111op

Hi, to save time, I want to buy my ticket ahead of time. I can do this by selecting a sepcific train (Karlsruhe-Frankfurt Hbf) and going through with the buy option (I haven't done so).

If the fare is fully flexible, can I take a different train without showing up at the ticket counters? I'm not planning to buy a seat reservation. For example, I buy a ticket for a 2 pm train, but if I'm done early, I want to take the 1 pm train. Can I do this without having the ticket corrected? I'd assume so, since if I buy an open ticket in Germany I can take any train.

Thanks!

quokka

Yes. The full fare is valid on any train of the category stated or a lower category during the period of validity (one-way Karlsruhe-Frankfurt: 2 days).

The category thing means: If you buy an ICE ticket, you may also use IC or regional trains. With an IC ticket, which is a bit cheaper, you cannot use ICEs.

111op

Thanks. By the way, do you know anything about the Fly & Rail option? I just topped another thread related to this topic. It looks like the ticket is 19 euros, but I'm not sure if I can buy this kind of ticket.

111op

Never mind: "For any additional information on Rail&Fly, please contact your airline or tour operator. Your Rail&Fly ticket has to be purchased with your airline ticket and is not available at the DB counter."

http://www.bahn.de/p/view/internatio...o_b_engl.shtml

bob_brown

If you buy a full flexibility ticket, i.e. you pay full price, there is no tie to a specific train.

The special priced tickets in the €29 and €39 categories do tie you to a specific date and departure time.

With a full flexibility ticket you do not even need to reach your final destination in one day. You can stopover at will during the validity period of the ticket which is several days.

If you buy a seat reservation and do not use it, you simply bought something that you did not use.

If you have your ticket in hand, all you do is go to the station and get on your train.

Two years ago, I bought in advance and DB sent me a pdf file which enabled me to print my own ticket.
After I arrived at the station, I went directly to the train and found my reserved seat.

bob_brown

If you buy a ticket for a cheaper train, and then get on a more expensive train, the conductor will collect the fare differnce from you.

We once rode from Vienna to Munich with a change in Salzburg. The ticket agent in Vienna did not sell us the correct ticket for the Salzburg - Munich section of the trip.

When the conductor checked our tickets, she told us that we owed €X to compensate for the fare difference.
Nothing to do but pay up.

wolfmisc

Its up to the airline you are coming in with.
Just check www.bahn.de and then Rail&Fly.

111op

Thanks. I'm going to buy my ticket now. Every minute is going to count on this trip (as usual).

Another topic: How do the Bahn 25 and 50 cards work? I'm just curious. Do you pay a fee yearly?