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Seat Reservations before buying Pass

  • September 14, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 64 views

We’re travelling to Europe in mid December this year, hoping to wait until the Black Friday sales to get some discount on buying our Global Passes. 

Can I book the seat reservations now through the individual train operators without having our passes yet? 

Best answer by rvdborgt

You can get most reservations without needing a pass number. E.g. Eurostar or TGV reservations via Allaboard.

5 replies

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  • Railly clever
  • September 14, 2026

Which countries are you planning to travel to? In order to buy mandatory seat reservations you normally need a pass number, whereas optional seat reservation normally are avaliable without a pass number.


Marvin Heer
Engin-ius
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  • Engin-ius
  • September 14, 2026

You can if the operators let you book reservations without the interrail Pass number. (some like SJ for example require the Interrail pass number)


  • Author
  • Right on track
  • September 14, 2026

Which countries are you planning to travel to? In order to buy mandatory seat reservations you normally need a pass number, whereas optional seat reservation normally are avaliable without a pass number.

Thanks Anna B. 

I’ve looked at a few routes with the Rail Europe website and it allows me to just add “Interail Global Pass” which seems to automatically adjust the price, presumably to just seat reservation only. I’ll have to try checking with some of the other routes like Eurostar as that would be “Reservation Required” I would think. 


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  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • September 14, 2026

You can get most reservations without needing a pass number. E.g. Eurostar or TGV reservations via Allaboard.


Andreas1099
Full steam ahead
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  • Full steam ahead
  • September 15, 2026

With a few exceptions it is not yet possible to make seat reservations for travel dates after the European timetable change day wich ist this year on December 13th. Trains become usually available for booking from mid October on, international trains first, domestic trains later.