eastave

I would like to contact DB Bahn about a ticket I bought online. I was unable to make a reservation then, and I can't seem to do it now that I have the ticket.

I tried calling a UK number, but couldn't make a connection. I am not sure if that was a problem on my end or theirs. I called the 49 1805 - 996633 number on their website, but I get a series of menus in German and I can't understand what the options are.

Anyone have a number that might work for me? Thanks!

Cowboy1968

Weird that they don't have an English version.

If you want to check if the operators understand English, call the number you have.

When the synthetic lady starts to talk: Press "1" any time.
After a signal tone, the lady starts to talk again. Press "2" any time.
That will connect you with the customer service desk for questions relating to ticket purchases via bahn.de website.
Good luck.

eastave

Thanks! I did what you said and got someone who understood I needed an English speaker. I got transferred. But then the recording said, "unfortunately all lines are busy at present, please call back later," and they hung up on me. Guess I will have to try again!

Cowboy1968

LOL.. welcome to the wonderful world of customer service of Deutsche Bahn!

You sure you can't solve the problem without a personal phone call?
Some trains have no seat reservations at all (regional express, and others), and others might simply be booked already.
If you want, you can post the respective train connections (date/hour) and we'll see if the website gives an indication why you can't reserve seats.

eastave

Cowboy,

Thanks. I posted about this a few weeks back. It was weird. The point at which the website wouldn't let me make the reservation was when I would hit the button to buy the ticket. Up until that point, it let me check the box for a reservation and even choose what sort of seat we prefer.

We may not need a reservation. It is an EC train from Munich to Bologna on Sunday, Sep 4. We leave around 9 am. (don't have the ticket in front of me at the moment.) I bought a first class ticket for two adults and one child.

We will be in Munich from the Thursday before, so maybe I can just do it then. But, I always feel better about having everything set before hand.

Betsy

p.s. the German speaking phone menus made me think of earlier this week when my bank (in Canada) passed me off to the French version of their PIN selection system. Luckily, my French is better than my German.

Cowboy1968

I see.. a bit weird indeed.
But, no worries. You don't need reservations.
I see that EC every other day on the platform next to the one I have to use.
And even now, in peak vacation time in Bavaria, that train is far from being full and only a handful of people wait on the platform. You wouldn't need reservations in 2nd class, even less in 1st.
If you wish to make reservations, you can do so at any DB vending machine - not only at the mainline stations, but also at any suburban train (S-Bahn) stop.

eastave

Thanks so much! I will just wait then.

PalenQ

You need a reservation or wish to have one - reservations are not required on that train are they? And if it starts in Munich you have first crack - in first class there would be lots of empty seats but in 2nd class I guess I would make a reservation as it could be full. Maybe they are mandatory - clear that up for me please - just curious. thanks

eastave

PalenQ - I do not know if they are mandatory. I am pretty sure I bought a ticket with no reservation, since it doesn't look like there is any seat info on the ticket. I tried to buy a reservation with the ticket, because for peace of mind, I wanted it.

shan921

I just read this thread with interest - I am trying to book an EC train from Verona to Munich and am unable to purchase on bahn.de with seat reservations (the extra 2,50 charge). My husband and I are traveling together and would like to sit together - the system tells me "Unfortunately, seats with your criteria (Any compartment, next to each other) are not available.
We can offer you seats with the following criteria:
Compartment type: any
Location of the seat: no information available"
Does that mean we are just out of luck? Or will it be simple to just get on without reservations and find seats together? Are reservations required? We are traveling 16 September so first Oktoberfest weekend . . a little afraid it will be packed! (We are traveling 2nd class)

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Cowboy1968

After some googling around, I found on a local "bulletin board" the same question.
Also the booking procedure to Italy allowed for reservations, but once that step was reached, it was not possible to make that reservation.

One reply on that board was that reservations for international trains can only be made by phone or in person at a station -- but NOT online, also not for online tickets. Even if the booking procedure asks at the beginning if you want to buy a ticket with or without reservations.

I cannot verify if that info is correct. But if you need reservations (esp. for that train to Munich during Oktoberfest) you should call one of DB's intl sales offices. The only in the UK should give the least trouble in communicating, I guess. There seems to be none in the US.

hadiwi56a

That's certainly not correct. I have booked successfully for several trips (the last one this month, for Munich to Venice), and reservations are definitely possible online. In fact, in my experience, compared with OEBB or SNCF, DBahn is definitely the most user friendly site. You could even book 'reservation only', for Eurail passholders, where the sector allows it (sometimes cross border sectors are not possible to be reserved).
However, in this case, (Verona to Munich), I have tried getting the reservation up to the payment stage, with no problems. If you select 'seats together' etc., and the system fails (not possible), the likely chance are the system cannot allocate the seats(I simulated a request for 'opposite each other', and it went through okay)
So, my advice is, try again with a different combination

Cowboy1968

I had also been surprised as I was able to book cross-border reservations without any problems, e.g. to Austria or France.
The common denominator of the problems OP, later poster, and those people on the other Q&A board was that all had to do with trains to/from Italy.
But as you/PP now say that it was no problem, I assume that there must be other reasons, e.g. that train is booked.

knwolf

+44 8718808033 This is the english speaking number I called from the US.

eastave

I finally got through on the German line. For some reason my phone company wouldn't connect to the UK number. The woman said first class was totally booked. It is very weird to me that they sell you a train specific ticket and there would be no place to sit. She told me that second class was open. So I took the 15 euro cancel hit and just rebooked in 2nd class. The reservation seems to have gone through.

I guess I figured since they were still selling discounted tickets in first class it couldn't be full. Oh well. She also told me that it was better to say my daughter was 6 than 5 (which she is) because then they get a seat.

Thanks everyone for all the help. I appreciate it.