Trouble with buying tickets for Renfe?
Aug 13th, 2008, 05:03 PM
#1
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Trouble with buying tickets for Renfe?
Is anyone else experiencing trouble when trying to purchase tickets on the Renfe website?
I've been trying unsucessfully to purchase an Estrella fare ticket from Zaragoza to Madrid since Sunday. Each time I go through the complete process to the point of entering all of my information and my credit card. Then I receive an error message: "Error in operation. The process cannot continue right now. We apologise for any inconvenience (G001)".
I've been trying unsucessfully to purchase an Estrella fare ticket from Zaragoza to Madrid since Sunday. Each time I go through the complete process to the point of entering all of my information and my credit card. Then I receive an error message: "Error in operation. The process cannot continue right now. We apologise for any inconvenience (G001)".
Aug 13th, 2008, 05:47 PM
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Hi CathyM,
I experienced that very same problem when purchasing tixs for friends in June. I just kept trying at all different hours of the day and finally the process went through. One must have the patience of Job when dealing with Renfe!
I experienced that very same problem when purchasing tixs for friends in June. I just kept trying at all different hours of the day and finally the process went through. One must have the patience of Job when dealing with Renfe!
Aug 13th, 2008, 06:40 PM
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Thanks, Maribel. I'm in good company if you experienced the same issue. At this rate I'll have my passport and credit card number memorized before too long!
I'm returning to the Basque Country and the Rioja in September. We have 5 nights in Logrono during San Mateo and are studying your guides this week trying to narrow down our daytrips. You make everything sound so enchanting we want to do it all!
I'm returning to the Basque Country and the Rioja in September. We have 5 nights in Logrono during San Mateo and are studying your guides this week trying to narrow down our daytrips. You make everything sound so enchanting we want to do it all!
Aug 13th, 2008, 07:50 PM
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Yay!!!
I was just going to ask you where you were heading this time! Wish we could join you in Logroño for San Mateo! We just came back so have to stay low for a while-at least until Nov. You'll have a great, great time. If you have any specific questions, you know where to find me.
Keep trying with Renfe and good luckĄ
I was just going to ask you where you were heading this time! Wish we could join you in Logroño for San Mateo! We just came back so have to stay low for a while-at least until Nov. You'll have a great, great time. If you have any specific questions, you know where to find me.
Keep trying with Renfe and good luckĄ
Aug 13th, 2008, 10:35 PM
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I had so many problems making my recent purchase I could hardly list them all in my recent post (search renfe tickets 5 - I think the last entry was at the end of July).
Although your error message seems different than the one I got, check two things:
Are you using Firefox? (Probably not, because that caused a total hangup for me, not an error message)
Also check to see if your CC is holding up the process. My AMEX wouldn't go through because they flagged it as an unusual purchase.
I can totally relate to having your CC and passport number memorized!!! I was doing my transaction at midnight and finally gave up at 2:30. I felt like I was in some sort of Kafka hell.
I hope you work out your ticket issue soon. Have a wonderful time in La Rioja and the north!!! (assuming you don't have to go by donkey!)
Although your error message seems different than the one I got, check two things:
Are you using Firefox? (Probably not, because that caused a total hangup for me, not an error message)
Also check to see if your CC is holding up the process. My AMEX wouldn't go through because they flagged it as an unusual purchase.
I can totally relate to having your CC and passport number memorized!!! I was doing my transaction at midnight and finally gave up at 2:30. I felt like I was in some sort of Kafka hell.
I hope you work out your ticket issue soon. Have a wonderful time in La Rioja and the north!!! (assuming you don't have to go by donkey!)
Aug 14th, 2008, 06:09 AM
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As far as buying RENFE tickets online, you can't beat Bennymalaga's step by step instructions on Trip Advisor.
Here is the link.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...ts.Online.html
Here is the link.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g1...ts.Online.html
Aug 15th, 2008, 08:27 PM
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Well, after almost a week of attempting to purchase my ticket and receiving the same error message it was just as Maribel said - finally tonight the transaction went through! I didn't change a thing in the way I entered my data but I guess it figured I'd paid my dues and let me purchase.
I've been through about 4 versions of purchasing tickets through Renfe online and this has to be the worst yet. Even the old one where you had to have a customer code and if you hadn't used your credit card with them you had to pick up the ticket at a Renfe window wasn't this user unfriendly.
Oh well. I've got my ticket and I'm leaving in less than a month.
Thanks for helping me hang in there and posting the link for others to reference how to purchase their tickets.
I've been through about 4 versions of purchasing tickets through Renfe online and this has to be the worst yet. Even the old one where you had to have a customer code and if you hadn't used your credit card with them you had to pick up the ticket at a Renfe window wasn't this user unfriendly.
Oh well. I've got my ticket and I'm leaving in less than a month.
Thanks for helping me hang in there and posting the link for others to reference how to purchase their tickets.
Aug 15th, 2008, 10:23 PM
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Hi CathyM,
A big congrats on your successful purchase, finally!!!
I agree, I wasn't nearly as frustrated with the old system as I am with the "new improved version".
Patience is indeed a virtue with Renfe.
A big congrats on your successful purchase, finally!!!
