The rush for the 49-euro ticket is enormous, but there are pitfalls.
The passenger association, for example, warns of technical hurdles.
An overview:
Munich - It sounds very simple.
Buy a ticket – and take a gondola ride through Germany on public transport.
Only 49 euros per month.
The rush is huge: Deutsche Bahn alone has already sold more than 250,000 tickets.
The new ticket is only valid from May.
But the queues at the customer centers also show that many people need help.
"There are extreme technical hurdles for parts of society," says Andreas Barth from the Pro Bahn passenger association.
And Marion Jungbluth from the consumer advice center warns: "Users of the Germany ticket are in danger of becoming second-class public transport customers." The ticket and its pitfalls - an overview.
The 49-euro ticket starts on May 1st - we show you the pitfalls and where there are still problems
digital access
The Deutschlandticket is actually a purely digital project.
"The fact that the ticket is available in analogue form at all is only due to the transitional period," says Barth.
You can buy the subscription, which can be canceled monthly, either as a mobile phone ticket or on a chip card.
Until this is available in summer 2023, you have to print out a paper ticket yourself.
Again with login in the customer portal of the transport company.
Feasible for most people – but not for everyone, says Barth.
“Not everyone has a computer or reliable access to a printer.” There is also a pitfall that applies to all e-ticket holders: a dead cell phone battery.
If you cannot show your mobile phone ticket during a ticket inspection, you risk at least a processing fee.
subscription change
Existing subscriptions will not be automatically converted.
A change from an annual subscription (e.g. Isarcard) to the Deutschlandticket can be made online.
Maria S. has been trying to switch from her annual subscription to the Deutschlandticket since April 3rd.
So far unsuccessful.
She was referred to the old people's and service center by the MVG customer center.
There, too, the 72-year-old could not be helped.
She now knows from a lady on the MVG hotline: she has to go through the login on the MVG website.
"But it just shows me a blank page," she says.
Maybe the wrong browser.
"It's a disregard for people who don't have a certain technique," she complains.
The 49-euro ticket starts on May 1st - we show you the pitfalls and where there are still problems
Free months expire
If you have an annual subscription and want to switch to the Deutschlandticket, you should take a close look.
Because for Isarcards with an annual subscription, you only pay for ten months.
If these free months follow, a change would not make sense, says Barth.
"There is no refund for the free months, they may expire."
Be careful when choosing a train
Actually, from May 1st you can use all regional buses and trains in Germany with the 49-euro ticket.
But here too there are exceptions that are not obvious at first glance: "Some trains cannot be used with the Deutschlandticket because they are not operated by DB Regio but by DB Fernverkehr," says Barth.
Intercity trains are on the move on some sections of the route, which can be used with tickets for local transport, but according to the current fare regulations are not considered local or regional trains.
Schufa check
The ticket is offered almost exclusively as an online subscription, so the amount is collected every month – usually by direct debit.
With the direct debit procedure, the providers make an advance payment to a certain extent.
Some ticket providers want to use a Schufa check to protect themselves against possible payment defaults by subscribers.
"Since the Deutschlandticket is a subscription, the creditworthiness of the customer can of course be checked, as with any subscription," said a spokesman for MVG.
Deutsche Bahn is also carrying out a credit check, says a spokeswoman.
In the DB travel centers, however, customers would have “the opportunity to purchase the Germany ticket for one year, which they can pay for on site with cash, EC or credit card”.
The 49-euro ticket starts on May 1st - we show you the pitfalls and where there are still problems
train connection remains
The Deutschlandticket can be combined with long-distance transport.
Important to know: With this combination, passengers are less well protected than with a continuous long-distance ticket with integrated use of local transport.
This means: If you miss your booked connecting long-distance train due to a delay in a regional train (ticket must be bought separately), you cannot simply take the next train, but have to buy a ticket again.
"There has to be a solution that people don't pay twice," demands Barth.
Consumer advocates also warn against restricting passenger rights.
children have to pay
While up to three children up to the age of 14 were allowed to travel free of charge with the Isarcard, this service does not apply to the Deutschlandticket.
Every child over the age of six needs their own ticket.
