As of: March 6, 2024, 4:57 p.m
By: Karolin Schaefer
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A former Deutsche Bahn employee reveals how the company goes about buying tickets.
But with an insider tip you can actually save money.
Munich – Deutsche Bahn (DB) is often criticized.
Around one in three long-distance trains was unpunctual last year.
The consumer advice center is demanding that passengers be compensated for delays of just 30 minutes.
But it's not just when it comes to unpunctuality that DB always attracts negative attention.
A railway insider has now revealed further “tricks” used by the company.
Is Deutsche Bahn tricking with super savings prices?
“Earns very well as a result”
In the ZDF program “Deutsche Bahn: The Insiders”, former employees chat about the inside out.
According to insider Björn (name changed), who worked at Deutsche Bahn's headquarters for six years, people also cheat when buying tickets.
It is not uncommon for the railway to advertise cheap prices.
However, these are primarily just lure offers, according to the insider.
Cheap super savings prices for under 20 euros are usually only available under certain conditions.
Passengers must book early and commit to a train at a fixed time.
The times can be particularly early in the morning or even in the middle of the night.
Same service, different price – there is a method to the fact that early trains are cheap
Example: A trip from Munich to Frankfurt am Main (Monday, April 8th) is only available for less than 20 euros between three and five in the morning (as of March 6th).
Later trips sometimes cost over 100 euros.
“It’s cleverly done,” explained Björn.
If you don't book in time, you'll pay many times more for the same service.
“The railway earns very, very well from this,” it was said.
But why is that?
According to the insider, the railway is trying to ensure that the trains are evenly utilized.
“The railway is trying to educate customers so that they use their trains evenly throughout the day,” said Björn.
So if you want to spontaneously book a train at a popular time of day, you'll have to dig deep into your wallet.
Deutsche Bahn uses trial Bahncard as a “lure”.
When it comes to the Bahncard, people are probably cheating too.
When you buy a ticket, the trial Bahncard 25 offers a saving of 25 percent.
It costs 19.90 euros and is valid for three months.
The DB is speculating that customers will be lured with short-term discounts, said the insider in the
ZDF
broadcast.
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Bahncard 25 |
25 percent discount on flexible prices and savings offers on long-distance transport |
|---|---|
Bahncard 50 |
50 percent discount on flexible prices and 25 percent discount on savings offers on long-distance transport |
Bahncard 100 |
Use every train flexibly for 1 year |
When purchasing the trial rail card, travelers usually save money from the first trip.
However, the problem occurs as soon as the trial subscription is not canceled.
“The trial BahnCard 25 is automatically extended by one year unless it is canceled in text form four weeks before the end of the term,” writes the railway on its website.
“The lure we are seeing here is the short-term discount that is being offered.
But of course there is speculation that we will simply forget to cancel,” says Björn.
Consumer advocates recently filed a lawsuit against Deutsche Bahn.
In their view, the notice period is inadmissible.
A trial Bahncard may not automatically be converted into a one-year Bahncard 25 or 50.
In addition, this must then be terminable within four weeks and not just at the end of the one-year term.
A ZDF program reveals secret tricks used by Deutsche Bahn.
© Frank Hoermann / Sven Simon / Imago
When asked by
IPPEN.MEDIA,
a railway spokeswoman explained on the subject: “There can be no talk of 'trickery' on the railway." And also emphasized: "We describe the conditions of the trial BahnCard in detail in all offer descriptions and in the general terms and conditions and provide information Our customers are transparent about this in the sales process.”
Booking a ticket with Deutsche Bahn: This is how you can save even without a Bahncard
Even without a Bahncard you can save money when buying tickets.
The insider recommends making a stopover when booking.
Both sections of the route should be booked independently of each other.
The following example shows that this can save money:
The journey on April 8th from Munich to Frankfurt around 10 a.m. with a change in Nuremberg costs 59.90 euros
The first leg at the same time from Munich to Nuremberg costs 19.90 euros
The second leg from Nuremberg to Frankfurt costs 27.90 euros
Both sections total 47.80 euros and therefore offer a saving of 12.10 euros
This example is even the same move.
Passengers would then have two tickets, but these would be just as valid and passengers could simply remain seated, the insider explained.
With a simple trick, employees can even save taxes with the Deutschlandticket.
(cheese)