I agree, I wasn't nearly as frustrated with the old system as I am with the "new improved version".
Patience is indeed a virtue with Renfe.
Aug 16th, 2008, 07:27 PM
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www.rumbo.es is now also selling train tickets as well as plane tickets.
it might be worth a try if you are having problems.
it might be worth a try if you are having problems.
Oct 28th, 2008, 06:41 AM
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I am leaving tomorrow night - but still have not passed the "Renfe patience" test. No tickets to Segovia nor Toledo for next week as yet.
I didn't realise the Renfe website is making it so difficult to purchase tickets online...so I didn't try getting them until last night. No luck bypassing that G001 error msg.
Can anyone advise if there's a possibility I can continue to try when I get to Spain or can I get it from Barcelona first since I'm headed there first?
I read from Maribel's guide that when buying Renfe ticket to go Segovia from Madrid-Chamartin station, we should choose "Segovia-Guiomar". But I only see "Segovia AV" - is it the same? Can anyone enlighten me on this?
mann...I'm so screwed. ugh..
I didn't realise the Renfe website is making it so difficult to purchase tickets online...so I didn't try getting them until last night. No luck bypassing that G001 error msg.
Can anyone advise if there's a possibility I can continue to try when I get to Spain or can I get it from Barcelona first since I'm headed there first?
I read from Maribel's guide that when buying Renfe ticket to go Segovia from Madrid-Chamartin station, we should choose "Segovia-Guiomar". But I only see "Segovia AV" - is it the same? Can anyone enlighten me on this?
mann...I'm so screwed. ugh..
Oct 28th, 2008, 06:56 AM
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Hi cin_sg-
<i>Segovia-Guiomar". But I only see "Segovia AV" - is it the same? </i>
Yes, that's the same.
If you already have your dates set for day trips, it won't hurt to buy your tickets when you first arrive in Barcelona.
<i>Segovia-Guiomar". But I only see "Segovia AV" - is it the same? </i>
Yes, that's the same.
If you already have your dates set for day trips, it won't hurt to buy your tickets when you first arrive in Barcelona.
Feb 2nd, 2009, 11:42 AM
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I am trying to buy tickets on Renfe site and am having issues too...although I think they may be my lack of understanding than anything....not a problem with the site.
1) There is a great "estrella" rate for my one-way Sevilla to Madrid trip. 69E I think per person, Perferente Class. Problem is, when I put in quantity of two, it will not allow the Estrella fare; just defaults to the normal fare. If I back out and say its only one person, it lets me have it....any idea why that would be? I can book two single seats to get the good fare if I need to...but will I be seated next to my wife on the train? That is, are there assigned seats in Preferente?
2) So I looked at the English (language) site Eurorail, but they dont show any sale rates of course.
3) I called Renfe office. They were very helpful. However, they said that if I dont have a Spanish issued credit card (or an AMEX I think), I cannot buy either over the web or by phone...I just ahve to show up in Spain and go to a station and hope my train is not sold out.
Any ideas folks? For such an organized transit system, this seems a little odd (the credit card bit).
Cheers,
Brendan
Charlotte USA
1) There is a great "estrella" rate for my one-way Sevilla to Madrid trip. 69E I think per person, Perferente Class. Problem is, when I put in quantity of two, it will not allow the Estrella fare; just defaults to the normal fare. If I back out and say its only one person, it lets me have it....any idea why that would be? I can book two single seats to get the good fare if I need to...but will I be seated next to my wife on the train? That is, are there assigned seats in Preferente?
2) So I looked at the English (language) site Eurorail, but they dont show any sale rates of course.
3) I called Renfe office. They were very helpful. However, they said that if I dont have a Spanish issued credit card (or an AMEX I think), I cannot buy either over the web or by phone...I just ahve to show up in Spain and go to a station and hope my train is not sold out.
Any ideas folks? For such an organized transit system, this seems a little odd (the credit card bit).
Cheers,
Brendan
Charlotte USA
Feb 2nd, 2009, 12:37 PM
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It is neither here nor there and of no help to you at all Brendan, and I am sure that the system is organized now.....but your post made me remember standing in line in Barcelona for hours in 1973 (w/a younger version of current DH) only to eventually board the train to find that our numbered seats were already occupied by other people whose tickets were identically numbered. We sat on our suitcases at the end of the car for the 15 hour ride to Geneva.....
Feb 23rd, 2009, 07:42 PM
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What does Renfe have against Americans. I have tried 10 times to book tickets and no luck!!! I went to raileurope and the tickets are 100 Euros more expensive. Are there any travel agents that will book renfe tickets at a reasonable markup?
Feb 28th, 2009, 11:59 AM
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I got the same response as OP CathyM. "The process cannot continue right now" when I clicked on PURCHASE. I went on Raileurope 4 days ago and tickets were the same price as Renfe except for the $18 Shipping charge. So now I have my tickets.
May 18th, 2010, 03:14 PM
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Ok today is May 18, 2010. I was having the same problem and I even contacted renfe. They said I needed a "pin". So I used a visa debit card from wells fargo and it worked. It asked me for last 4 of my ss# and online account number password and it went Thru.
Just FYI. Wellsfargo debit card worked.
Just FYI. Wellsfargo debit card worked.
