Bill Krueger
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- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2016)
Camino Portugues (June-2018)
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I will amend my reply slightly. It actually says not available to buy. Nothing about timing. Again, I don’t know where that is but I hope you can get it sorted.We have been trying to purchase train tickets on renfe.com. We are trying to get from Barcelona to Pamplona on August 18, and there is a train listed for 9:30, (also listed on rome2rio) but though we have checked back many times over the last months, it says that tickets are not available and to check back later. It has been suggested that the tickets may not be available until 1 month before that date. Is that true/possible? What have others experienced in similar situations? Many thanks.
bill
Just done a search and it seems that train is on sale up until 31 July at mo so suggest a timescale issue. Other trains aeem To be on sale so not quite sure why that one is different. Think RENFE generally has a 90 day sale policy!We have been trying to purchase train tickets on renfe.com. We are trying to get from Barcelona to Pamplona on August 18, and there is a train listed for 9:30, (also listed on rome2rio) but though we have checked back many times over the last months, it says that tickets are not available and to check back later. It has been suggested that the tickets may not be available until 1 month before that date. Is that true/possible? What have others experienced in similar situations? Many thanks.
bill
My guess is that they may not have hadJust done a search and it seems that train is on sale up until 31 July at mo so suggest a timescale issue. Other trains aeem To be on sale so not quite sure why that one is different. Think RENFE generally has a 90 day sale policy!
There are trains on sale on that day on sale just not the 0930 for some reason. Only released to 31 July at mo.Or you might take the bus with Alsa.
It takes longer but tickets are already available on their website.
The same applies to the 1732 from Barcelona to Pamplona that is on sale to 21 July but not beyond. Wild guess - possible waiting for clearance to operate from Regulators.My guess is that they may not have had
There are trains on sale on that day on sale just not the 0930 for some reason. Only released to 31 July at mo.
According to Trainline the 9:30 train is sold out on August 18thMy guess is that they may not have had
There are trains on sale on that day on sale just not the 0930 for some reason. Only released to 31 July at mo.
Just found this or Sumatra variations .
Renfe tickets for Alvia and Avant trains are available 62 days before travel. You can buy AVE train tickets up to 90 days in advance.
with respect I think that is highly unlikely. It is probably a ‘catch all’ for no availability in their system.
It’s just the 0930 I think. That train is only released to 31 July at moment.Renfe search worked for the 18th of August.
Renfe - Mi Más Renfe
PAGINAS OFICIALES DE RENFE, HORARIOS, RESERVA, VENTA, BILLETES, ALQUILERventa.renfe.com
I agree: Third party sites like Trainline and Omnio have 'catch all' phrases when train tickets are not available for booking on the actual train operator's site, ie Renfe.com in this case.Quote: According to Trainline the 9:30 train is sold out on August 18th
With respect I think that is highly unlikely. It is probably a ‘catch all’ for no availability in their system.
That may be?? However ,my experience with trainline over the years has been that if the train is not posted yet, they just don’t list it. In this case Trainline is stating that it is sold out!Bit of a hunch but I I wouldn’t be suprised if the 0930
Tickets for august are released in the next few days but who knows.
Oh. I completely forgot. Renfe has a "timetable only" page!Bit of a hunch but I I wouldn’t be suprised if the 0930 tickets for august are released in the next few days but who knows.
Maybe but this is how I think it Generally works.That may be?? However ,my experience with trainline over the years has been that if the train is not posted yet, they just don’t list it. In this case Trainline is stating that it is sold out!
It may be just a clearance issue from regulators, a 100% confirmation that it will operate orOh. I completely forgot. Renfe has a "timetable only" page!
https://www.renfe.com/es/es/viajar/informacion-util/horarios
It says that the 9:30 Alvia train from Barcelona to Pamplona is indeed scheduled for the 18th of August.
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You can pay Renfe with a credit card as well.If you use ‘Rail Europe’ you can set an alert for when tickets on your chosen train go on sale. You don’t have to buy through them and pay their booking fee (although I do), if you’ve got plenty patience and (ideally) a PayPal account you can use RENFE direct.
