First time using FIP travel

[Wilts Wanderer]

Hello

Having been entitled to FIP travel for about 12 years, my wife and I have decided to finally use it! My FIP application form is currently with RDG so hopefully we’ll get the cards in a couple of weeks.

Looking at the ManinSeat61 for itinerary ideas, the London-Vienna Option 5 (scenic route!) looks very attractive, combining a London-Paris-Zurich day one, with overnight hotel and direct Zurich-Vienna day two by Railjet. With 2-3 nights in Vienna, or possibly one of them in Salzburg, then a return journey via Brussels with a night stopover in a German city.

Im aware of the FIP coupons for free travel (subject to each country’s restrictions) and the more general FIP discount using the card.

Would anyone be willing to give me some pointers / advice about the best way to go about planning this please? I‘m keen to get good value for money but ideally want to use direct trains where possible. I think the Railjet journey through Tyrol etc will be a highlight so keen to incorporate this part, although I notice the section from Innsbruck to Salzburg takes a detour via southern Germany - does this complicate the FIP arrangements?

 

[the sniper]

The cheapest way on Coupons is probably via Brussels and Germany/DB, reservations on DB ICEs aren't compulsory, though may be advisable if you don't mind getting them and want a bit of certainty with seats.

The Deutsche Bahn planner is probably the best thing to play around with for potential routes for the entire trip, not just German segments: https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

The basic principal is that you have to have a Coupon box dated for who's infrastructure you're on rather than the operator of the service, so if for example you're going to Brussels from Basel Bad (in Switzerland, but DB infrastructure) on the direct DB ICE, you'd need to date a DB and SNCB Coupon box.

IIRC, a lot of the cross border France - Switzerland TGVs are 'global priced', so you'd need an FIP discounted 'globally priced' ticket to take a direct service, an SNCF/SBB Coupon combo won't be valid alone (FYI domestic TGVs in general require a (usually very cheap) seat reservation in addition to your free coupon anyway). TGV Lyria services are 'globally priced', at least. These are detailed in the RDG guide though. There are options to cross the border on regional services on SNCF/SBB Coupons, but might not suit your criteria.

There's a one off 48 hour surcharge to use IC, ICE, EC or Railjets on OBB. You can avoid that though by using non-IC/ ICE/EC/Railjet services on the same corridors. It's only 10 Euros though, but the details will be in the RDG guidance document. For Zurich - Vienna you'd date a box for SBB and OBB. For the journey via Germany, there's a dispensation mentioned in the RDG guide which indicates you'd just need to date an OBB box:

For traffic going from one part of Austria to another and crossing through Germany (Salzburg Hbf - Kufstein via Rosenheim) ÖBB coupons are valid as long as ÖBB corridor trains or corridor coaches are used.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

The cheapest way on Coupons is probably via Brussels and Germany/DB, reservations on DB ICEs aren't compulsory, though may be advisable if you don't mind getting them and want a bit of certainty with seats.

The Deutsche Bahn planner is probably the best thing to play around with for potential routes for the entire trip, not just German segments: https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

The basic principal is that you have to have a Coupon box dated for who's infrastructure you're on rather than the operator of the service, so if for example you're going to Brussels from Basel Bad (in Switzerland, but DB infrastructure) on the direct DB ICE, you'd need to date a DB and SNCB Coupon box.

IIRC, a lot of the cross border France - Switzerland TGVs are 'global priced', so you'd need an FIP discounted 'globally priced' ticket to take a direct service, an SNCF/SBB Coupon combo won't be valid alone (FYI domestic TGVs in general require a (usually very cheap) seat reservation in addition to your free coupon anyway). TGV Lyria services are 'globally priced', at least. These are detailed in the RDG guide though. There are options to cross the border on regional services on SNCF/SBB Coupons, but might not suit your criteria.

There's a one off 48 hour surcharge to use IC, ICE, EC or Railjets on OBB. You can avoid that though by using non-IC/ ICE/EC/Railjet services on the same corridors. It's only 10 Euros though, but the details will be in the RDG guidance document. For Zurich - Vienna you'd date a box for SBB and OBB. For the journey via Germany, there's a dispensation mentioned in the RDG guide which indicates you'd just need to date an OBB box:

Thank you for the helpful advice. Ive just been reading through the 166-page guide on the RDG website which has also made things a little clearer. I must admit the Global Pricing thing is a bit confusing but my understanding is that it effectively incorporates all the mandatory ‘add ons’ that you’d end up paying separately if you were making the same journey on coupons?

Must admit looking at the Zurich-Vienna fare - currently €40 each - with a €20 upgrade to first class, it might be worth booking that section of the journey as ’normal passengers’ if the FIP equivalent isn’t a massive reduction for second class only, given the €10 surcharge (or would that get levied above the advertised fare?)

One other question - I note in some countries the requirement to endorse your ticket using platform machines before travelling. I haven’t seen this before (I travelled in Europe with my family about 20 years ago), is this something recently introduced / for what purpose?

 

[D6130]

One other question - I note in some countries the requirement to endorse your ticket using platform machines before travelling. I haven’t seen this before (I travelled in Europe with my family about 20 years ago), is this something recently introduced / for what purpose?

In my experience, this only happens in France and Italy - and in the case of Italy, only for regional tickets. It's to validate the ticket with details of the date, time and station of origin to prevent it from being used more than once and to indicate to on-train staff that it's still valid. Regional tickets in Italy are only valid for four hours from the time of stamping.

