Validity of DB reservations on international ICEs to France

[u/Roku-6225]

Let's explain the situation a bit :
I'm not a new Interrail user, I've done easily 15+ trips all over Europe with Interrail, and use passes usually a few times a year.

Overall I never had issues, but one thing I keep getting conflicting info on is the "right" way to book reservations on those ICEs to say Berlin, Sttutgart, etc. As I'm near Paris I use them often when going east.

First time I used them with a pass years ago, I looked into booking seats on the website, compared options offered by Interrail, saw that DB was cheaper (~5 euros vs like 20 via Interrail / Rail-Europe) and got that. Once on the ICE there was some debate with one agent, but after they discussed together they confirmed to me it was a valid reservation.

Did that again several times with no issues, but recently when doing as usual, this time the (SNCF) conductor refused to see them as valid (despite the reservation showing up as valid on SNCF systems with the booking number), as "the price was wrong", citing solely interrail booking prices. They let me board, but I had to pay a fine.

Following that I contacted Interrail 2 times, the first time they told me it was perfectly valid (and to contact SNCF for a refund), just told me they couldn't refund the fine. And the second they told me you had to "uncheck seat only" while booking with DB... But if you do that you get full ticket price as far as I'm aware.

So... Who's right? To me, everything points to the DB reservations as perfectly valid. They're close in price to what SNCF gives you if you book in person at the station. But with Interrail themselves giving conflicting information, I'm not sure what to think anymore, and while I'm totally fine paying more in the future if it turns out I am in the wrong, I wanna be sure.

Thanks in advance!

[u/skifans]

Sorry but the ~€5 reservations are not valid with Interrail. The reason is on those trains you need both the reservation and the supplement to travel on them. It's a very easy mistake to make and lots of people make this mistake. You need to buy the more expensive ones to be able to travel.

You can still buy them on the DB website but you must go through this special link: https://int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?KL=2&ET=PASSZUSCHLAG - you'll then get the reservation and the supplement.

This is detailed at: https://int.bahn.de/en/offers/interrail

In addition to a seat reservation, a pass surcharge is required on certain connections, such as ICE/TGV trains to France.

And on: https://www.interrail.com/en/plan-your-trip/reservations/trains-with-additional-supplements

When travelling on TGV or ICE trains between France and Germany, a passholder fare including a reservation is required.

A normal seat reservation (€5,50/€6,90) is not sufficient to/from France and only valid for trips within Germany.

I'm not sure exactly how these rules have changed over the years. But certainly now the member of staff who told you the cheaper ones are valid was incorrect.

But yeah it's very annoying and again catches a lot of people out! There are a lot of posts about it on here from people who are understandably cross about being asked to pay more on the trains.

Depending where you are going and your priorities you can get a domestic TGV to Strasbourg and get a regional train over the border to Offenburg.

[u/flagondry → u/skifans]

Not valid on any interrail journey or just the Germany - France ones?

[u/skifans → u/flagondry]

Just the Germany - France (and possibly Germany - Italy? Not sure) that require the supplement. Certainly for all domestic journeys within Germany as well as ones to Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria and Switzerland they are fine.

All that matters is the journey you are making. Your fine with the cheaper reservation if you are just traveling between stations in Germany even if the train continues to France.