Berlin Krakow Booking

[wellhouse]

I've successfully booked Interrail reservations for 9th December, but I'm struggling to get First Class tickets for some friends. Both DB and PKP fail when I get to the payment stage.

Any workrounds appreciated.

 

[rvdborgt]

There's currently an issue with booking online tickets from Germany to Poland, in any case via DB. Maybe also via PKP, this is the first time I see a report about booking via them.
What currently works is booking a paper ticket via DB, via ticket machine, ticket office or by phone (English line: +49 30 311 682904). In the latter case, you can collect it from a DB ticket machine.

 

[wellhouse]

Thanks. I've also had the same problem when trying with OBB and Rail Europe.

I'll try the phone when I get home.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Nov 2024 ==

So I got through by phone to a very helpful chap at DB, who having given me all the fare options, was also unable to book tickets. He says it makes no sense for the train to be fully booked (and I have already tried other trains, in both 1st and 2nd class) and his best advice is to keep on trying.

All the sites offer all the Sparpreis Fares in both Classes, but it's at the payment stage that the Gremlin kicks in. I'll keep on trying.

 

[rvdborgt]

So I got through by phone to a very helpful chap at DB, who having given me all the fare options, was also unable to book tickets. He says it makes no sense for the train to be fully booked (and I have already tried other trains, in both 1st and 2nd class) and his best advice is to keep on trying.

Did he try to issue a paper ticket (to be collected at the ticket machine, "Bahn-Tix")? They can choose between PDF/electronic (which is the default now) and a classic paper ticket. The former one currently doesn't work from/to Poland but the latter one does work at the DB ticket office and they should be able to do the same when you call DB. So yes, keep trying, both online and via phone, and ask specifically for a paper ticket via Bahn-Tix.

 

[wellhouse]

Thanks for the tip. I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Robski]

Which version of the PKP Intercity booking site did you use? There are two (technically three) versions currently in use - e-IC (old, URL starts with bilet.intercity.pl when you are on the train selection page), and e-IC2 (new, URL starts with ebilet.intercity.pl). The third one is the PKP Intercity app, which is powered by e-IC2 with some differences.

 

[wellhouse]

Paper ticket seems to have cracked it; I'm just waiting for the confirmation email, but was able to get only second class tickets.

Still a problem with First Class, as it was showing full. 2 of us are on Interrail Passes, but I had already booked 4 seat reservations so we can sit together. Will the other 2 be able to upgrade on the train, since we have seats for them?

 

[Robski]

Paper ticket seems to have cracked it; I'm just waiting for the confirmation email, but was able to get only second class tickets.

Still a problem with First Class, as it was showing full. 2 of us are on Interrail Passes, but I had already booked 4 seat reservations so we can sit together. Will the other 2 be able to upgrade on the train, since we have seats for them?

Assuming that you are taking EC 57 Wawel, 1st class on that specific train is now fully sold out (only one compartment-type carriage).

Regarding upgrades, it might be a bit messy. DB operate the train west of the border, PKP Intercity crews take over at Rzepin - I don't know if the DB crew will be able to issue an upgrade beyond the border or at all. PKPIC crews can only issue upgrades on domestic sections. All of this is possibly irrelevant as this train has mandatory reservations and a reservation will need to be issued for the upgrade, which may be an issue because there are no unreserved seats left.

Regardless, I suggest speaking to the train manager before the train leaves - upgrades cannot be issued from a station the train has already departed, and the TM may be lenient with the reservation part if you already have one and it won't be used. You can also try asking someone at the ticket office to see if they can help.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I don't know if the DB crew will be able to issue an upgrade beyond the border or at all.

So, what I understand, you can buy a Berlin-Frankfurt (Oder) upgrade to 1st class now: https://www.bahn.de/angebot/zusatzticket/erste-klasse-upgrade - without a seat reservation.

Frankfurt (Oder) to Rzepin is tricky, but I suspect that the DB staff will simply tell you to sort it out with PKP Intercity on this short hop. At least in my experience, if there's anything out of the norm on cross-border journeys, they just let it go rather than bothering to find a solution.

Rzepin-Kraków won't be a problem, you can upgrade tickets on the train. PKP Intercity will also sell you a ticket now "without a guarantee of a place" - so you can just buy a 1st class ticket online now if you prefer. As you've already got the seat reservation, it's not a problem to combine the reservation and a newly bought ticket.

While the train might be reservation-compulsory for the Frankfurt-Rzepin section, I really cannot imagine the DB crew having problems if there's simply no way to buy a ticket for that section.