Deutsche Bahn makes 99.99-euro family ticket permanent for trips from 1 November

A permanent offer from 1 November

Deutsche Bahn is turning its family ticket into a permanent product after offering it for the first time during the summer holidays. Sales start on 26 October, and the ticket covers journeys from 1 November on ICE and IC long-distance trains. Up to five people can travel together for 99.99 euros round trip, with seat reservations included. A one-way journey costs 59.99 euros. Relatives are not required to travel together, but at least one child must be part of the group. The company presents the permanent version as a lasting answer to the criticism that followed the change.

Who qualifies and what it costs

The ticket allows one adult aged 15 or older to travel with up to four children, or two adults to travel with up to three children. Two adults travelling without a child cannot book it. Passengers who also need regional trains to reach the long-distance route pay more, according to Focus, which puts the round trip at 143.99 euros and the one-way trip at 81.99 euros. The ticket therefore suits families who travel mainly on long-distance services, where the seat reservation is already included in the price.

Round trip, long-distance only99.99

One way, long-distance only59.99

Round trip, with regional trains143.99

One way, with regional trains81.99

Round trip, long-distance only

99.99 EUR

One way, long-distance only

59.99 EUR

Round trip, with regional trains

143.99 EUR

One way, with regional trains

81.99 EUR

Data from the article text

Availability and demand

Deutsche Bahn says it has not set fixed quotas for the ticket and intends to offer it in large numbers. In response to a request, a company spokeswoman said the following about availability.

“There are no quantities limited from the outset.”

Tickets may still sell out on connections that are already heavily booked. The company says almost 100,000 more families travelled by rail this summer than in the same period a year earlier, using either the family ticket or discounted fares. According to Deutsche Bahn, demand from families has been rising for years, and the removal of the family seat reservation did not change that trend.

Background to the change

Deutsche Bahn abolished the family seat reservation in summer 2025, which brought sharp criticism from families and the public. Before that change, families could reserve up to five seats together for 10.40 euros. Since then, every seat has had to be paid for separately. This summer the company introduced the family ticket as a time-limited offer, and the permanent version now follows that trial.

The ticket now serves as the company's response to the criticism of the removed reservation. Travellers booking from 26 October can secure seats for journeys from 1 November.