kybourbon posts errors so does bvlenci and especially www.seat61.com.<<<
Agree with bvlenci that your thread (and your other thread) are full of your own errors. If anyone read the other thread, a lot of people tried to help you yet you continually refused to provide the necessary info for them to do so. You also blamed your problems booking on everyone, but the oebb website which was your actual problem.
>>>That's what I call outrageous ingratitude, and also towards KYBourbon. <<<
Did the same thing on his other thread. Claims everyone else is making errors, but doesn't say what those errors are (and doesn't realize most of them are his own misunderstanding).
>>>But kybourbon posts errors so does bvlenci and especially www.seat61.com. <<<
People make errors because the train companies are continually changing what they are doing. We all correct our errors when pointed out (I've had Seat 61 use some of my corrections on his website). Trenitalia often puts info in Italian only, not in English. Some discounts they only list in Italian, never on their English version. I'm sure that is true for the other countries too.
>>>Why isn't there a single source online to get all the info needed to buy European train tickets?<<<
That's like saying why doesn't Mexico, Canada and USA all have a single source for transport. Totally impractical when a dozen different countries are involved with government operated train lines and privately operated train lines.
>>> Why do I have to trailblaze? <<<
You are not a trailblazer. You are a novice not familiar with public transport and how it works.
Sorry. Didn't do a walk-through with one adult only. I selected one adult and one child.
>>>But kybourbon posts errors so does bvlenci and especially www.seat61.com.<<<
Agree with bvlenci that your thread (and your other thread) are full of your own errors. If anyone read the other thread, a lot of people tried to help you yet you continually refused to provide the necessary info for them to do so. You also blamed your problems booking on everyone, but the oebb website which was your actual problem.
>>>That's what I call outrageous ingratitude, and also towards KYBourbon. <<<
Did the same thing on his other thread. Claims everyone else is making errors, but doesn't say what those errors are (and doesn't realize most of them are his own misunderstanding).
>>>But kybourbon posts errors so does bvlenci and especially www.seat61.com. <<<
People make errors because the train companies are continually changing what they are doing. We all correct our errors when pointed out (I've had Seat 61 use some of my corrections on his website). Trenitalia often puts info in Italian only, not in English. Some discounts they only list in Italian, never on their English version. I'm sure that is true for the other countries too.
>>>Why isn't there a single source online to get all the info needed to buy European train tickets?<<<
That's like saying why doesn't Mexico, Canada and USA all have a single source for transport. Totally impractical when a dozen different countries are involved with government operated train lines and privately operated train lines.
>>> Why do I have to trailblaze? <<<
You are not a trailblazer. You are a novice not familiar with public transport and how it works.
Mar 26th, 2015, 05:12 AM
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kybourbon & bvlenci: They certainly can be constantly changing their procedures, I see that. I do suspect that seat61 has posted valid 2006 era advice and it gets petrified there. I believe that the discounting of child tickets for the super discounted fares may be new also.
Above all I need confirmation that all frecce trains are considered "National" for fare purposes, the only other choice is regional and that can't be correct for a frecce. I also need the "contact number" format or the shopping cart ticket request won't push through. How many numbers, and what is the separator (if any)?
Note: It appears that using the prefix 0001 plus the US phone number, no separators, works.
Someone has posted online turn by turn directions on how to take the RER train from CGD to Paris with photos of the signs, kiosks, train seats, prices, everything. I was looking for something like that for buying Italian train tickets, especially since I am just trying to buy the cheapest Italian train fares on the most popular routes which hardly is a first time in human history occurance. I am not looking for a cooking class for halibut in Pisa the third week of July. And we might as well lock in a train since we have to be out of the Rome apartment by 10:00 and can't get into the Florence apartment till 2:00, why not reserve the train that nicely fits in that 4 hour slot?
The trenitalia bimbi ticket seems to be valid only with full priced tickets so not helpful for my scenario.
Trenitalia is not always posting the same information on the Italian language and English language webpages. In trying to register this comes up on the English page: To join the "CartaFRECCIA" program you must be an adult and have and have residence in Italy. On the Italian webpage: Per aderire a "CartaFRECCIA" occorre essere maggiorenni ed avere domicilio in Italia presso il quale ricevere la corrispondenza.
