No more renfe discount tickets?

[Alan Pearce]

I have just bought a renfe trenhotel ticket for travel from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid. It used to be that if you bought the ticket immediately after they were released [62 days from date of travel] then you could get a discounted price, often at half the cost . This no longer applies for this trip, and I was wondering if all such renfe discounts have been abolished due to the financial crisis facing Spain. I am not complaining, just wondering.

The good thing about booking as early as I have, is that I have secured a bottom bunk!

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola - pilgrims ask about discounted train and air tickets. The last I heard of discounts from Renfe only applied during the Holy Year for travel to and from Santiago.

John

 

[Senyor Pirotecnic]

No, Renfe haven't stopped offering cheap webfares from 62 days before departure, however they don't seem to come up on the Santiago-Madrid connection.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Current Renfe discounts:

AVE – Larga Distancia

This offer is targeted at persons making a return journey without more than 60 days between each leg and using the same point of departure and destination cities.

The discount is 20% for all AVE–Larga Distancia trains.

Once obtained round-trip tickets will not afford the partial cancellation of the trip of gone, being necessary to cancel both and to request new tickets.

The offer is compatible with Media Distancia trains, except Avant trains with Ave and Conventional Media Distancia with AVE trains, in which case the conditions of sale that each operator establishes will apply.

On AVE-Larga Distancia

If you are 60 years old, make the most of the advantages and convenience of travelling by train and apply for a Dorada Card. This card will entitle you to purchase tickets for any class and train. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays you will receive a 40% discount. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays the discount will be 25% for tickets that have not been bought in advance and with a reserved seat.

The Dorada Card is valid for one year and can be requested at Renfe stations, ticket offices and travel agencies for 5,05 Euros. There is also the option of purchasing the Dorada Card linked to credit and debit cards issued by some banks.

Pensioners over 18 years old who have a permanent total or absolute physical or mental impairment or severe disability that has been officially declared, and people with a level of disability equal to or more than 65%, can also benefit from the Dorada Card. For such persons the words " AND TRAVELLING COMPANION" will be printed on the card, which will allow another person to travel with the same terms of discount.

On Media Distancia

Passengers who hold this card (over 60 years, pensioners over 18 years, in situations of physical or mental disability permanent total, absolute or serious disability, formally declared, and persons with disabilities less than 65%) will receive a 40% discount for all trains, days and routes.
On Avant

25% to 40%. Dorada Card holders.

25% from Monday to Friday.

40% Saturday and Sunday.

 

[peregrina2000]

RENFE has extended the window from 60 to 120 days, so my guess is that all the cheap web fare tickets are sold out. (This just happened recently, and I don't think the main ticket brokers, e.g., petrabax.com and raileurope.com, have yet adjusted their websites).

RENFE has two cheap web fares available in very limited numbers: the "web" fare, which is the cheapest, and the "estrella" fare, which is the next cheapest. In my experience these fares frequently sell out within minutes of being posted.

If you are over 60, though, with a purchase of a tarjeta dorada for 5 euros a year, you can get 40% discount on every train ticket or Cercanias ticket you buy. To use that card, though, you have to make an in-person purchase.

So that's at least one good thing about being over 60! Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Alan Pearce]

Renfe is showing the price for a cama turista [second class sleeping berth] ticket from Compostela to Madrid on 11th-12th-13th Sept as a discounted 46.85 euro. I paid 78 euro for my ticket which is for the middle of October. The 46.85 is a 40% discount.

Alan

Be brave. Life is joyous.