London-Spezial DB problem

[AnkleBoots]

Am trying to book the London Spezial for this weekend as some good fares still appear, but I am faced with "Für den reservierungspflichtigen Zug ist leider kein Platz mehr erhältlich." for any train that I pick.

I've had this problem before, any thoughts on the reason and the solution?

 

[AlexNL]

The error message states that reservations are required for the train, and that no more seats are available. According to this message on DB's forums, the "are there any seats left?" check only takes place during the booking process (after you've indicated a seating preference).

For each price tier, Eurostar make a selection of seats available to their retailers (DB being one of them). It's most likely that the seats are gone, but that the available quota in DB's systems hasn't been updated yet.

 

[AnkleBoots]

Thanks. I have the same problem with any train that I try.

 

[Merseysider]

Try contacting Eurostar to see if they can identify any services with free seats. They respond fairly quickly on Twitter ime.

 

[JonathanP]

It's pretty common to get this message even when booking weeks in advance. I'm not at all surprised that trying to book just hours before the train leaves you would get this result for all 6 or so trains in a given weekend where the London Spezial is possible.

The only advice I can give is to try booking in First Class instead, that is sometimes sold out too but usually not. Often it's only €20 more, which considering you get a meal on Eurostar, access to lounges in Brussels and Cologne and free seat reservation on the German portion of the trip(€4,50) I think is a pretty good deal.

 

[317666]

I booked a first class London-Spezial ticket to Cologne which I used the other week, and it put me in Business Premier on Eurostar! It had managed to double book my seat with somebody else's, which prompted the train manager to investigate and tell me somewhat rudely that I had paid nowhere near enough to be sat there and was very lucky to be in there. She was courteous enough to let me stay in Business Premier though - after moving to one of the many empty seats!

 

[k-c-p]

The only advice I can give is to try booking in First Class instead, that is sometimes sold out too but usually not. Often it's only €20 more, which considering you get a meal on Eurostar, access to lounges in Brussels and Cologne and free seat reservation on the German portion of the trip(€4,50) I think is a pretty good deal.

On the 20€ more for first class: This is true, if you book on short notice. The starting prices differ a lot. Second class fares start at 59€ ( I never managed to get that price, but I got 69€ pretty often), whereas first class start at 109€.

On lounge access: first class DB ticket corresponds to Eurostars "Standard Premier" fare which does not include lounge access. A few weeks ago, I witnessed that passengers with such tickets were not allowed into the Eurostar lounge in Brussels.
To get into the Eurostar lounge with a DB ticket you need DBs frequent traveler status (aka "Bahn Comfort"). If you have this status, you get in no matter what ticket you have - I use my "Bahn Comfort" status in conjunction with a second class DB ticket quote often in the London and Brussels from time to time.

Cheers
Charly

 

[AnkleBoots]

Try contacting Eurostar to see if they can identify any services with free seats. They respond fairly quickly on Twitter ime.

Thank you - but these would be free seats at Eurostar prices, no? I wanted DB prices..

 

[AnkleBoots]

It's pretty common to get this message even when booking weeks in advance. I'm not at all surprised that trying to book just hours before the train leaves you would get this result for all 6 or so trains in a given weekend where the London Spezial is possible.

Thank you, but why do they then show them as available? I understand that there are different tiers, and tiers sell out, but why is DB so behind with their data? I thought it was the best train-booking website in Europe.

 

[JonathanP]

If I ever meet one of the programmers who was responsible for the Eurostar <-> DB booking engine integration then I'll ask them, apart from that the only answer you're ever likely to get is "technical reasons".

The DB journey planner is praised for it's europe wide timetable data coverage and the flexibility of it's routing engine, not especially for it's ability to sell tickets. There are even domestic services in Germany, operated by Deutsche Bahn, that it will not sell tickets for.

@k-c-p Yes, you're absolutely right. I remember using the lounge at Brussels once, but I must have used my silver bahncard to get in and not the ticket.