Re: Eurostar - are they with it?

Am Thu, 4 Sep 2008 07:19:56 UTC,  schrieb Phil Richards
<philrichards1@blueyonder.co.uk>  auf misc.transport.rail.europe :

> >    The web site tells the user that the tickets are mailed normally
> > within 2 or 3 days. Online ticket (printing ticket with computer at
> > home) is not available. I guess that is because of the check-in
> > procedures of Eurostar which requires their own special tickets for
> > that.
>
> DB could provide a print out with a 6 letter PNR for the magnetic strip
> tickets to be collected at the station which is how many of their
> tickets are distributed.

Like the "Bahntix" where one can get a ticket from a ticket machine
booked beforehand via phone or an agency... but not via the Web. I
don't know why that is not possible...

> That's of course if their online booking system
> worked a bit better. The problem is that DB's system is not
> sophisticated in picking many international train fares "live" and
> providing an instant confirmation of your order.

That's why the Railteam alliance had been formed, and the SBB IT
department charged to develop a gateway between the booking systems of
the various participating railway companies.

> Also no option to look over different fares at different times.

Well, the basic idea of the system is that tickets are sold on the
basis of a timetable inquiry, allowing a yield management per relation
and demand for specific trains. So one can browse thru the various
connections, finding out for which a special offer is still available.
You are probably looking for the inverse process, i.e. looking for
e.g. the "London Special" and then asking for which connections this
is still available.

> So effectively it takes your details and leaves you completely in the
> dark as the order gets processed by a human being. Not really what most
> people expect out of an online travel booking process.

Yesno -- if a "London Special" or "Sparpreis (saver) London" is
available, you get a confirmation right away, and get the ticket in
the mail. When the connection involves a Thalys or other
complications, then the price is unknown, indicating "Total fare
cannot be calculated" or "Fares not available", and the service center
comes into action, noting:

"Calculation of the fare including all special offers can be made
in the service center. Special request can be submitted to the service
center by means of the free text field."

Hoping for Railteam....

Cheers,
L.W.
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