It’s really something nice: Before the train journey, get out of the turmoil on the platform and into the quiet lounge of the train (available in the most important metropolitan train stations). Finally clean toilets, free soft drinks and coffee specialties. Everything only for extreme frequent drivers?
No, Deutsche Bahn is reforming its BahnBonus bonus program (starting on June 13). BILD explains how you can also become a Normalo Premium customer with lounge access. And there are free drinks on the train.
Photo: Deutsche Bahn AG-” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/bahnfahren-soll-fuer-stammkunden-soll-attractive-becoming-274c9ede5bcd4f33bfcf23034b95e7b3-79689882/Bild/15.bild.jpg”/>
Train travel should become more attractive for regular customersPhoto: Deutsche Bahn AG
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Bonus points are required to access the lounges. In order to be able to collect these, passengers still need a BahnCard. Around five million people are currently registered with BahnBonus, of whom around 250,000 currently have BahnComfort status.
Have you ever been to a Deutsche Bahn lounge? There are two types of it.
▶︎ The area for Comfort customers
Up until now, 2,000 status points had to be collected in the BahnBonus program in order to achieve the status of a Comfort customer. Not that easy, because one bonus point is credited for every euro spent on ticket purchases. Means: If points are only collected through ticket sales, 2000 euros must be spent in order to collect 2000 points. However, there are also collection opportunities with partners such as online shops or service providers. Wherever the points come from, they expire after three years.
▶︎ The area for 1st class travelers
If you want to go to the first class lounge, you must have a 1st class Flex ticket. Then there are even sandwiches, cakes and alcohol.
There are DB lounges here (some with First Class): Berlin main station, Bremen main station, Dresden main station, Düsseldorf, Essen main station, Frankfurt/M. Main train station and airport long-distance train, Hamburg main station, Hanover, Cologne main station, Leipzig main station, Mannheim main station, Munich main station, Nuremberg main station, Stuttgart main station.
This is new to the BahnBonus program
Now the railway is changing its bonus program. Now there will be three tiers: silver, gold and platinum. The bottom one is also easy to reach for normal users. The previous BahnComfort status will be abolished. There’s probably silver from 1500, gold from 2500 and platinum from 6000 stat points per year.
For normal users, this means: It’s worth taking the train regularly – more than just three times a year – because 1500 instead of 2000 points are now required for the first level.
Basically:
Customers receive status points for ticket purchases of more than five euros and for the purchase of BahnCards, job tickets and personal annual tickets. The same number of points are also credited as bonus points.
You only get bonus points for sales with partners such as hotels, car rentals, etc.
How to earn points
How do I collect reward and status points? A calculation example:
▶︎ 4 journeys with the ICE in 2nd class, Berlin – Munich route, flexible price. 4 x 153 euros = 572 status and bonus points
▶︎ 2 journeys with the ICE in 2nd class, Hamburg-Frankfurt route, saver fare. 3 x 75 euros = 225 status and bonus points
▶︎ Registration for the BahnBonus program: 250 status points and bonus points each.
When registering for BahnBonus e-mail communication, a 1st class upgrade is currently issued, but no points.
Total: 1037 bonus points! 467 points are still missing for silver status.
What benefits are there for bronze, silver and gold status
A BahnCard is no longer necessary, but it’s still worth it because of the discounts. BahnBonus points continue to expire after three years, status points after twelve months.
Here are the benefits from June 13th
▶︎ Silver level:
8 free drinks on board catering
8 day passes DB Lounge
30 Freiminuten Call a Bike
▶︎ Gold level:
12 free drinks on board catering
Exclusive seating area
Flat rate entrance to the DB Lounge
▶︎ Platinum level:
All Gold tier benefits
30% discount on board catering (can be used four times)
Flat rate entry DB Lounge Premium area
2 free rides on the outward and return journey
Status guarantee (from now on you will always keep a status, at most you will be downgraded to silver)
How is the transition going?
The railway now welcomes all status customers to the new levels of silver, gold and platinum. A spokeswoman for BILD: “Participants of BahnBonus who are on 13.6. If you have more than 1500 status points, you automatically get silver status.”
Sparfochs verdict: Deutsche Bahn is now making the program attractive for more frequent travelers. The free drinks are a good move.
Do you know more? What did you experience with the train? Write to [email protected]
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