Deutsche Bahn First Class worth it?

[YorkshireBear]

Noticed for a trip im planning the first class advance is only an extra 15 euro each (65 vice 50) for Brussels to stuttgart so a decent length trip.

Has anyone any experience? Is this worth it?

 

[P Binnersley]

First class is 2+1 seating with a bit more space. No free food/drink (but I think we got a small packet of Haribo last time we went 1st class).

DB Lounge access is only available to holders of fully flexible tickets (not Sparpreis etc).

The Man in Seat 61 says 2nd class is fine; but 15€ for a four hour journey is probably worth it for the extra space and (hopefully) lack of screaming kids etc.

 

[30907]

First class is 2+1 seating with a bit more space. No free food/drink (but I think we got a small packet of Haribo last time we went 1st class).

DB Lounge access is only available to holders of fully flexible tickets (not Sparpreis etc).

The Man in Seat 61 says 2nd class is fine; but 15€ for a four hour journey is probably worth it for the extra space and (hopefully) lack of screaming kids etc.

You also get a seat reserved for free, and at-seat service from the bistro (paid for!).

 

[dutchflyer]

For this trip lounge is a non-issue anyway, as these are of course only in DE itself. DO note that S-HBF is since many years and currently in about its heaviest state of complete rebuild and a big mess and maze to pass.
I bet its weekend -then you also will not have the masses of Geschaeftsleute (beez-neez-menny) that tend to flock it. Often with some kind of sniff on passholders, ignorant tourists etc. Main advantage is that 1st should also include a free seat-REServ., well worth it in any case for these trains BE-DE. They also have one of the highest % of cancellations.......

 

[DeverseSam]

Noticed for a trip im planning the first class advance is only an extra 15 euro each (65 vice 50) for Brussels to stuttgart so a decent length trip.

Has anyone any experience? Is this worth it?

Interrail is a gift for a non-German resident travelling in Germany..

 

[rg177]

For the sake of knowing you'll have a seat and having a bit more space to move around, it's worth it.

First on the DB ICEs is one of the nicest in Europe. Classy and spacious. I once did Brussels to Vienna with the one change in Frankfurt and despite it being a very long day it was genuinely relaxing.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Knew about the lounges so yeah I'll cope with that. Ah okay, I'd have paid for the reserved seat anyway so that makes first class even less expensive as the 50 euros did not include that. Thanks all, seems overall will be worth it especially as only two of us.

Interrail is a gift for a non-German resident travelling in Germany..

It is 100% but the trip takes us way further than Germany I think we spend about 36 hours there in 11 days. Looked at prices today and due to the sleeper supplements and low price Eurostars point to point tickets will make it £100 pp cheaper! I was fairly shocked as we are only going to interail friendly countries!

 

[D365]

You also get a seat reserved for free, and at-seat service from the bistro (paid for!).

I've paid 25€ for the first class upgrade from Berlin to Munich. Was 50-50 on this, but I had a good experience last year from Paris to Munich, and thanks for reminding me about the at-seat.

 

[Grumpy Git]

Its definitely worth it.

I travelled from Brussels to Frankfurt and back (on a first class Interrail Pass) before Covid. I'd normally have flown, but at the time the available airfares were horrendously expensive and I had plenty of time spare, so took the opportunity of going by rail.

I would 100% do it again using first class.

 

[popeter45]

I'm taking First class in July Brussels to Basel and later Hamburg to Copenhagen
big thing i like with DB first class is compartments if you can get them as amazing if you want to work on your laptop
ended up shelling out for the lounge access on the Brussels to Basel as due to timings either had to spend 3-4 hours waiting at a station or risk it and if a ICE was delayed at all would miss onwards connections (especally so as Aachen-cologne has diversions so highly suspect that will have delays) so plan on taking a longish connection at Frankfurt

 

[Bletchleyite]

I would. No freebies but better comfort at a reasonable markup. Exactly as First should be.

 

[Mainline421]

Technically there's free biscuits sometimes

 

[Beebman]

Technically there's free biscuits sometimes

I had free biscuits last year on a journey from Leipzig to Dresden but I assumed that it was some sort of gift as an apology for a diversion via Elsterwerda due to weekend engineering works. (I was simply grateful that no rail replacement bus was involved as I'm sure would have happened here in the UK!)

 

[YorkshireBear]

Thanks all! Think I'll be booking it first class!

 

[jeremyjh]

You also get a seat reserved for free, and at-seat service from the bistro (paid for!).

Don't bank on at-seat service being available, especially on this route. I don't think this detracts that much from the offer. First class is worth it particularly if you're travelling as a couple and can manage to reserve seats across a table.

You definitely do want reserved seats for this route.

 

[AY1975]

DB Lounge access is only available to holders of fully flexible tickets (not Sparpreis etc).

Is it available to holders of 1st class Interrail or Eurail passes?

 

[jeremyjh]

Is it available to holders of 1st class Interrail or Eurail passes?

No, it is not. Some other countries do permit pass holder access, e.g. Austria and Sweden, but Germany does not.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Please note that many long distance trains in DE do run very full, so the extra space in 1st on DB may not work so well in practice. The at-seat service is, in principle, still offered but very rarely volunteered these days. You can ask the ticket inspector, if you see one, and see if that works but generally it's best just to go to the restaurant wagen yourself and order from the window there. It's pretty hit and miss, particularly on the international ICEs to Belgium and the Netherlands.

Have had to stand several times this year, in 1st, so always a good idea to get a seat reservation if you are going any distance.

 

[Polrail]

You also get a seat reserved for free

From 11 June the free seat reservation for a first class ticket is being eliminated. It will cost 5,90 Euro. The reservation free in 2nd class is rising to 4,90 Euro.

 

[peteb]

I noticed a lot of first class seats on DB tend to be airline style which I particularly dislike when also not properly aligned to windows and when forced to travel backwards. So for me a seat in 2nd class in a group of four (reservable on DB website) is preferable. This always has a decent window view

 

[Bletchleyite]

I noticed a lot of first class seats on DB tend to be airline style which I particularly dislike when also not properly aligned to windows and when forced to travel backwards. So for me a seat in 2nd class in a group of four (reservable on DB website) is preferable. This always has a decent window view

I do agree with you that misaligned windows in 1st is unacceptable (and common on the mainland). However I do rather value single airline seats for the privacy, and am much more inclined to upgrade if they are provided.

 

[rvdborgt]

From 11 June the free seat reservation for a first class ticket is being eliminated. It will cost 5,90 Euro.

ÖBB still have them for free.

 

[duesselmartin]

From 11 June the free seat reservation for a first class ticket is being eliminated. It will cost 5,90 Euro. The reservation free in 2nd class is rising to 4,90 Euro.

Interesting as this has not really hit the German media. There will be nasty surprises for some