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Clarification of change in refund of e-tickets on Renfe!

Marbe2

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Time of past OR future Camino
2015-2023 walked all or part of CF 11 times
Hi, for several years I have posted about buying two tickets on renfe and then canceling the one ticket I did not need in time to get a refund (used to be an hour before departure). This was all done online with elite comfort tickets and sometimes, in addition full 100 percent refund insurance. this was allowed up to an hour before departure! However, Renfe appears to have changed the rules. This no longer appears to be an inexpensive way to be sure you make one of the two trains.

PLEASE Read the current cancellation rules before purchasing e-tickets.
 

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JerryStroebele said:
Most Renfe trains I have ridden have been pretty full. Given your need for assurance, I don't mean to sound too critical, but it does seem somewhat selfish to tie up a seat until the last minute. Ok, hour. Buen Camino
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Well in future they’re likely to be just as booked-up, but with some empty but paid-for seats.
 
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JerryStroebele said:
it does seem somewhat selfish to tie up a seat until the last minute
Click to expand...

"somewhat selfish"? It is super selfish!
Like those who reserve a bed in albergues in various locations to have "flexibility" in choosing where to sleep, and then cancel their reservation at the last minute (or sometimes don't). Those beds remain empty, albergue owners lose money and pilgrims who need those beds are forced to look for expensive alternatives.
Selfish, very selfish.
 
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Whatever one thinks about the practice I described, I paid, sometimes 30 percent of what the ticket cost, so it often was not a freebie. In addition I paid for the insurance on the ticket! It was their business model. It is hardly comparable, to booking an albergue without cost ahead of time and then canceling the last minute!


But more importantly, I posted the change in cancellation practice, because I have received “thank you” messages from others who have had overseas flights and adopted the two train reservation method and wanted to alert them for future Renfe reservations that their refund practice needs to be reviewed.

Personally, I will still buy two tickets but likely opt for a basic ticket on the one ticket which I am less likely to catch. And I will still cancel the unused ticket at my cost to allow someone else to purchase it before departure.
 
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I've missed a few trains in my time. I've always asked at the station if I can be rebooked, more than once with a non flexible ticket and as often as not, not the railway's fault. I've sometimes had to pay the difference between trains or type of ticket but never the full replacement cost. Ask nicely and good things happen.
 
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If there is capacity why not ask…. but often during high season trains are sold out and lines are long at Chamartin. As long as one is aware of the current rules, one can take their chances if they so wish! Personally, after along transatlantic flight, I prefer a train ticket that I am at least 90 percent sure I will make and if that requires two reservations, so be it.
 
Fair enough, but why not just book the later train? It's not as if there is usually only one a day (or twice a week, on some services in exotic places). If you are on time it gives you a chance for something to eat and maybe a shower. And why join a queue when you can sit down and book/change booking on your phone?
 
If my connections work perfectly I connect (first train) with another train to my destination. If not, there is no connnecting train with thesecond departure, so we then have to wait several hours for another connection, or walk to get a bus, and still wait. Don’t want to do that if we can avoid it. To each her own! My sister is 84 and will be up all night on the transatlantic flight. So, I Want to make the one connections as simple as possible. I have also heard pilgrims who sat for half a day waiting at the train station, unable to get their ticket changed or there were no seats until the next day.
 
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84 and walking a Camino after a long flight! Wow, good for her, and you can't be a teenager either. I hope your trains connect and all goes well.
 
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