Apr 28, 2019, 12:01 pm
Last edit by: threeoh
Booking to QYG allows you connect from any airport in Germany to any of the 5,600 DeutscheBahn train stations in Germany. For example, if you book a ticket ORD-FRA-QYG, you will fly ORD-FRA and then connect on DB with an open, unrestricted ticket good on any train to any destination in Germany. The ticket is valid the day you land and the following day.
In reverse, bookings from QYG allow you to originate at any DB station the day before or the day of your flight.
On most trains, including ICE, you can either pay a small fee for a seat reservation on a specific train or board any train and find an unassigned seat. Some trains such as Sprinter and night trains require a reservation and special supplement. F or J flights book into 1st class on the train and Y flights book into 2nd class.
Info from DB in English: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/service/buchung/flug/rail-and-fly-english.shtml
More info in PDF form: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahnintern/services/mobilitaet_service/rail_fly_airrail/2018/mdb_277126_20180809_reisendeninfo_railandfly_engli sch.pdf
Info on what rail services / bus transfers serve each airport, in German and English: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahnintern/services/mobilitaet_service/rail_fly_airrail/mdb_252625_20170719_flughafentransfer_railfly.pdf
You must collect a DB ticket before the train portion of your journey, either print at home or mobile ticket via http://www.rail-checkin.com/ or collect from any DB long-distance vending machine.
When booking on UA's site, enter QYG as your destination or origin. When booking on LH's site, start your booking to/from the gateway airport (FRA, MUC, etc.) and then click to add rail ticket on the final screen for EUR 34 each direction.
Separate but related program: Lufthansa Express Rail, direct connections from ~15 cities to FRA flights with protected connections, checked baggage service, and mileage earnings: https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/lufthansa-express-rail
In reverse, bookings from QYG allow you to originate at any DB station the day before or the day of your flight.
On most trains, including ICE, you can either pay a small fee for a seat reservation on a specific train or board any train and find an unassigned seat. Some trains such as Sprinter and night trains require a reservation and special supplement. F or J flights book into 1st class on the train and Y flights book into 2nd class.
Info from DB in English: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/service/buchung/flug/rail-and-fly-english.shtml
More info in PDF form: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahnintern/services/mobilitaet_service/rail_fly_airrail/2018/mdb_277126_20180809_reisendeninfo_railandfly_engli sch.pdf
Info on what rail services / bus transfers serve each airport, in German and English: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahnintern/services/mobilitaet_service/rail_fly_airrail/mdb_252625_20170719_flughafentransfer_railfly.pdf
You must collect a DB ticket before the train portion of your journey, either print at home or mobile ticket via http://www.rail-checkin.com/ or collect from any DB long-distance vending machine.
When booking on UA's site, enter QYG as your destination or origin. When booking on LH's site, start your booking to/from the gateway airport (FRA, MUC, etc.) and then click to add rail ticket on the final screen for EUR 34 each direction.
Separate but related program: Lufthansa Express Rail, direct connections from ~15 cities to FRA flights with protected connections, checked baggage service, and mileage earnings: https://www.lufthansa.com/us/en/lufthansa-express-rail
Rail&fly with United in Germany
Nov 6, 2017, 1:44 pm
#31
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: COS, DEN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 172
Unfortunately it doesn't. It only states I should ignore the destination. My question was if QYG was indeed an actual destination or a generic code for a rail pass.
The implication is that if QYG is not a destination but a code for a pass, there is no way anyone could mistake the rail pass for only one specific destination.
On the other hand if QYG was an actual train station somewhere and it is used to signify the rail pass during booking and then should be ignored, it could be argued that confusion could arise at some point and the traveler could be limited to travel to QYD. Since QYD isnot a real destination this is not the case and the traveler need not worry about this possible confusion.
The implication is that if QYG is not a destination but a code for a pass, there is no way anyone could mistake the rail pass for only one specific destination.
On the other hand if QYG was an actual train station somewhere and it is used to signify the rail pass during booking and then should be ignored, it could be argued that confusion could arise at some point and the traveler could be limited to travel to QYD. Since QYD isnot a real destination this is not the case and the traveler need not worry about this possible confusion.
