Advantage card
The Vorteilscard (written in capital letters, abbreviated VC) is a customer card of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). In terms of rail traffic, it is comparable to the BahnCard of Deutsche Bahn AG and the Half-Fare travelcard of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). It is valid in both car classes at the same conditions . A total of 1 million ÖBB customers have a Vorteilscard.
history
The predecessor of the Vorteilscard was the half- price pass , which was renamed in the second half of the 1990s . In 1992, the annual authorization ticket required for this cost 1,080 schillings (78.49 euros) (for seniors around 220 schillings (15.99 euros)) and authorized the purchase of so-called "environmental tickets" for half the regular fare, regardless of the type of purchase.
Services and prices
The pass is valid 1 year and granted 45 percent ( box office sales ) or 50 percent discount (internet purchase, machine ) on tickets ÖBB and 15 per cent discount on international routes (see Rail Plus ). The discount is granted on 1st and 2nd class tickets. The card is not renewed automatically (no subscription, in contrast to the Deutsche Bahn AG BahnCard, for example). It is currently (June 2020) offered in five categories:
| category | Price in euros |
comment |
|---|---|---|
| Classic | 99.00 | Sales at the counter, no special requirements for purchase |
| 66 | 66.00 | Sale only via tickets.oebb.at, no special requirements for purchase |
| Family | 19.00 | The owner can take up to 4 children under the age of 15 with them free of charge (including children who are not related) |
| youth | 19.00 | only for under 26s |
| Senior | 29.00 | for people aged 64 and over |
The Vorteilscard Spezial , Blind and Schwerkriegsgeschädigt has been abolished. Instead, travelers receive a 50 percent discount on ÖBB single tickets on presentation of an Austrian disabled person's pass or ID card for disabled persons in accordance with Section 48 of the Federal Disabled Persons Act (BBG), which contains the following information:
- Indication of the degree of disability of at least 70 percent or
- Entry "The holder of the pass can take advantage of the reduced fare according to the Federal Disability Act."
Since January 1, 2014, ÖBB Vorteilscards can also be ordered, renewed and paid for online. This significantly accelerated the delivery of the cards. In addition to the Vorteilscard in credit card format, the Vorteilscard has also been available on smartphones since then. This is a digital representation of the Vorteilscard in the ÖBB app. The Vorteilscard on the smartphone is valid as a discount card on ÖBB trains. Since no photo has been printed on the Vorteilscard since January 1, 2014, photo ID with age information must be carried with the card.
ÖBB is giving all young people who will turn or are 18 years old in 2020 a Vorteilscard Jugend.
Summer ticket
The summer ticket is an offer for all holders of a Vorteilscard Jugend. They can use all trains of the ÖBB as well as the Raaberbahn and the ÖBB Intercitybus between Graz and Klagenfurt free of charge during the summer holidays with the summer ticket . The ticket is valid on weekdays from 8:00 a.m., on public holidays and weekends without time restrictions.
- for under 20-year-olds the price is 39 euros and
- for everyone between 20 and 25 years of age it costs 69 euros.
Advantage card press
The Vorteilscard press existed from 2003 to 2013 . It cost 49.50 euros. In addition to traveling in second class at half price, it was also possible to upgrade to first class free of charge. Seat reservations and access to ÖBB lounges were also included.
In April 2012, the ÖBB announced that no more cards would be issued, so that the last cards expired in 2013.
Austria Card
The Österreichcard is a one-year network card from ÖBB. In terms of rail traffic, it is comparable to the BahnCard 100 of Deutsche Bahn AG and the general subscription of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB).
Services and prices
The Austria Card is one year on all trains of ÖBB and in Austria propelled private railways as a ticket valid. It will be offered from July 2, 2012 in five categories and two car classes each:
| category | Price in Euro, 2nd class |
Price in Euro 1st class |
comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | 1,944.00 | 2,998.00 | |
| family | 2,084.00 | 3,196.00 | each family member gets their own card and can drive independently |
| youth | 1,154.00 | 1,769.00 | only for under 26s |
| Senior | 1,369.00 | 2,189.00 | for people aged 64 and over |
| Special | 1,154.00 | 1,769.00 | for people with an Austrian disability pass |
| Community service | free | - | for community service |
| Federal Army | free | - | for military servants |
After several years of negotiations, the Österreichcard was to be replaced at the beginning of 2009 by an offer comparable to the Swiss general subscription , which is valid on all public transport in Austria. This should be made possible by a grant of 107 million euros from the Austrian state. The planned price for the normal version was 1,490 euros, which is 300 euros less than the Österreichcard. In addition, cheaper variants should be offered for seniors and young people, the price of which corresponds to today's offers. In an interview with the Tyrolean daily newspaper in March, however, Infrastructure Minister Doris Bures said that this ticket would not be available for the time being for budget reasons.
The Österreichcard Zivildienst replaced the former Vorteilscard Zivildienst. Now all community service providers can travel free of charge in Austria on ÖBB routes in second class while they are on duty. The Österreichcard expires after the nine months.
The Österreichcard Bundesheer replaced the former Vorteilscard Bundesheer.
Short-term delivery problems when changing the system at the end of 2011
At the end of 2011, the ÖBB changed their system for producing Vorteilscards / Österreichcards. As part of the changeover, there were short-term delivery problems for new cards, as well as notifying customers about the expiry / extension of cards.
ÖBB Club & Bonus
Until January 15, 2014, ÖBB offered the so-called Club & Bonus program to Vorteilscard customers . Here, depending on the sales in each year, certain prizes are awarded.
On January 15, 2014, ÖBB stopped the payment function of the Vorteilscard due to the higher transaction costs resulting from the switch to the SEPA payment system. With this change, the basis for the Club & Bonus program was no longer applicable, which is why it was terminated on the same date.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ ÖBB - Choose your ÖBB Vorteilscard. Retrieved July 11, 2018 .
- ↑ https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000110224871/oebb-schenken-18-jaehrigen-im-jahr-2020-die-vorteilscard-jugend
- ↑ https://www.oebb.at/de/tickets-kundenkarten/kundenkarten/oesterreichcard.html
- ↑ "Österreichicket" could come in 2009 ( Memento from August 5th, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Michael Sprenger: Tiroler Tageszeitung: No more money for Austria ticket. BM VIT , March 14, 2009, accessed on June 30, 2012 (interview with Minister Bures).