If you would like to request a refund for a seat reservation, please read this article very carefully. The steps you need to take depend on the reason of your refund request, which can be either of the following:
You have decided to voluntarily take a different route/ train
The following information is relevant in case your plans simply changed, and the train you made a reservation for is expected to operate normally. In this case, the normal refund conditions of your seat reservation apply. These are set by the company operating the train you are booked on, meaning the refundability of your seat reservations can be different per route you booked. If you made your seat reservations through a different party, then please contact them directly. We will not be able to assist with bookings made through third parties.
Most seat reservations are not exchangeable and non-refundable. You can review which conditions apply to your seat reservation(s) through the following steps:
- Log into your Interrail account on www.interrail.eu
- Click on 'Hi [your name]' on the top right, and go to your reservations overview.
3. in your reservations overview you can see if a refund is allowed by clicking on the bin icon next to the seat reservation you would like to cancel.
4. If a refund is offered, you can click the ‘validate’ button to accept the refund offered. This will cancel the ticket in the booking system, and automatically initiate the refund process. No further refunds can be offered beyond this step, even if you did not travel for reasons outside of your control. If you receive an error message, or are unable to see the reservation in your overview, please let us know as soon as possible.
Note: E-tickets and paper tickets are processed differently. For e-tickets, the refund will be processed automatically. For paper tickets, you will be provided a return address to which you will need to send the tickets. Once the paper tickets are returned to us, the refund will be processed after which you will receive a confirmation. Once a refund is issued, it should be received within 3-5 business days.
You will/ did not use your seat reservation for reasons outside your control
If you could not use your seat reservations despite wanting to, due to e.g. a strike, the train getting cancelled, or a delay of a connecting train, do not cancel your ticket in the Interrail system. In this case, please follow the next steps according to the situation that applies to you.
The travel date of your seat reservation is in the future
If you got informed that your train is cancelled, please make a new seat reservation as soon as possible. If you cannot find a seat reservation for the day you'd like to travel, please check these tips on how to travel without seat reservations. This might help you to re-plan your journey, and avoid seat reservations along the way. If you struggle to re-plan your itinerary, you can contact the DiscoverEU Travel Team for assistance.
To reclaim the costs of your seat reservation, please do not cancel your seat reservation on the Interrail website. Instead, contact us so that we can reclaim the costs with the train company on your behalf. If you received a notice of the train's cancellation by the train company, please include this in your email to us.
If you cancel the seat reservation in the Interrail system, we cannot provide any further refund beyond the balance that is automatically issued to you. Please note that the booking fee on your seat reservation is non-refundable.
The travel date of your seat reservation is today
- Check in the Planner what your next available itinerary would be. If your new itinerary does not require a seat reservation, simply add the new trains to your QR-code and finish your journey. Once you reached your destination, contact us for further assistance to retrieve a refund for the previous seat reservation.
- If your next available itinerary does require a seat reservation, speak to the train staff to see what can be done. If you're on board a train, ask for a written proof of the delay if applicable. Once you reach the station, speak to the information desk and ask for a rebooking. If you show them the cancellation statement, as well as your seat reservation for the missed train, they should arrange your onward journey (including any new seat reservations) free of charge.
The travel date of your seat reservation is in the past
To reclaim the costs of your seat reservation, please do not cancel your seat reservation on the Interrail website. Instead, contact us so that we can reclaim the costs with the train company on your behalf. If you received a notice of the train's cancellation by the train company, please include this in your email to us.
If you cancel the seat reservation in the Interrail system, we cannot provide any further refund beyond the balance that is automatically issued to you. Please note that the booking fee on your seat reservation is non-refundable.