Deutsche Bahn reverses flex-price cancellation fees and launches new discounts

Deutsche Bahn (DB) has announced that it will reverse its cancellation policy for flex-price tickets, which was amended at the end of 2024. Starting June 15, cancellations will again be free of charge until one day before the first day of validity, DB announced on Wednesday. Previously, returns were only possible without a fee up to eight days before the start of the journey. Starting mid-June, there will also be particularly affordable offers for every target group.

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According to DB, the cancellation policy is being permanently reversed due to numerous customer requests. With the timetable change in December 2024, a fee of ten euros was charged for returning a flex-price ticket after eight days before departure. This had been criticized by, for example, the passenger association Pro Bahn. Now, the policy is being reversed.

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Also starting June 15, there will be a discount on flex-price tickets if purchased more than 28 days before departure. Customers will save 20 percent compared to booking on the day of departure.

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Starting in mid-June, tickets for short journeys of around 100 kilometers will be available starting at €6.99. With a Bahncard, the price drops to €5.24 for short trips, according to DB. There are also additional discounts and offers for long-distance travelers under 27, senior citizens, and commuters.

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Holders of a Bahncard 50 can also bring a companion with them until September 30th for the same price. Both travelers will then receive a 50 percent discount on all flex fares and a 25 percent discount on saver fares. According to Deutsche Bahn, this will save around €120 from Frankfurt am Main to Munich.

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Deutsche Bahn expects trains to be well-occupied over the upcoming holidays. According to the company, bookings for Ascension Day on May 29 are nine percent higher than last year, and for Pentecost, DB recorded a four percent increase. A particularly high number of travelers are expected between major cities, for example, on the routes from Frankfurt to Munich or from Hamburg to Berlin.