Nov 6, 2017, 2:02 pm
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Unfortunately it doesn't. It only states I should ignore the destination. My question was if QYG was indeed an actual destination or a generic code for a rail pass.
The implication is that if QYG is not a destination but a code for a pass, there is no way anyone could mistake the rail pass for only one specific destination.
On the other hand if QYG was an actual train station somewhere and it is used to signify the rail pass during booking and then should be ignored, it could be argued that confusion could arise at some point and the traveler could be limited to travel to QYD. Since QYD isnot a real destination this is not the case and the traveler need not worry about this possible confusion.
The implication is that if QYG is not a destination but a code for a pass, there is no way anyone could mistake the rail pass for only one specific destination.
On the other hand if QYG was an actual train station somewhere and it is used to signify the rail pass during booking and then should be ignored, it could be argued that confusion could arise at some point and the traveler could be limited to travel to QYD. Since QYD isnot a real destination this is not the case and the traveler need not worry about this possible confusion.
Nov 6, 2017, 4:10 pm
#33
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: COS, DEN
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 172
Nov 7, 2017, 4:49 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 152
Thx for the info - worked well for me.
One question: any idea how to get the first class rail & fly ticket when flying Y? The united search automatically adds 2nd class (Y) as the rail ticket when flying Y?
I know I can upgrade to 1st class in paying the fare difference between full price second class and full price first class at the Deutsche Bahn counter, but is there another option?
Thank you
One question: any idea how to get the first class rail & fly ticket when flying Y? The united search automatically adds 2nd class (Y) as the rail ticket when flying Y?
I know I can upgrade to 1st class in paying the fare difference between full price second class and full price first class at the Deutsche Bahn counter, but is there another option?
Thank you
Nov 7, 2017, 7:31 am
#35
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA 1K MM, HH Gold, Marriott Gold Elite
Posts: 1,478
Using US UA website, I plug in EWR-QRG for 11-15 JAN. The cheapest (also happens to be my desired) connection in FRA is $1260 round-trip in S fare. If just using EWR-FRA on the same date, the available K fare is $741. I'll try the German website to see any difference,
Nov 7, 2017, 11:32 am
#36
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Programs: UA-1k, 1mm, Marriott-LT Platinum, Hertz-Presidents Circle
Posts: 6,355
wow wished I would have known about this previously as I had booked FRA-Ord tickets but train tickets to Cologne to / from at the beginning. i know I paid more than 33 bucks.
Nov 7, 2017, 12:12 pm
#37
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Same here. I missed a non-refundable Sparpreis DB train last month because my United Flight from ORD to FRA was delayed arriving by an hour. That’s €70 I cannot get back.
Nov 7, 2017, 1:39 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
I don't book the non-refundable tickets for just this reason, and I've booked plenty over the last few years.
Nov 7, 2017, 1:45 pm
#39
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Nov 7, 2017, 1:49 pm
#40
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 152
Slightly off topic:
but missing such a train due to a flight delay - wouldn’t that be something covered by the trip delay protection (or whatever its called) of most credit cards (chase etc.)?
edit: you also don’t lose the fare completely (assuming you have a delay). You can apply the value to another ticket/train that day and pay the difference. Mostly cheaper than wasting the ticket and buying a new one.
but missing such a train due to a flight delay - wouldn’t that be something covered by the trip delay protection (or whatever its called) of most credit cards (chase etc.)?
edit: you also don’t lose the fare completely (assuming you have a delay). You can apply the value to another ticket/train that day and pay the difference. Mostly cheaper than wasting the ticket and buying a new one.
Last edited by noname83; Nov 7, 2017 at 2:05 pm
Nov 7, 2017, 1:59 pm
#41
Join Date: Jun 2006
Programs: Various
Posts: 6,526
Joining in on the 'same here' train. I've booked long connections or non-refundable fares so many times. I could have save so much money and stress with this!
Nov 8, 2017, 12:33 pm
#44
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AA EXP, HH Diamond, MR Gold, Avis PC, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,252
I haven't, but I will certainly start doing this in the future. I've used the AirRail program before, where the DB train has an LH codeshare, but never this program.