Eurostar/DB trains booked for me by someone else using their name

[murray1551]

Hi there, I'm hoping to get some advice.

I'm travelling to Germany soon using tickets booked by someone who isn't travelling themselves, and whose name is on the Eurostar and DeutschBahn tickets themselves.

The tickets state they are for the named person, but is this likely to be an issue? Thanks.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Hi there, I'm hoping to get some advice.

I'm travelling to Germany soon using tickets booked by someone who isn't travelling themselves, and whose name is on the Eurostar and DeutschBahn tickets themselves.

The tickets state they are for the named person, but is this likely to be an issue? Thanks.

I've never been asked for ID when showing my ticket on a DB train (though there's always a first time); but with the passport controls, Eurostar is likely to be difficult I'd guess. (Though I don't think the two things are ever looked at simultaneously, so you might get away with it - but it'd be a gamble.) I think this was easier in the early days of Eurostar - I know someone who used another person's tickets; but these days....

 

[RT4038]

I've never been asked for ID when showing my ticket on a DB train (though there's always a first time); but with the passport controls, Eurostar is likely to be difficult I'd guess. (Though I don't think the two things are ever looked at simultaneously, so you might get away with it - but it'd be a gamble.) I think this was easier in the early days of Eurostar - I know someone who used another person's tickets; but these days....

Aren't DeutscheBahn Print at Home tickets only valid with the payment card that was used for purchase? I've always been asked for this by DB staff.

 

[zwk500]

I've never been asked for ID when showing my ticket on a DB train (though there's always a first time); but with the passport controls, Eurostar is likely to be difficult I'd guess. (Though I don't think the two things are ever looked at simultaneously, so you might get away with it - but it'd be a gamble.) I think this was easier in the early days of Eurostar - I know someone who used another person's tickets; but these days....

At Eurostar, the ticket gates don't check your ID and the Passport controls don't check your ticket. Although when buying online it does ask you to provide a name for each ticket. I guess as long as the ticket is valid and nobody tries to claim the same seat nobody is likely to kick up a fuss.

 

[ainsworth74]

My understanding is that the tickets should be in your name. I'm sure when someone bought Eurostar tickets for me they were in my name not theirs. With DB my impression was that the named person should be travelling able to show ID that matches. I've been asked a couple of times on ICE services to show my ID but equally I've also just been fine showing the ticket.

I personally would be concerned about trying to travel with a ticket that has someone else's name on it.

 

[zwk500]

Personally, I'd either ask the original purchaser to update the names and re-send the tickets, or speak to the ticket desk before attempting to check in (or board for DB) to get confirmation you are a legitimate holder of that ticket.

 

[blackfive460]

Aren't DeutscheBahn Print at Home tickets only valid with the payment card that was used for purchase? I've always been asked for this by DB staff.

When I've had tickets booked online I've always been asked to produce the payment card.
I'd get the purchaser to contact DB (https://www.bahn.com/en/contact).

 

[Bletchleyite]

My understanding is that the tickets should be in your name. I'm sure when someone bought Eurostar tickets for me they were in my name not theirs. With DB my impression was that the named person should be travelling able to show ID that matches. I've been asked a couple of times on ICE services to show my ID but equally I've also just been fine showing the ticket.

I personally would be concerned about trying to travel with a ticket that has someone else's name on it.

Certainly where the ticket actually says usable only by that person.

Most UK purchases issued via ToD have the purchaser's name on them but that doesn't imply that that person is the user. Transfer of completely unused UK domestic tickets (unused both ways in case of a return) is now explicitly permitted provided it's not for more than face value, with some exceptions.

 

[zwk500]

Certainly where the ticket actually says usable only by that person.

Which the Eurostar conditions do: https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/conditions-carriage

12. You may not transfer your ticket to anyone else
12.1 Tickets already partly used, or made out in a passenger's name, are non-transferable and may only be used by the person for whom the ticket has been purchased. Tickets may not be offered for sale except by Eurostar International Limited or its authorised agents. If a ticket is resold or transferred for profit or other commercial gain, it will become invalid and the holder may be refused access to the Eurostar train.
12.2 When you are travelling on a named ticket, access to Eurostar service is only provided to the passenger named on the ticket. You must provide valid proof of your identity, as well as the identity for those for whom you are responsible, matching the name on the ticket when requested by our staff or agents. We reserve the right to check the identity documents of passengers and may refuse to carry any passenger and their baggage where they have refused or are unable to provide valid proof of their identity in accordance with this paragraph. In such circumstances a refund or exchange is only available where the ticket type allows and subject to exchange and service fees where applicable.

I'm fairly sure the original purchaser can update the name on the ticket. I'd advise OP asks them to try and do so ASAP, or failing that speaks to the ticket counter at St Pancras before trying to check in.

As do DB: https://www.bahn.com/en/booking-information/online-ticket

How are online tickets validated on the train?
When you are on the train, the train attendant scans the ticket's QR code and then checks the information on the scanner's screen against the name on your ID.

I'm not sure how updating the DB tickets works.

 

[D6700]

When I purchased online tickets from DB earlier this year, the emails containing the tickets stated:

The ticket is only valid for [my name] personally (and in some cases for accompanying persons) in conjunction with an official photo ID (e.g. ID card or passport) or a valid BahnCard.

The ticket inspector will check the ticket and the official photo ID or your BahnCard. Please have your ticket and ID card, passport or BahnCard ready to show to the ticket inspector.

If the DB ticket is an online one, I'd definitely look to get this changed - they almost always want to see my passport when I'm using such tickets. If the ticket has already been stamped a few times, they are less likely to be bothered.

