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Old Mar 23, 2008 | 6:04 pm
  #1  
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AVE Passenger Classes

Hello everyone,

Hope everyone is having a great easter...I have a quick question about AVE trains in Spain. I would like to know what are the differences between classes on the AVE trains. Their website renfe.es presents three different classes but not much information on what the differences between the classes are. I would love to hear from those who have experience on AVE or those who know where I can turn to find the information. Thank you.
tupacamar is offline  
Old Mar 23, 2008 | 7:36 pm
  #2  
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http://www.renfe.es/ave/ not sure if you speak spanish.

3 classes are Club, Preferente y Turista.
Tourist is the basic, 4 to a row and the bulk of cars.
there are usually 2 cars of Preferente which is first class with meals. The Club levels gives you drinks in your seat, a less crowded car but the same seat as Preferente and a la carte meals. Probably more exclusive.
When I took the AVE from Madrid to Sevilla and back there was no Club class and Preferente was very nice. The equivalent of the First Class Thalys (Amsterdam-Brussels).
I think the trend in rail service is to give people that third level which usually you cannot access with Railpasses, therefore most tourists stay away from it and it usually carries a 30% price premium over first class.
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Old Mar 23, 2008 | 9:20 pm
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thanks

Originally Posted by keisari
http://www.renfe.es/ave/ not sure if you speak spanish.

3 classes are Club, Preferente y Turista.
Tourist is the basic, 4 to a row and the bulk of cars.
there are usually 2 cars of Preferente which is first class with meals. The Club levels gives you drinks in your seat, a less crowded car but the same seat as Preferente and a la carte meals. Probably more exclusive.
When I took the AVE from Madrid to Sevilla and back there was no Club class and Preferente was very nice. The equivalent of the First Class Thalys (Amsterdam-Brussels).
I think the trend in rail service is to give people that third level which usually you cannot access with Railpasses, therefore most tourists stay away from it and it usually carries a 30% price premium over first class.
Yes I speak Spanish I've had a difficult time with their website, but thank you for the link, I was leaning towards the Preferente and it does not sound like there's much of a difference between that class and the Club. Thanks again.
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