Steep Hike in Seat Reservations Cost: Deutsche Bahn Causes Outcry with €0.30 Jump in Prices for Second Class
Deutsche Bahn boosts seat reservation costs
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The well-known Deutsche Bahn has set off a ruckus by raising the prices for seat reservations on long-distance trains. A cozy seat in second class will now cost you 5.50 euros instead of the initial 5.20 euros, as declared by the corporation on Tuesday. Moreover, the so-called family reservation, which provided families the chance to reserve seats for the entire gang at a fixed rate of 10.40 euros, has been put to an end.
Kiddos aged fourteen and under can still zip around DB long-distance trains free of cost, when accompanied by an adult, as emphasized by the company. However, seat reservations will now cost extra for each young traveler. The Bahn pointed out that the previous family reservation was equivalent to the price of two seat reservations, and thus, the price for individuals traveling with a child remains unchanged.
The green thumb ecological transport club (VCD) fired back at this move. "Families with kids are the ones who are particularly stuck on reserved seats," explained VCD chairwoman Kerstin Haarmann. "They are now tackling a de facto price increase." The Bahn should place less emphasis on flashy discounts and instead endeavor to make general fares affordable, Haarmann said.
The Green Party politician Matthias Gastel referred to this as a "massive hike in hidden costs." "This is quite sly considering the services offered by DB long-distance," Gastel shared with the Düsseldorf-based "Rheinische Post." "The DB long-distance is dishing up awful punctuality values, escalating ticket prices, and declining offers. That's too much all at once," Gastel stated.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP
Digging Deeper:
Deutsche Bahn has recently raised the seat reservation fee for long-distance trains and cancelled the special family reservation option, resulting in substantial extra costs for families and groups who choose to travel together.
Rate Hike for Individual Seat Reservations
The price for individual seat reservations in second class (and correspondingly in first class) has gone up from €5.20 to €5.50. This increase may be a response to augmented operating costs and inflation. These types of price changes are a common strategy among transportation providers to offset increased costs across the industry.
Axe to the Family Reservation Option
Previously, families or groups consisting of up to five individuals (including at least one child) could reserve seats together in second class for a flat rate of €10.40 or €13 in first class, which was a significant saving when compared to booking individual reservations (previously €5.20, now €5.50 per person).* This special offer has now been scrapped, forcing families and groups to pay the entire reservation fee for each member.
Why the Changes?
Possible reasons for these changes include:
- Budget Pressure: The corporation may be grappling with increased operational and labor costs, necessitating additional revenue from reservation fees.
- Streamlining: Deutsche Bahn may tighten its reservation system, moving towards a one-size-fits-all pricing model rather than maintaining custom family or group rates.
- Earning More: Lifting fees and eliminating special deals is a straight-forward method for the corporation to boost its revenue, especially given the expanding travel demand and the increase in operational costs post-pandemic.*
By the Numbers:
| Change | Old Price (2nd Class) | New Price (2nd Class) | Impact on Families/Groups ||------------------------------------------|-----------------------|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|| Individual seat reservation | €5.20 | €5.50 | Slightly more expensive per person || Family reservation (group of 5) | €10.40 | Abolished (now €5.50 each) | Price hike of over 100% for groups |
- The increased seat reservation fee for long-distance trains by Deutsche Bahn, a prominent transportation industry player, is causing a fury in the community, with families and groups particularly affected due to the abolition of the family reservation option, leading to increased hidden costs.
- The finance department of Deutsche Bahn may be implementing these changes as a response to increased operational costs and inflation, following a common strategy among industry giants to offset costs.
- Critics, such as the green thumb ecological transport club (VCD) and the Green Party politician Matthias Gastel, argue that Deutsche Bahn should focus on making general fares affordable instead of relying on flashy discounts and hidden price hikes, considering the declining offers and escalating ticket prices in the public-transit sector.