And on to the child fare controversy:
Italian web page:
TRENI NAZIONALI
0-4 anni (non compiuti)
4-14 anni
English web page:
National trains 4-14 years old
I am glad I do not have to parse the fare for a 4 year old, free or half price? Not clear.
I have tried multiple dates and in every case, even on supereconomy, the child price is coming up half off so this must be policy. But there is no check of the birth date when buying the ticket so I really need to have the policy down.
Above all I need confirmation that all frecce trains are considered "National" for fare purposes, the only other choice is regional and that can't be correct for a frecce. I also need the "contact number" format or the shopping cart ticket request won't push through. How many numbers, and what is the separator (if any)?
Note: It appears that using the prefix 0001 plus the US phone number, no separators, works.
Someone has posted online turn by turn directions on how to take the RER train from CGD to Paris with photos of the signs, kiosks, train seats, prices, everything. I was looking for something like that for buying Italian train tickets, especially since I am just trying to buy the cheapest Italian train fares on the most popular routes which hardly is a first time in human history occurance. I am not looking for a cooking class for halibut in Pisa the third week of July. And we might as well lock in a train since we have to be out of the Rome apartment by 10:00 and can't get into the Florence apartment till 2:00, why not reserve the train that nicely fits in that 4 hour slot?
The trenitalia bimbi ticket seems to be valid only with full priced tickets so not helpful for my scenario.
Trenitalia is not always posting the same information on the Italian language and English language webpages. In trying to register this comes up on the English page: To join the "CartaFRECCIA" program you must be an adult and have and have residence in Italy. On the Italian webpage: Per aderire a "CartaFRECCIA" occorre essere maggiorenni ed avere domicilio in Italia presso il quale ricevere la corrispondenza.
And on to the child fare controversy:
Italian web page:
TRENI NAZIONALI
0-4 anni (non compiuti)
4-14 anni
English web page:
National trains 4-14 years old
I am glad I do not have to parse the fare for a 4 year old, free or half price? Not clear.
I have tried multiple dates and in every case, even on supereconomy, the child price is coming up half off so this must be policy. But there is no check of the birth date when buying the ticket so I really need to have the policy down.
Mar 26th, 2015, 09:00 AM
#17
>>>I still haven't heard an apology or a thanks, have you KYBourbon?<<<
No and didn't on the other thread (only criticism aimed at the wrong people). While I could address most of the OP's last post (including exactly how to do #1 and a link for step-by-step instructions with pics, etc.), I don't see the point of spending my time trying to help someone that refuses to help themselves. Most posters have the courtesy of posting their exact specifics when they need help, but the OP refuses to do so (asked on the other thread and never would).
No and didn't on the other thread (only criticism aimed at the wrong people). While I could address most of the OP's last post (including exactly how to do #1 and a link for step-by-step instructions with pics, etc.), I don't see the point of spending my time trying to help someone that refuses to help themselves. Most posters have the courtesy of posting their exact specifics when they need help, but the OP refuses to do so (asked on the other thread and never would).
Mar 26th, 2015, 12:31 PM
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I appreciate that I have got useful information from both of you. I see just now that trenitalia has posted tickets for the date I need (they were not there 8 hours ago) so I will go ahead and buy 4 adults and 1 child for a 13 year old. Italo has removed most of the fares for the first half of July and they were there this morning, so I don't know what is going on there. Maybe they are removing their 20% off sale fares, that sale ended yesterday.
I expected that I would either print out tickets at home or at a kiosk at the station but it is nice to know that this is not the case for Italian national trains.
I expected that I would either print out tickets at home or at a kiosk at the station but it is nice to know that this is not the case for Italian national trains.
Mar 26th, 2015, 02:36 PM
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It's done, and purchase was very easy and quick. Once I knew the correct telephone prefix for me is 0001 the trenitalia.com website was a breeze to buy from.
Excellent receipt also, nice layout, easy to read and in English no less.
I don't know what I was worried about. Wonderful experience.
Excellent receipt also, nice layout, easy to read and in English no less.
I don't know what I was worried about. Wonderful experience.
