Advice on train to Paris

Hello all,

I have a fairly general question on using DB. In the past, I purchased a %26quot;saver%26quot; ticket on DB from Munich airport to Innsbruck. Our flight was severely delayed resulting in us missing the train we were booked on.

I figured since it was a %26quot;saver%26quot; special ticket for only the booked train, we had no options. Due to our lengthy and frustrating delay out of LHR, I decided to just take a cab to our end destination of Ischgl, some 350EUR later.

However, the cab driver told us that in the future, you may be able to talk to a DB agent and get on a comparable train later since the delay was not our fault and since it originated at an airport. However, I%26#39;m not sure there%26#39;s any truth to that.

So now, I%26#39;m booking a train ride from FRA airport to Paris-EST. Our flight lands at 11:10 and there is a great ICE saver fare to Paris-EST at 12:54. We carrying bags on and I%26#39;ve done customs in FRA in the past and it was really quick on this same flight. However, I%26#39;m concerned that a minimal delay will make us miss our train. There are several other ICE/TGV trains we can take at later times. Due to my prior experience, I%26#39;m considering getting a ticket at 15:00-16:00, but I%26#39;d hate for the plane to be on time and I must sit for 5+ hours.

All this said, if I do purchase the 12:54 %26quot;ideal%26quot; ticket and our plane comes in late and I miss it, do I have any ability to get on a later train without buying a ticket. If not, I%26#39;m compelled to consider buying the standard fare flexible ticket at double the price.

What is your advice?

Regards,

Brian

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Sorry, I forgot to apologize for not speaking much German, although I%26#39;m learning a little bit here and there. I greatly appreciate everyone%26#39;s expert help on this!

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Not aware of such plans. This would only be possible if the airlines would pay DB some kind of compensation.

There are new rules when and how much DB has to pay if their trains are delayed. But this does not cover delayed airplanes (or trams or buses or taxis or ...).

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Thanks, it makes sense, rules are rules. On that note, I%26#39;m a bit of a gambling man. Roughly speaking, how much of a fare-premium do I have to pay if I just buy a train ticket the day of travel at the airport. Is it just the standard fare in that case (the same fare as if I purchased the fully flexible ticket online)?

If that%26#39;s the case, I may risk it and in worst case, I just buy a new ticket, costing me ~215 EUR.

Thanks,

Brian

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%26gt; Is it just the standard fare in that case (the same fare as if I purchased the fully flexible ticket online)?

Yes, exactly.

Technically the trains to Paris require reservation and can sell out. Practically, the chance that the train is booked out is outside of major public holidays (long weekends such as Easter or Pentecost weekend) nearly zero.

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Since AA and DB have some relationship, if I buy directly from DB and miss it due to delays caused by AA, would I get any reprieve? Could I apply the original special fare credit towards the standard fare, or would my original ticket have $0 value in anyone%26#39;s eyes.

I read online today of the exact opposite situation where a delayed train caused a missed flight. In that case, DB paid for overnight lodging and the airline out of %26quot;professional courtesy%26quot; got them on the next day%26#39;s flight, standby of course.

I also read similarly where DB refunded a RyanAir customer who was forced to buy an entirely new ticket.

Does this same courtesy apply in reverse order? I think this is what my cab driver said in Munich, I believe he even used the exact words %26quot;professional courtesy between carriers.%26quot;

Thanks again for the help!