Those who book their seat reservation in ICE trains not through Deutsche Bahn but through the Czech provider České dráhy (ČD) pay only around €3.10 instead of €5.50 (2nd class) or €6.90 (1st class), according to a report. The ticket itself is still purchased via DB.
Quick overview
This report is primarily relevant for rail travelers because it may have concrete effects on planning, connections, or infrastructure. The focus is on Deutschebahn, Ice, Sitzplatzreservierung, Cd, Reisetipp, and Fernverkehr. The key points are summarized compactly below.
Key points
- Reservation via cd.cz (ČD) costs around €3.10 per train – cheaper than Deutsche Bahn’s €5.50 (2nd class) or €6.90 (1st class).
- Procedure: Find the connection and seat number on bahn.de, then select the “Reservations only” option on cd.cz and pay by credit card.
- ČD allows exchange or refund up to 15 minutes before departure; DB does not offer this flexibility.
- The trick is especially worthwhile for direct connections – for connections with transfers, the reservation fee is charged twice.
- ÖBB has already aligned its reservation prices for domestic German ICE routes with DB; a similar end to the ČD trick is possible.
- Additionally, a DB PayPal cashback promotion runs until September 13, 2026 (5%, max. €5, 250,000 participants).
What this means for travelers
For travelers, it is worth taking a close look at the period, route, and booking conditions. The key question is whether the report already triggers concrete timetable changes or initially describes a political or strategic development.
Context
Consumer tip on seat reservations on Deutsche Bahn’s ICE long-distance services, involving the Czech provider České dráhy as well as a current PayPal cashback promotion.
What to watch now
- Check concrete timetable or construction notices only once travel dates are set.
- Plan more generous transfer times for international trips.
- Monitor source and operator information in case dates are still provisional.