DB bahn.bonus International Train Award Question
 

Hi everyone,

I usually redeem first-class upgrades with my spare DB bahn.bonus points (Frequent Traveller Program of DB BAHN), but now that I have my DB BahnCard MasterCard I have excess points, which I would like to use for an international train award.

This is my problem: For the award '4.000 Punkte: Freifahrt international 1. Klasse - nach Verfügbarkeit, Hin- und Rückfahrt -' (international roundtrip first class) I get contradicting information from the bahn.comfort hotline and at the ticket counter. My questions is: Can I use this award to go from any DB station in Germany to any SNCF station in France? Actual routing would be WUERZBURG > CAEN (via Frankfurt/Paris with ICE or TGV) or is this award only good to go to Paris only?

Anybody here who has an idea or who used this award before?

Many thanks for your input.

"nach Verfügbarkeit" indicates the problem. This bonus ticket has to be pre-booked for a specific train connection WELL in advance. They only allow a very limited number of those free bonus tickets per train. If there is no availability any more, bad luck.

Disclaimer: I have never used the international bonus, only within Germany where I had the problem indicated above. Can't tell about the Paris or Caen problem. Depends what the ticket counter can book.

What information have you got? :confused:

@ 'Kathrin': Yes, thank you. I am planning on giving this plenty of advance booking time. This is my first international train award.

@ 'interessierterlaie' - Well, the award conditions say:

'3.4 Die Fahrkarte „bahn.bonus international“ wird von jedem DB-Abgangsbahnhof zu jedem Zielbahnhof in Belgien, Dänemark, Luxemburg, Niederlande, Österreich und der Schweiz sowie für Fahrten in den Hochgeschwindigkeitszügen (ICE, TGV) von Deutschland nach Paris inklusive Reservierung ausgegeben, sofern der gewünschte Zielbahnhof in den elektronischen Vertriebssystemen der DB enthalten ist.

Für Fahrten im Eurostar von Brüssel-Midi nach London St. Pancras International und für Fahrten im Thalys von Köln nach Paris werden Prämienfahrkarten „DB AWARD INT.“ inklusive Reservierung ausgestellt. Die Nutzung der Thalys-Züge von Köln nach Brüssel ist mit diesen Prämienfahrkarten ausgeschlossen.

Prämienfahrkarten "RAILTEAM AWARD" inklusive Reservierung können für Verbindungen des Hochgeschwindigkeitszuges TGV innerhalb Frankreichs genutzt werden.'

> this does not provide a clear answer (and I do speak German), but suggests that I can obtain an award ticket to any TGV stop (Caen is not a TGV destination).

On the other hand I have a verbal confirmation from the bahn.comfort international phone desk that I can book a ticket to any train station in France.

I guess my best bet will be to request the award and then go to a 'DB Reisezentrum' and speak with someone in person.

Bottom line: This should not be so difficult and I should be able to do it all myself online.

I think there are also awards that are fully flexible for a higher amount of points ?

4,000 points for an international roundtrip first class ticket is the highest DB provided award I am aware of.

You are right though, I'd be happy to 'pay' 6,000 points and go on any train I want to.

You are correct, there is no other free ticket option.
(..I have 26k Bahn.Bonus points...:o)

" sofern der gewünschte Zielbahnhof in den elektronischen Vertriebssystemen der DB enthalten ist. "
Here is the (slight) problem, translation:

'.........and if/when the 'final destination' (of any trip) is actually listed/accessible in/through DieBahn electronic booking system.....'

26,000 bahn.bonus points? Wow - that is a lot, 'Rambuster'. How did you manage to gain that many points? How much of it was generated by DB travel? If you don't mind me asking.

I myself make about 2,500 bahn.bonus points on actual DB travel per year plus credit card points (this is only now starting and I don't know how much of my credit card revenue I can switch to the DB credit card).

Jawohl: This changes probably by the day.

Why not speak to them before you order the award? Because if it's not working you can't return the award but I'm sure you know. If you can buy a Ticket from Würzburg to Caen there it should be no problem to go to Caen with an award ticket.

The train stations in the system don't change that often but award availability does. ;)