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Lounge in the main train station in Frankfurt am Main: Status holders visited the lounges without embarking on a train journey
Photo: Oliver Lang / Deutsche Bahn
Deutsche Bahn limits its service for frequent travelers.
From March, access to the lounges at larger train stations will be restricted.
Until now, it was enough to prove a corresponding status in the BahnBonus customer loyalty program.
Apparently, the regulation was partially abused: status holders visited the lounges without embarking on a train journey.
Now the group also wants to require a valid long-distance ticket.
In the premium area, where alcoholic drinks are served and small snacks are offered for sale, it is not possible to bring a guest with you.
Recently, the premium lounges, some of which are available to customers with platinum status as well as first-class ticket holders, were often overcrowded.
According to Bahn, “the atmosphere, the service and the availability of seats” suffered from the currently very high occupancy rate.
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Another loss awaits First Class customers on board: the display of newspapers is finally passé.
Most recently, at least some of them were still available as bucks: the railways apparently wanted to wean customers gently and gave out the sheets on request, reports a publisher involved.
It is said that the delivery of these emergency copies will end this week.
Deutsche Bahn reports that newspapers will only be available digitally on board in the future.
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