Summary Air India's Rail & Fly connects passengers with Deutsche Bahn, providing seamless travel around Germany. Booking is simple through Air India, and the service offers flexibility with train times. Benefits like simplicity for travelers and environmental sustainability highlight the growing trend of integrated travel solutions.
Air India 's Rail & Fly service is an intermodal travel option that connects Air India passengers with Deutsche Bahn (DB) train services, providing them with a convenient way to travel between German airports and over 5,600 train stations across the country. They also collaborate with AccessRail for travel across Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK. This service is part of a growing trend towards integrated travel solutions, aimed at offering passengers a seamless transition from the skies to the rails to their final destinations.
"The expansion of our global network is one of our key priorities in the ongoing, comprehensive transformation of Air India. This partnership with AccesRail not only helps us to provide our guests easy access to an extended network of destinations across Europe but also to bridge the gaps in connectivity between India and Europe. Augmenting our network with an intermodal approach also underlines our commitment to environmental sustainability.
" -- Nipun Aggarwal, AI's Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer, via The Economic Times How does Rail & Fly work? Rail & Fly is relatively straightforward to book. When purchasing a flight through Air India's website (or via their mobile app), you can opt to add a Rail & Fly ticket to your itinerary. To check in and collect your train ticket, you will need to visit the partner website or login via their mobile app (AccessRail or Deutsche) and confirm using your Air India ticket number.
The service itself offers flexibility, allowing you to choose your train time within a window around your flight's departure or arrival. This means you don’t have to worry if your flight is delayed or if you want to spend some extra time at your destination before heading to the airport. With many ways how to earn miles while not flying, intermodal transportation became one of the mediums airline loyalty programs have long explored.
How to actually use Rail & Fly: Booking: Add Rail & Fly to your flight booking through Air India. Checking In: You must complete your web check-in 72 hours before departure. Ticket Collection: Retrieve your train ticket using the code provided, either online or via the partner mobile app.
Traveling: Travel on any Deutsche Bahn or AccessRail train that fits within the allowed time window. The baggage allowance you have on your Air India flight will be the same for your train trip as well. Rail & Fly target audience benefits: Germany For international travelers flying into or out of Germany on Air India flights, Rail & Fly can be a valuable and useful service, especially if your final destination isn’t near a major airport.
The service simplifies the logistics of reaching smaller cities or towns, which might otherwise require separate travel bookings for train/bus tickets, taxi/shuttle services, or car rentals. Business travelers, in particular, may find Rail & Fly appealing because it reduces the hassle of managing multiple tickets and offers a smoother travel experience. Additionally, for those unfamiliar with Germany’s extensive train network, having everything tied into one booking can alleviate the stress of navigating new transport systems.
However, while the service is undoubtedly convenient, it's not without its limitations and understanding them can help you decide whether Rail & Fly is the right choice for your upcoming trip to Germany or not. Making the flexibility trade-off One of the primary selling points of Rail & Fly is its flexibility: You can travel on almost any train whose schedule fits within the allowed time window around your flight. This can be a significant advantage if you want to explore your destination more leisurely, or need to accommodate flight delays.
This flexibility comes with a caveat though: the Rail & Fly ticket doesn't reserve a specific seat on the train. During peak travel times, trains can be crowded, and without a reserved seat, you might find yourself standing for the journey or unable to book trains that already have an exceptionally high demand at all, according to Air India . For those of you who are used to the predictability of reserved seating on long journeys, this could be a considerable downside.
It’s worth weighing the convenience of Rail & Fly against the potential inconvenience of having to find an unreserved seat on a crowded train. If you prefer a guaranteed seat, you can purchase a seat reservation separately through Deutsche Bahn (either on the website or through the DB Navigator app). This adds to the cost but might be worth it for longer trips or during busy travel periods.
Key features of Rail & Fly Classes of Service: Choose between Economy and Business cabins for your rail and bus travel. Train Coverage: You can now access all Deutsche Bahn-serviced stations within Germany. Ticket Flexibility: Travel on any train within the time window, but no reserved seating unless booked separately.
Passengers can travel to and from 25 cities in Germany and Basel on a single ticket via Frankfurt Aiport with the German rail operator. Wrapping it up Air India's Rail & Fly service offers a convenient way to combine air and rail travel, particularly for those looking to connect seamlessly within Germany. It’s also an excellent option for European travelers who value the flexibility and convenience of connecting through AccessRail, especially when navigating a new country’s transport system.
However, it’s not without its drawbacks, e.g. the lack of reserved seating and the potential unavailability of high-demand routes at peak times.
For frequent travelers or those on a tight schedule, the ability to move fluidly between flights and trains without worrying about separate bookings can be a significant advantage. But if comfort is a priority, particularly on longer train journeys, you may want to weigh the benefits of Rail & Fly against the more traditional separate-bookings method and pay more for that peace of mind. In the end, Rail & Fly is a robust solution for many, but not a one-size-fits-all.
As with any travel service, it’s essential to consider your specific needs and travel style before deciding to hop onboard..