Spanish rail ticket availability is a mystery - BUT - book early as prices increase as capacity is filled and it’s quite common for there to be no ‘walk up’ availability.
Yep. This train offers up some good prices and seems to be a good seller. Great tip re raileurope!If you use ‘Rail Europe’ you can set an alert for when tickets on your chosen train go on sale. You don’t have to buy through them and pay their booking fee (although I do), if you’ve got plenty patience and (ideally) a PayPal account you can use RENFE direct.
Spanish rail ticket availability is a mystery - BUT - book early as prices increase as capacity is filled and it’s quite common for there to be no ‘walk up’ availability.
You can indeed but for some people (reported on here in the past) using non-Europe-issued credit cards, PayPal was more reliable. I don’t know why.You can pay Renfe with a credit card as well.
You can pay Renfe with a credit card as well.
I know that I was once able to use my US credit card on the Renfe site, but on subsequent attempts it wasn't accepted, and I switched to PayPal.You can indeed but for some people (reported on here in the past) using non-Europe-issued credit cards, PayPal was more reliable. I don’t know why.
Can you clarify what you mean by ‘ahead of time’ please’. Are you suggesting RENFE release inventory through third parties before their own site? I don’t think you are? I would encourage people to book direct assuming all other variables are equal.I have always used Trainline and Busbud, and have had good experiences with both for purchasing tickets online ahead of time.
I have come across this before. It may be because the three trains in your screenshot are different types of train. The two on sale are AVE and Avlo. The one you want to buy is Alvia. These are operated by different parts of the Renfe network, and may have different release days for tickets. You could always email Renfe to ask. They might even reply!I will amend my reply slightly. It actually says not available to buy. Nothing about timing. Again, I don’t know where that is but I hope you can get it sorted.
I this is highly likely to be the reason. Had a google yesterday and some answers inferred this. They seem to release tickets in month blocks as opposed to ‘rolling days, ’ too.I have come across this before. It may be because the three trains in your screenshot are different types of train. The two on sale are AVE and Avlo. The one you want to buy is Alvia. These are operated by different parts of the Renfe network, and may have different release days for tickets. You could always email Renfe to ask. They might even reply!
That is not what I see: There are two Alvia trains from Barcelona to Pamplona, one departing at 9:30 and one departing at 15:30 and the issue is only with the one at 9:30. Tickets for the 15:30 can be bought.The two on sale are AVE and Avlo. The one you want to buy is Alvia. These are operated by different parts of the Renfe network, and may have different release days for tickets. You could always email Renfe to ask. They might even reply!
We could take betsmany thanks for all of your replies...I will keep checking over the next days to see if they become available. We have a car rented in case the train is unavailable.
Absolutely fantastic detective work…hats off. A ‘return’ Pamplona to Barcelona train much later in the day seems to be the same in sales terms. I wondered why such a gap between arriving and departing Barcelona without engaging brain and thinking it may go on to another destination!I had a closer look at the 9:30 Alvia train on Wednesdays from Barcelona to Pamplona. Until 31 July its destination is Vigo Guixar and from then on and until 18 September its destination is Salamanca. This may be the reason for the conundrum: the web app does not cope well with such technical changes and that is why tickets can currently only be bought online until 31st of July. It reminds me of a similar issue with the line Bayonne to SJPP where the most elaborate explanations were given why tickets could not be bought while the timetable was clear: the trains would run. And they did. And closer to the days in question the web app got fed appropriately and allowed ticket purchase, too. This was a TER train, btw, so no ticket contingents, no special offers etc etc. anyway.
Unlike for the 9:30 Alvia train, no such trajectory changes are scheduled for the 15:30 Alvia train from Barcelona to Pamplona. Its destination is and remains San Sebastian until 30 November. Tickets for this train can already be bought for travel on the 30th of November!
Hi Chef,Can you clarify what you mean by ‘ahead of time’ please’. Are you suggesting RENFE release inventory through third parties before their own site? I don’t think you are? I would encourage people to book direct assuming all other variables are equal.