 

[30907]

Just to say "ÖBB corridor trains or corridor coaches" refers to them (historically) travelling through Germany "in bond" as it were with no passport/customs control. The German Korridor does not refer to the vehicles used

Back to the topic: you will find it tedious to do Zurich-Vienna without using a RJ - in fact there's only one IC daily over the Arlberg and no regional trains at all ....

If you are paying for First Class then consider using the daily EC Transalpin with its Panorama car part way. That said, I did the trip earlier this week (in bits) and a window seat in the RJ was perfectly good for the view.
It's worth avoiding the corridor through Bavaria if you can, and taking the historic all-Austrian route via Kitzbühel.

 

[the sniper]

Thank you for the helpful advice. Ive just been reading through the 166-page guide on the RDG website which has also made things a little clearer. I must admit the Global Pricing thing is a bit confusing but my understanding is that it effectively incorporates all the mandatory ‘add ons’ that you’d end up paying separately if you were making the same journey on coupons?

Personally I've never brought a Globally Priced ticket myself, always tried to stick to the free/cheapest ways, as much for the novelty as anything, but I would imagine it includes your seat reservation.

Unfortunately studying the document is a bit unavoidable for more adventurous trips! If you're on Facebook another big help is asking questions on the European Rail Staff Travel page, there's a lot of very well travelled staff on there: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1894209487277308/

Must admit looking at the Zurich-Vienna fare - currently €40 each - with a €20 upgrade to first class, it might be worth booking that section of the journey as ’normal passengers’ if the FIP equivalent isn’t a massive reduction for second class only, given the €10 surcharge (or would that get levied above the advertised fare?)

Unless I've missed something it'd be cheaper to use an SBB and OBB coupon, so free plus the €10 covering 48hrs on Railjets and whatever they charge for Railjet reservations, which looking at the document are obligatory, but I think may only be €3.50, looking at the public OBB site. Cross border Railjets don't seem to be on the list of Globally Priced services, which is on the document. That's is unless you're particularly keen on first class instead.

I think the €10 surcharge is just an FIP (and maybe Interrail) thing? Any experts out there there feel free to correct me on anything!

One other question - I note in some countries the requirement to endorse your ticket using platform machines before travelling. I haven’t seen this before (I travelled in Europe with my family about 20 years ago), is this something recently introduced / for what purpose?

I've asked about this before myself in the past and travelled still not really knowing if I was doing the right thing! If travelling in France on SNCF Coupons, I don't think you need to have anything to do with them, though I did stick my TGV seat reservation in the validator just in case and to see what they printed... If you've brought an FIP discounted ticket though I imagine you would have to validate it. The validators are usually pretty obvious on the platforms.

 

[FatContr0ller]

Hello

Having been entitled to FIP travel for about 12 years, my wife and I have decided to finally use it! My FIP application form is currently with RDG so hopefully we’ll get the cards in a couple of weeks.

Looking at the ManinSeat61 for itinerary ideas, the London-Vienna Option 5 (scenic route!) looks very attractive, combining a London-Paris-Zurich day one, with overnight hotel and direct Zurich-Vienna day two by Railjet. With 2-3 nights in Vienna, or possibly one of them in Salzburg, then a return journey via Brussels with a night stopover in a German city.

Im aware of the FIP coupons for free travel (subject to each country’s restrictions) and the more general FIP discount using the card.

Would anyone be willing to give me some pointers / advice about the best way to go about planning this please? I‘m keen to get good value for money but ideally want to use direct trains where possible. I think the Railjet journey through Tyrol etc will be a highlight so keen to incorporate this part, although I notice the section from Innsbruck to Salzburg takes a detour via southern Germany - does this complicate the FIP arrangements?

Tomorrow Im actually doing London - Vienna via Brussels, with a change at Frankfurt Airport using FIP for my other half and daughter, and vouchers for myself.
After a overnight layover in Vienna we are carrying on to the Lake Balaton resort of Siófok in Hungary.

Just before covid struck I used vouchers to get myself to Krakow in Poland and back for a mates wedding.

Its simpler and easier than you realise, any rail staff who haven't used their FIP is seriously missing out on one of the best benefits we have.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Tomorrow Im actually doing London - Vienna via Brussels, with a change at Frankfurt Airport using FIP for my other half and daughter, and vouchers for myself.
After a overnight layover in Vienna we are carrying on to the Lake Balaton resort of Siófok in Hungary.

Just before covid struck I used vouchers to get myself to Krakow in Poland and back for a mates wedding.

Its simpler and easier than you realise, any rail staff who haven't used their FIP is seriously missing out on one of the best benefits we have.

I hope you have a great trip! Yes it’s pretty bad we’ve never used it until now. I’m a bad flier as well, so no excuse really

 

[FatContr0ller]

I hope you have a great trip! Yes it’s pretty bad we’ve never used it until now. I’m a bad flier as well, so no excuse really

Cheers!
Halfway through Germany now, had a 2 hour unintended stoppage due to a medical emergency, but we on the way now!

 

[CC 72100]

The only thing to watch out for is more ticket barriers are popping up in France.

At Marseille St Charles back last year I had to be let through after eventually flagging down the Guard on the train I was aiming to catch, as they require either a (normal French) paper ticket or a QR code - neither of which a FIP coupon has.

Annoyingly France don't staff their gatelines in the same way we do in the UK either.