RailEurope chat recommends booking via call center

Short summary – read this first

User JRoger is trying to book train travel from Lugano to Venice on June 3 using the Swiss Travel Pass but is facing issues online. They want to confirm if RailEurope's advice about calling their center is accurate and are looking for easier booking options.

Key takeaways:
  • You can book a ticket online from Chiasso to Venice without issues, as your Swiss Travel Pass covers the Lugano to Chiasso trip.
  • When booking, select 'No' for 'Are you traveling with a rail pass?' to avoid confusion.
  • Check ticket retailers other than RailEurope for possible options to book your train tickets.
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InfoAI-generated summary
  • Anonymous
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    4 May 2017 at 20:37:11 #811685

    After several unsuccessful attempts to book train travel using Swiss Travel Pass for part of the trip– Lugano to Venice on 3 June–I had an online chat with a RailEurope agent who told me that to do that “requires confirmation through the RailEurope call center . . . [due to] a change in the booking system.”

    My question: is that accurate? For several reasons, I would rather book online than use an 800 number. What are our options? Thanks for any clarification.

  • Arno
    Moderator
    15730 posts
    Reply 1 of 3 • 5 May 2017 at 6:38:26 #862819

    Hi JRoger,

    For some reason Lugano to Venice tickets for Swiss Travel Pass holders causes an issue on their website at the moment. But you can book the ticket from Chiasso (Swiss border) to Venice online without a problem. And that’s actually all you need, because your Swiss Travel Pass covers the Lugano to Chiasso leg. So price wise there’s no difference.

    So, you can go to http://www.raileurope.com/eur opean-trains/trenitalia/how-to-book.html, fill out Chiasso to Venice for your travel date, and select No under “Are you traveling with a rail pass?”. Just board the train in Lugano as planned and stay seated in Chiasso.

    By the way, you’re not restricted to RailEurope. You’ll find a list of ticket retailers on myswissalps.com/traint ickets/italy/price. The others don’t take the Swiss Travel Pass into account either, so you’ll have to book from the border to Venice there as well.

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    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 2 of 3 • 5 May 2017 at 18:07:12 #862820

    Merci vilmal — with your help we were able to book desired travel both Lugano to Venice and Venice to Zurich.

    User
    Inactive
    83503 posts
    Reply 3 of 3 • 6 May 2017 at 2:20:33 #862821

    Hi JRoger-

    Your Swiss German is nice.

    Since Arno and Annika are Dutch, you might also say

    “Hartelijk bedankt”

    😉

    Slowpoke

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