FHurdle

Does anyone have enough experience with first class travel Venice to Munich to understand the seating plan. Coming from Munich we were in a compartment with four seats, which was very comfortable. But some of the first class compartments had six seats, which looked very uncomfortable. I have been unable to find a seating chart.

We are in Wagon or car 262., seats 45 and 46, both of which are listed as a window seat. Our seat numbers before were 35 and 36.

I know that we are going to have to live with whatever we get, but I sure dread the thought of spending seven hours in a tiny compartment stuffed with six seats. Are there seating charts online (seat61 doesn't have them)?

Man_in_seat_61

The Austrian compartment coaches have some 'business' 4-seat and some normal 6-seat compartments.

But you could get either a compartment or open-plan car on this route.

FHurdle

I think we are definitely in a compartment car. The car number is the same as what we had coming from Munich, and it was all compartments. And yes, the compartment we were in before was marked "business."

A six-person compartment just looks like it would be terribly uncomfortable. Open seating is much better. At least we have the window, either way.

adrienne

<< I know that we are going to have to live with whatever we get, but I sure dread the thought of spending seven hours in a tiny compartment stuffed with six seats. >>

Compartments are not always full and you can always get up and walk around. It's not like a bus where you need to stay seated.

FHurdle

Well, we were in a four-seat cabin, so all was well. I can't tell the difference between a first class and second class compartment, except that the first class has leather or naugahyde coverings and perhaps an inch or two more of legroom. All in all I hate train "compartments"

My neighbor in our compartment insisted on putting her suitcase on the little shelf between our seats, thus stealing all of the shared space. And she complained that she was "cold" and turned the thermostat up even though I was about to have a heat stroke. I can't stand heat.

kybourbon

>>>I can't tell the difference between a first class and second class compartment, except that the first class has leather or naugahyde coverings and perhaps an inch or two more of legroom<<<

The difference is the material on the seats, not room.

>>>All in all I hate train "compartments"<<<

I hate them too and try to avoid them.

>>>Compartments are not always full and you can always get up and walk around. It's not like a bus where you need to stay seated.<<<

You have assigned seats and I've encountered quite a few totally full. You might be able to move around if the train isn't full, but you might have to move again at the next stop if someone boards and wants their seat. It's also a hassle to get your luggage down from the overhead racks in compartments without stepping on someone.

adrienne

What does getting up and walking around have to do with changing seats?

FHurdle - it sounds like you had a miserable compartment mate. I would have glared and leaned on her suitcase or put a can of coke on top of it and hope it spilled! LOL

FHurdle

Adrienne, I just made the most of it. The suitcase wasn't that bad, but having the little shelf to sit things on would have been nice.

Let me add that we paid maybe 20 euros extra each way for first class. It was worth it just because second class was full of people with no seats. I had read on this board that the Munich-Venice trains are often full, and indeed they are.