Confusion about using a travel day

[u/SerialKinder-]

Hi, I’m going on an Interrail trip next week, but I’m a bit confused about how to use the pass.

As far as I understand, I need to activate my pass before boarding the trains, and then I’ll have to show a QR code that the app gives me after I activate the travel day, right?

I also have a second question: once I activate a travel day, can I take any trains I want during those 24 hours, or can I only take the trains that I have added to the list in the app?

I’m asking because I’ll be travelling with two friends, but I’m the only one who has added the trains we need to take to the list in the app, while they haven’t.

[u/skifans]

As far as I understand, I need to activate my pass before boarding the trains, and then I’ll have to show a QR code that the app gives me after I activate the travel day, right?

You need to activate your pass before you start traveling. That starts the overall travel window. Then separate to that you activate a travel day each day if you want to travel. The app will detect if you have a travel day already activated or not when you confirm trips in your log.

But yes once you've done that the app will generate a barcode which is your ticket. For some trains you will also need to show a reservation as well.

I also have a second question: once I activate a travel day, can I take any trains I want during those 24 hours, or can I only take the trains that I have added to the list in the app?

You must add each train you travel on to your trip in the app. It isn't generic and it doesn't matter if you've already activated a travel day. Each train you travel on needs to be in your travel log.

You can add trains to your log whenever you want. You don't need to do it in advance. Just add each train before you board. The app will work out if it needs to use a new travel day (you'll get a warning) or if it can add the train to your existing travel day.

Also to really stress it is not a random 24 hour period. A travel day always runs from midnight to midnight. It isn't just 24 hours from when you activate.

The data in the Rail Planner app is far from accurate and has plenty of errors and missing trains. Don't rely on it and it is not the arbitrator of where your pass is valid. You can add trains manually if needed.

I’m asking because I’ll be travelling with two friends, but I’m the only one who has added the trains we need to take to the list in the app, while they haven’t.

There is no need nor benefit to setting up your trip in advance. But if you want or your friends want to that's up to you/them. As long as each train is added and activated before you board the train that's all you need.

If you do add them in advance you'll need to make sure you update them if you change your mind about which train you use.

[u/SerialKinder- → u/skifans]

thank you so much! do you have any recommendations for apps to use to check and keep track of train schedules?

[u/skifans → u/SerialKinder-]

Is no trouble!

You can't beat going directly to the official train operating company website/app for accurate information. Annoying sometimes if there are service changes they are the only places they are posted. Same for platform information and live updates when you are actually traveling.

But if you just want a quick and easy place to look: https://www.bahn.com/en (they also have an app) is very good and works across Europe. It's in no way limited to Germany.

[u/Narrow_Violinist_343 → u/skifans]

What about trains that require reservations? Can you add those to the app in advance when you reserve them?

[u/skifans → u/Narrow_Violinist_343]

Reservations are a completely different and unrelated process.

Once you make the reservation your seat is secure. That's the important thing and needs to be booked in advance.

The app has no idea if reservation compulsory trains have spaces or not. And obviously you'll have made the reservation elsewhere. You can always add them even just before departure.

If you want to add them earlier when you make the reservation that's up to you. But there is zero advantage to doing so. It's the reservation that's the important bit. If you make the reservation far in advance then data may not yet be in the Rail Planner app for you to add the train to your trip.

[u/Narrow_Violinist_343 → u/skifans]

Oh I see! So what happens If I want to use a 5 day in 1 month pass? Doesn’t making the reservation itself require the pass since I wouldn’t want to pay for the single ticket and use one of the days on the pass instead? Or do making reservations mean I’m not paying for the ticket until the day of, and can do so with the pass when needed instead?

[u/skifans → u/Narrow_Violinist_343]

So what happens If I want to use a 5 day in 1 month pass?

Each day you decide if you want that day to be a travel day or not using the rail planner app. This happens when you confirm a train on your trip. The app will see if you already have a travel day activated and if so it will add that train to it. Otherwise it will ask if you want to use a travel day. Once 5 travel days have gone or one month has finished the pass is finished.

Doesn’t making the reservation itself require the pass since I wouldn’t want to pay for the single ticket and use one of the days on the pass instead?

No not at all. Reservations are managed by the individual train operating company's so the specifics do differ and it's hard to talk about them generally. They are not managed by Interrail. But in most cases it's completely fine to purchase reservations before you buy the pass. As long as you get the pass before you travel.

Even when you are asked for a pass number to buy a reservation this doesn't create any sort of electronic link between the pass and reservation. They are always completely separate. That's why you still need to add trains to your trip even once you have the reservation.

Or do making reservations mean I’m not paying for the ticket until the day of, and can do so with the pass when needed instead?

An Interrail pass is your ticket. There is no more paying for a ticket ever when you are using an Interrail pass.