How to buy discounted train tickets

There are several ways to buy train tickets at discounted pricesFirst of all, both Trenitalia and Italo always offer special offers, but they have one key thing in common: they must be purchased a few days in advance of the travel date. Then there's a second option: browsing a platform dedicated specifically to buying and selling train tickets at discounted prices.

The “Find a Place” platform

The platform “Find a place” It's very useful for both buying and selling train tickets. Selling becomes especially valuable when it involves tickets purchased with the super economy option, which doesn't provide a refund, even partial, in the event of a missed departure.

How does the platform work? Once you register, on the platform's homepage, you can search for a ticket for your desired route and date. If available, you can purchase it, paying by credit card, and the seller will receive the payment within two days of your trip. Once registered, you must:

• Enter the departure and arrival stations
• Choose the date of your trip
• At that point  tickets are shown for sale by other users, with timetable, price and number of seats.

When making this type of purchase, you should always pay attention to one important aspect: Since it is a private negotiation, tickets are not refundable under any circumstances.. If you have a ticket that you don't use and want to sell it, proceed as follows:

• Enter the details (route, date, price)
• Place your ad online
• At that point, anyone interested can buy your ticket
• After the trip, the platform credits the amount to your current account (minus a commission that is retained by the platform).

If the ticket is a paper version, the parties agree on delivery and collection.

Omnio Instead, it's a website that allows you to make useful comparisons between prices and offers for the same route from different airlines.

Round trip during the day or during the week

Now let's look at the specific offers from Trenitalia and Italo. A very convenient purchase, which should be made no later than two days before the train's departure, is a return ticket for the same day or during the week. This option is available on both Trenitalia and Italo.

Specifically, Trenitalia offers it to travelers who use the Frecce trains: red, white, and silver. This promotion allows you to travel at reduced prices if your trip ends on the same day.The discounts applied are 30% if you travel from Sunday to Friday and 50% if you travel on Saturday.Tickets must be booked in advance, by midnight three days before the departure date.

Family ticket

Another interesting option is the family ticket, especially for long-distance journeys. The FrecciaFAMILY offer is the ideal solution for small groups (2 to 5 people) that include at least one adult and a child under 15: thanks to this promotion, Children under 15 travel free, while adults receive a 50% discount. on the base price. This fare is available on all Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca trains, provided you book well in advance, that is, by midnight on the fifteenth day before departure.

Italo instead proposes a formula called Italo Famiglia: Children under 14 travel free In a Smart or Prima environment. The family or group must consist of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 travelers.

Trenitalia's Me&You fare

If you are traveling as a couple, there is nothing better than this offer Me&You by Trenitalia, which allows you to travel saving up to 50% on Intercity, Intercity Notte and Frecciabianca trains in all classes, excluding Comfort Couchettes, Relax Sleeper Cars and Superior cabins.

The offer must be purchased by midnight on the second day before upon departure (in the case of the Frecciabianca by midnight on the 9th day). Be careful, however: the ticket cannot be changed or refunded, unless you add the tiRimborso option (at a cost of €2).

Senior Offer

The Trenitalia Senior offer is for people who have turned 60 years old and who are CARTAFRECCIA members, and Intercity, Frecciabianca, and Frecciarossa trains. The discount can be up to 50 percent, but even in this case the ticket must be purchased in advance: it is available until midnight on the eleventh day before departure.

Other offers from Italo 

Italo also offers various deals that can be viewed directly on its website: once registered, you can benefit from Low Cost, Economy, and Flex fares, discounts on your first trip, and free award tickets. For families, Italo offers the Italo Famiglia deal, which allows children under 14 to travel for free. Discounts are also available for adults.

Among the discounts there is Italo eXtra Magic, the promotional rate designed for those who want to travel for less. With this offer, you can get discounts of up to 70% off the standard rate by choosing to travel in the Smart or Prima Business ambience. More information can be found on the website. italotreno.com.

Carnet tickets

If you travel frequently on the same route, the convenience may consist in purchasing a booklet of ticketsTrenitalia offers 5-, 10-, and 15-journey carnets, which can save you up to 30%; Italo offers at least two types: the Standard 10-journey carnet (with a discount of about 20%) and the Smart Worker 10/20-journey carnet (with discounts of up to 80%).

Trenitalia allows Cartafreccia holders to purchase a 3x2 carnet valid for 60 days and make three trips on the same route for the price of two.

Loyalty discounts

Frequent train travelers can also count on signing up for a points program offered by both Italo and Trenitalia, which guarantees significant savings. By registering on the Trenitalia website, “Cartafreccia” is required to start accumulating points for each journey made (automatically if purchased online, or by providing the "Cartafreccia" code if tickets are purchased through other channels). The discount can range from 5% to 10%.

Italo offers instead “Italo più”, a “loyalty” program that allows you to accumulate points for each trip. Furthermore, with “Italo più” you can also access a whole series of promotions dedicated to customers.

Read also:

• Why travel by train: 10 good reasons to do so
• High-speed trains are increasing, but commuter trains are increasingly delayed.
• The 10 most beautiful train journeys in the world