Eurail passes & miles
 

Hi all

For those who like to fly on the ground there is always the attraction of Eurail passes. I have some questions about Eurail passes and mileage earning with them. I vaguelly recall someone once mentioning that some European rail journeys earned frequent flyer miles.

1. Is it possible to earn frequent flyer miles on any Eurail train or boat journeys?

2. If so what class would one need to be in to get the miles?

3. What is the cheapest way to buy a Eurail pass? (any tips?) Maybe there is a coupon that one could use with a particular travel retailer?

4. Is there any way to redeem miles for Eurail passes?

Thanks Peter


[This message has been edited by ffhound (edited 11-20-2002).]

hi ffhound, that's difficult question, because there are so many railway companies. Besides the airrail in Germany (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum32/HTML/002124.html and http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum.../002118.html), there is the possibilty to earn miles on the ICE Sprinter (MUC-FRA; cf http://www.bahn.de/pv/angebote/busin...and_more.shtml , sorry only in German) and on the ICE Metropolitan (Hamburg - Cologn; http://www.met.de/index_flash.html). You will earn LH Miles if you travel biz (if guess). I think you can also earn using the Eurostar (Chunnel Train; American Advantag Miles???). And there is a so-called FlugZug in Switzerland from Zurich to Basel, you will earn Qualiflyer miles.

Instead of using the railway, you should consider to fly using a visitor pass (e.g. http://www.travel-overland.de/airpass.html).

That's all I remember.

I was told by a european railroad ticket seller that eurailpass is condsidered a "discount ticket" and you cannot get the same seat reservation a full fare passanger will get on crowded trains.

Eurailpass is capacity controlled for reservations.