Screw the Naysayers: Deutsche Bahn Ends Family-Friendly Seat Reservations on Trains
Railway no longer accepts family reservations
Get ready for a wallet hit, folks! Germany's national railway, Deutsche Bahn, has officially cut the cord on family-friendly seat reservations for long-distance trains starting from today. So if you're tired of cozy, inexpensive family reservations on trains, then buckle up—it's a whole new ball game now!
To clarify, parents can no longer reserve blocks of seats for long trips at a flat rate. The once-popular family reservation is no more. Now, each family member has to cough up the cash for their own seat individually. To add insult to injury, the company has ramped up the price for seat reservations in second class by 30 cents to 5.50 euros per seat. First-class reservations now cost 6.90 euros instead of the previous 6.50 euros. For families of four, that means double the dough spent on reservations in the future.
Good News Bear: While Deutsche Bahn is being a bit of a Scrooge about family reservations, they've made some travel perks to offset the bad news. For starters, kids under 14 years old can continue to ride along for free when accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket. Also, starting Sunday, some regulations that are traveler-friendly will kick in. For instance, flex price tickets are once again free to cancel up to one day before the first day of validity. Furthermore, some discount campaigns have gone live.
Pocketbook Pinch: The axing of family reservations has ruffled a lot of feathers. Government officials, passengers, and family associations are all up in arms. Even the German environmental transport club has started a petition to halt the abolition. A transport ministry spokesperson, seemingly echoing the dismay, expressed doubts about the measure as well. But, come hell or high water, Deutsche Bahn has stood its ground, citing new reservation pricing practices as the reason.
Source: ntv.de, lar/dpa
- Deutsche Bahn
- Consumer Squeeze
- Train Traffic
- Price Gouging
Under the Hood:
Deutsche Bahn's elimination of reduced-rate family seat reservations for long-distance trains went into effect on June 15, 2025. Families can no longer reserve up to five seats at a reduced rate; instead, all passengers, including kids, must now shell out the standard individual seat reservation fee. The move does, however, allow children under 14 to ride for free with an accompanying adult holding a valid ticket[1][2][3].
The Reason Behind It: The decision to dump the family reservations is said to be a tweak of the existing reservation pricing framework. Deutsche Bahn is looking to streamline its reservation system to be more in line with regular booking procedures. Despite the silence on whether this move is to save coin, it effectively ups the cost for families who wish to snag reserved seats together[3][4].
Feel the Burn: The reaction from consumers and family associations has been lukewarm, to put it mildly. Critics argue the move jack ups the cost of train travel and makes it a hassle for families, especially big families. Social media and travel forums brim with annoyance, as families now face higher costs and reduced flexibility when traveling in larger groups[2][4]. Although kids still travel for free, the loss of reserved seating at a lower rate is seen as a significant drawback, particularly during peak travel periods when seat availability is scarce. No formal statements from major consumer associations have made headlines, but the general attitude among travelers and influencers mirrors widespread unhappiness and concerns about the impact on family-friendly journeying[2][4].
Amidst Deutsche Bahn's changes, families might now find an increase in the cost of vocational training, as train travel can significantly impact their budget. The elimination of family-friendly seat reservations has raised concerns within the community, affecting not just the industry but also the finance sector. Although the transportation system is streamlining its reservation policies, the financial squeeze imposed on families could potentially impact local businesses as well, given the potential decrease in disposable income.
