Originally Posted by
BigFlyer
if I buy a discounted ticket (and they are always train-specific), if the family member misses the train the ticket is worthless and they have to buy a full-price walk-up ticket, just like with air travel - right? No showing that the flight was delayed and getting a break, right?
That's why some airlines offer through air-rail fares (in France the SNCF "TGV Air" agreement works with many airlines, so does DB in Germany with Lufthansa and some others...). In that case, should you miss your connection, you would be given a seat on the next available train.