Hi there! Cool, thank you for replying. Yes definitely a range of customer experiences! Yes sometime you just need to ‘get it booked’!!!Hi Chef,
I cannot fully answer your question, but in the past, it was frustrating trying to use the Spanish and French websites to pre-book train and bus tickets; possibly because I live in the US. I was allowed to book months in advance, though. I was able to use my credit card easily on the booking sites I mentioned.
Like @henrythedog said, the price difference was probably negligible and the ease of booking was worth it.
I don't know where you live, but we were never able to buy train or bus tickets ahead from the USA. Nor could we use the handy little ticket machines at the bus stations with our American credit cards. We were told that transportation services would not accept reservations with our American credit cards because they can't check to see if they will actually get their payments. We could buy them in person at the ticket windows for train and bus, and use our card there. Maybe the system has changed, but it might be the same as it was in 2018, the last trip we made to Spain.We have been trying to purchase train tickets on renfe.com. We are trying to get from Barcelona to Pamplona on August 18, and there is a train listed for 9:30, (also listed on rome2rio) but though we have checked back many times over the last months, it says that tickets are not available and to check back later. It has been suggested that the tickets may not be available until 1 month before that date. Is that true/possible? What have others experienced in similar situations? Many thanks.
bill
Only if you buy a premium flexible fare and then it’s with a 5% charge. How it works and how long it takes will require some research and a degree of optimism.Are refunds possible? We can’t be certain my friends plane and immigration clearance will go fast enough to catch train from Madrid to Sarria (only one train that day)
Thanks! Am a little concerned about the extra time (needing as much buffer time as possible), but your advice is well taken.Only if you buy a premium flexible fare and then it’s with a 5% charge. How it works and how long it takes will require some research and a degree of optimism.
Hi one YouTube video suggested that PayPal works better than US credit cards. Might help?I don't know where you live, but we were never able to buy train or bus tickets ahead from the USA. Nor could we use the handy little ticket machines at the bus stations with our American credit cards. We were told that transportation services would not accept reservations with our American credit cards because they can't check to see if they will actually get their payments. We could buy them in person at the ticket windows for train and bus, and use our card there. Maybe the system has changed, but it might be the same as it was in 2018, the last trip we made to Spain.
It's highly unlikely that there is only one train, though it is highly likely that there is only one direct train.Are refunds possible? We can’t be certain my friends plane and immigration clearance will go fast enough to catch train from Madrid to Sarria (only one train that day)
Thanks for that! Will explore connections. And love your impressions of Renee on the other threadIt's highly unlikely that there is only one train, though it is highly likely that there is only one direct train.
Try searching for trains to Ourense and then connections to Sarria.
You might find this thread helpful: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/trains-from-madrid.71669/#post-959519
I just checked the Renfe website. The 9:30 train is not available for booking, but the 3:30 PM train can be booked. I have found that some trains are not available if they are more than 60 days out from the day you are looking. Keep trying. I use Renfe and paypal.We have been trying to purchase train tickets on renfe.com. We are trying to get from Barcelona to Pamplona on August 18, and there is a train listed for 9:30, (also listed on rome2rio) but though we have checked back many times over the last months, it says that tickets are not available and to check back later. It has been suggested that the tickets may not be available until 1 month before that date. Is that true/possible? What have others experienced in similar situations? Many thanks.
bill
Sound advice! I wish the Saturday schedule from Madrid was better. I fear we are stuck with a car service.I recommend booking early and using Omio. I recently tried booking a next day train: Renfe (impossible), Trainline (timed out), but Omio went through with credit card. Later, I checked for an earlier train and ALL were completely booked.
So, get distance tickets in advance.
The exception is getting commuter tickets (e.g. Madrid Barajas to Atocha or Chamartin)...those just get at the gate...much easier!
Are you also assuming, given the expected block release of of tickets by month, that tickets for travel 01 August will be released that same day!We could take bets. My current bet is: online tickets will be available on the 1st of August.
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