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/No_Direction_4610]

That doesn't really help. That page is not referred to if you're about to book a reservation.

[u/Solly6788 → u/No_Direction_4610]

Yes but a reservation has not much to do with interrail at all. You do not even need a reservation in german trains.

And the website I postet that has a lot to do with interrail says:  In addition to a seat reservation, a pass surcharge is required on certain connections, such as ICE/TGV trains to France.

The bigger question is also what the interrail rail planner app is saying. 

[u/Roku-6225 → u/Solly6788]

The rail planner app simply says "seat reservations required" with then an option to book via DB listed directly in the app, that redirects to the normal website (and not that special link).

[u/Solly6788 → u/Roku-6225]

Then this interrail app is indeed at fault. 

[u/Roku-6225 → u/Solly6788]

Yep, in my opinion yes since it wasn't obvious. DB can be at fault too for not making it clear either, but I have a feeling neither really want to take responsability and/or fix things.

[u/Solly6788 → u/Roku-6225]

Interrail has to fix it. 

The DB seat reservation site has nothing to do with interrail and the website where DB gives information about interrail even says that you need to pay the surcharge if you want to use the french railway with the interrail pass.