 

[zero]

Aren't DeutscheBahn Print at Home tickets only valid with the payment card that was used for purchase? I've always been asked for this by DB staff.

That was in the past and you could specify the last 5 digits of any bank card, it didn't have to be the one used to pay. They only accepted German language identification or something, but it changed around 2015 (?) after which a British passport began to be accepted as ID.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

DB online tickets can be purchased for someone else with their ticket then printed (I often book tickets using my account for my mum, who doesn't have a credit card), so it's not like it isn't possible.

Since recently DB offers a 12 hour cancellation policy for any type of online ticket, even those which aren't normally refundable (like Sparpreis): https://www.bahn.de/service/buchung/stornierung

 

[Bletchleyite]

DB online tickets can be purchased for someone else with their ticket then printed (I often book tickets using my account for my mum, who doesn't have a credit card), so it's not like it isn't possible.

Since recently DB offers a 12 hour cancellation policy for any type of online ticket, even those which aren't normally refundable (like Sparpreis): https://www.bahn.de/service/buchung/stornierung

It makes a lot of sense to offer free cancellation for anything within a short period of booking, as it saves a lot of customer services time (and cost) with people phoning up when they've made a simple mistake with the booking, which is the reason the vast majority of people might want that. Premier Inn for example offer 24 hours on all rates.

 

[zero]

BA also offers free full refund within 24 hours for all direct bookings online

 

[MotCO]

12. You may not transfer your ticket to anyone else
12.1 Tickets already partly used, or made out in a passenger's name, are non-transferable and may only be used by the person for whom the ticket has been purchased. Tickets may not be offered for sale except by Eurostar International Limited or its authorised agents. If a ticket is resold or transferred for profit or other commercial gain, it will become invalid and the holder may be refused access to the Eurostar train.

Was the ticket bought specifically for the OP, in which case the bold section surely covers it?

 

[D6700]

I can't help but suspect the subject line of this thread may not accurately represent the real story. The impression I'm getting is that someone booked a trip, has decided not to go and has offered the tickets to to someone else. That certainly isn't unreasonable in principle, but they wish to know if they will be ok doing it.

Apologies if it turns out I'm being overly cynical...

 

[Welby]

Were the ticket purchased with any discount cards?

 

[Wolfie]

I can't help but suspect the subject line of this thread may not accurately represent the real story. The impression I'm getting is that someone booked a trip, has decided not to go and has offered the tickets to to someone else. That certainly isn't unreasonable in principle, but they wish to know if they will be ok doing it.

Apologies if it turns out I'm being overly cynical...

That wasn't a big issue back in the day. Now? Who knows.

 

[D6700]

That wasn't a big issue back in the day. Now? Who knows.

Indeed! Of course, when a ticket is directly issued by the operator, simply holding the ticket is effectively your proof of purchase, but they need some kind of controls in place to avoid numerous passengers all turning up with the very same Print at Home ticket!

 

[sprunt]

Indeed! Of course, when a ticket is directly issued by the operator, simply holding the ticket is effectively your proof of purchase, but they need some kind of controls in place to avoid numerous passengers all turning up with the very same Print at Home ticket!

For Eurostar at least, isn't the gate at the station the control? Presumably it won't open if a barcode is scanned a second time?

 

[WideRanger]

Was the ticket bought specifically for the OP, in which case the bold section surely covers it?

My reading is that 12.2 is an additional requirement, rather than an alternative requirement. So, no.

In the past I had a friend (who didn't speak English well) who typed their name slightly incorrectly on the booking. I enquired to Eurostar on their behalf. The answer I got was that as long as the name is broadly right, they are flexible, but they do not accept completely different names.

Which makes sense: If their business model is that some early purchase tickets are cheaper than later purchase tickets, they won't want to facilitate scalpers from buying up all of the early cheap tickets and selling on at a profit (while undercutting the remaining official tickets). So it seems that Eurostar's approach is pretty reasonable: they don't go to the extremes of punishing mistakes as some of the airlines do. But they do protect their business model, and their ability to provide accurate Advance Passenger Information, where necessary.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Which makes sense: If their business model is that some early purchase tickets are cheaper than later purchase tickets, they won't want to facilitate scalpers from buying up all of the early cheap tickets and selling on at a profit (while undercutting the remaining official tickets). So it seems that Eurostar's approach is pretty reasonable: they don't go to the extremes of punishing mistakes as some of the airlines do. But they do protect their business model, and their ability to provide accurate Advance Passenger Information, where necessary.

Eurostar don't do API from the booking, it's sent when your passport is scanned at check-in.

But the rest of it stands true.

In essence the OP is not entitled to use these tickets and may or may not be able to get them changed, but may get away with it. It is however a fairly large risk to take of e.g. stranding.

 

[P Binnersley]

When I have used e-tickets in Germany the first inspector has always asked for ID. They then stamped my (printed) ticket and subsequent inspectors have not checked ID.

 

[dutchflyer]

In my case the last 3-4 yrs maybe in only half the trips-though there were not many during covid. But this maybe as I am regular customer with BahnBonus (never asked to show)-which can be seen from the info on ticket.
One should note that germans are really over-sensitive (in the view of others) to ´privacy´ and possible infringements on it-thats why in the now distant past DB allowed other means of ID-like Bahn or Bankcards-just to ensure that only 1 such ticket was used. The change over to ID went quite smooth-there could as well have been an enormous scandal and outcry. But now that nearly 70-75% of more frequent users show tix on the phone in the DB-navigator app this also becomes a bit of superfluous thing. OTOH-even students/schoolkids from 14?15? must have a kind of ID from their school with photo and all to show when asked for-or to rectify their utmost cheap school seasons.