Seat assignment on ItaliaRail.com
 

I'm trying to buy one seat from Florence to Rome, and I'm being assigned a seat in a group of facing seats with a table between. I don't see any way to change this, although it's showing me a map much like airline seat maps. Am I missing something?

Different carriages are configured differently.

Can you be more specific - train number, departure time, departure station?

Train # 9157 from Florence at 11:08.

It's the FrecciaRossa from Firenze S.M.Novella to Roma Termini.

On what date, and which ticket class are you looking to get? Standard Base, Standard Economy, Premium Base, Premium Economy? Or one of the business classes, incl. the silent carriage?

Standard on March 28.

I was told seating can only be changed in perso at the departure station.

I have used Italiarail NUMEROUS times for tickets and yes it does simply assign you a seat. I assume this type of seat, as opposed to an "executive" for example, was the cheapest option or perhaps the ONLY option, is that correct?

I have never felt the need to change any of the seats which I have been assigned to but that's me.

Therefore I cannot verify the "can only be changed in person" issue.

Not to make this ANY more stressful than it might already be but allow me to share some other "information" with you: whatever seat you finally get make sure you know (by heart if necessary) the number. I have been practically assaulted by several passengers, and whether anybody likes it or not, most of them have been women who were in MY seat. I've had two who refused to move and ignored me until the "conductor" appeared and basically threw them out.

It made those trips lots of fun, for sure.

Fortunately, that trip is fairly short and who knows? That person smiling at you across the table could be rich, famous, horny, single, etc....endless possibilities. Enjoy the ride.

elberko , it is correct that the conductor can change your seat but that you cannot do it ahead.

Thanks, Jubi. While I was dithering, a chat box opened on the ItaliaRail site and they also told me that.

I didn't really want to wait, and figured it might not be possible if the train ended up full.

Anyway, after trying different times, I tried upping the category on the train I preferred and got an acceptible seat foe a few euro more.