Deutsche Bahn Bumps Up Seat Reservation Prices: Families Feeling the Brunt
German Railway, Deutsche Bahn, boosts seat reservation fees
Get ready for a little more coin when you reserve your seat on a Deutsche Bahn long-distance train! Starting June 15, a second-class fixed seat will set you back 5.50 euros, up from the previous 5.20 euros, as per their recent announcement. The family reservation, which allowed booking seats for the whole fam at a flat rate of 10.40 euros, is a thing of the past.
Good news for adults traveling with kiddos under 15, though. They'll still ride free in the DB long-distance network when wrapped around an adult's finger. But beware – this free ride doesn't come without a cost. Now, each little tyke needs their own seat reservation ticket, no exceptions. The Bahn assures that this change doesn’t translate to a price hike for solo travelers with offspring; it’s just two separate seat reservations instead of one lavish family reservation.
Green politician, Matthias Gastel, is none too pleased about these changes, calling them a “massive increase in hidden costs.” Considering DB long-distance's illustrious performance – spanning time-warping delays, escalating prices, and deteriorating offers – Gastel has every right to feel aggrieved. He didn't mince words when he addressed the Düsseldorf Rheinische Post, "[The Bahn] delivers poor punctuality, raises ticket prices, and slashes offers. That's too much at once."
Environmental groups, like the ecological transport club VCD, aren't happy about the changes either. VCD chairwoman, Kerstin Haarmann, noted that "families with children rely on reserved seats." This price hike essentially amounts to another whack to their wallets. The VCD insist the Bahn should abandon the discount gimmicks and invest in keeping the general offer reasonably affordable.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
A footnote: The price hike isn’t all-encompassing – first-class travelers need to shell out 6.90 euros for their seat reservations, up from the former 6.20 euros. And keep in mind that the beloved family reservation, while eliminated, corresponds approximately to the combined cost of two seat reservations. So, if you're on the fence about snagging a family reservation or paying for separate tickets, the math works out the same. But remember: every extra ticket represents an additional cost that could sting... especially for families!
[1] Source: Deutsche Bahn Seat Reservation Price Hike[2] Source: Environmental Groups React to Deutsche Bahn's Price Changes
- [Community policy] intervening in this matter could help alleviate the impact of Deutsche Bahn's seat reservation price hike on families, as it might prompt DB to consider more family-friendly policies in its [employment policy].
- The automotive industry could [business] benefits greatly if families, feeling the brunt of the Deutsche Bahn price increases, switch from train travel to car trips, leading to an overall increase in car usage.
- [Finance] analysts may [industry] predictions of a potential dip in rail-related revenues due to the Deutsche Bahn seat reservation price hike. This could affect the economy, especially if it leads to a surge in car sales or increased transportation spending.
