“Why would I need to buy a Euro train ticket for somebody else?”
Great question.
Because you’re a good friend?
Maybe it’s because you’re a helpful parent.
Perhaps it’s your job to book train travel for your client, boss, or team.
Regardless of why you would need to buy a European train ticket for someone else, it’s important that you know how. We’ve got everything you need to know regarding how to buy Europe train tickets for someone else, how to pay in different currencies, and how to change the name on a ticket.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Susanne Walstrom. Image Location: Sweden
Can I buy a train ticket for somebody else traveling in Europe?
Yes, you can absolutely purchase a train ticket for somebody else traveling in Europe. In theory, anyone can purchase a train ticket for another person; you don’t need to be related or anything like that. Successfully buying a train ticket for somebody else depends on two things:
- The traveler’s name must be on the ticket.
- The traveler must be able to access the ticket.
These are pretty important points that you shouldn’t gloss over. Making a simple mistake, like adding your name to a ticket intended for someone else, can cost you.
Do I need to be in Europe to buy a train ticket for someone else?
Absolutely not. Most European train carriers allow you to purchase train tickets online. Again, the important thing is that you purchase them in the traveler’s name and that the traveler can access the ticket. Trainline makes it easy to buy European train tickets from the comfort of your home in the United States; and, yes, that also means buying train tickets in the USA for someone who is currently in Europe.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Catherine Falls Commercial. Image Location: United Kingdom
What are the options for buying a train ticket for someone else traveling in Europe?
You have a handful of options when buying a train ticket for someone traveling in Europe. The “best” way, if there is one, will always be the method that is the most convenient for you and the traveler.
Mobile tickets
We love the instant convenience and simplicity that mobile tickets provide. Imagine this: you pull up an app, choose the route, add in the traveler’s name, have the confirmation emailed to them, then BAM — they’ve got a mobile train ticket for Europe.
E-tickets
Let’s say you’re a hip youth buying a train ticket for your not-so-tech savvy parent who wants to have a hard copy ticket in their hand. No worries: you can purchase tickets online, have the ticket emailed to them, then they can print it out and put it in their pocket (ya know, the same place they keep their mobile phone that can just as easily hold said ticket).
By post
Planning on surprising someone in an old school way via the mailman? That’s cool with most carriers. Just make sure you put the traveler’s address in the delivery line, not your address.
Helpful hint: double check that you’re putting yours in the billing section and not the delivery section.
Self-service ticket machine (in person)
You’re a stickler for a schedule and your travel companion is sleeping in. You can let them snooze without losing time: simply go to the train station kiosk and purchase a ticket under their name. By the time they wake up, they’ll have their train travel all sorted and you’ll have a little less stress in your life.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Alphotographic.
Can I change the name on a train ticket?
In short, yes, you can change the name on a train ticket — but usually for a fee. Let’s say you’ve got an obvious misspelling on your ticket; you should be good to go. But if you canceled a Europe trip and wanted to let your friend have your ticket, you’d likely need to purchase a new ticket under the new traveler’s name. We’ve got a whole FAQ piece dedicated to changing the name on a train ticket.
🚆Trainline Tip: For certain tickets on some carriers, such as iryo, Renfe, and Trenitalia, you can change your name through Trainline. For others, there’s nothing we can do, unfortunately. Make sure you read the fine print for each carrier and ticket type before purchasing.
Can I choose the currency that I buy a train ticket with?
Yes, in many cases, you’re able to choose the currency when buying a train ticket. On Trainline, you can choose between 10 currencies to purchase your tickets. Make sure you check with your bank ahead of time to understand if and when you’ll need to pay any foreign currency transaction or conversion fees.
Check out this how-to for using Trainline’s multi-currency feature.
What’s the easiest way to buy a train ticket to Europe for someone else?
In our modest opinion, we think buying a train ticket to Europe for someone else is easiest on the mobile app and online. Both are instantaneous ways to not only book the ticket, but to know that they’ve received and can access the digital ticket.
Make sure you and the other traveler download the Trainline app to make buying a train ticket for somebody else traveling in Europe as easy as possible.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Aaron Chen PS2. Image Location: city, country
