"MINI" Fare Misconceptions

GAC
Los Angeles, CA
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"MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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There is a great deal of misinformation about the Trenitalia "MINI" fare on this and other travel sites. Here are some points to remember:

1. MINI fares ARE refundable, with a 50% forfeiture of the fare actually paid, IF the refund request is made no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel.

2. MINI fares ARE changeable, with a surcharge to the "base" fare, IF the change is requested no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. The new reservaton must be for a LATER-departing train (not an earlier-departing train).

3. MINI fares must be purchased no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day which is TWO DAYS prior to desired travel. After such time, the MINI fare is no longer available.

4. MINI fares give a discount between 10% and 70% off the "base" fare. Discounts tend to get SMALLER the closer the travel date approaches. There is usually no advantage to wait to purchase the MINI fare (as long as one's travel fares are fixed).

5. MINI fares are often lower for trains departing as less popular hours (outside of peak commute times), or trains arriving at or departing from secondary stations such as Venice Mestre, Florence Rifredi/Campo di Marte or Rome Tiburtina.

6. MINI fares are available in both first and second class. Sometimes, the percentage discount in first class is greater than for the same train in second class (because MINI fares are all-capacity controlled).

7. MINI fares vary according to travel date, specific train, and class of service.

8. Once schedules and fares have been uploaded to the Trenitalia website, MINI fares can usually be purchased up to FOUR MONTHS in advance (although this is not a "hard" rule).

9. Except in very narrow circumstances involving missed connections from one of the Trenitalia fast national trains, you FORFEIT your MINI fare ticket if you MISS your scheduled train, even by one second. For that reason, it's risky to book the MINI fare on the same day as arrival by plane (unless the fare is so low that you're prepared to forfeit the ticket if you miss the train). As a rule of thumb, it's also risky to book a "MINI" fare ticket for a second or third connecting train (i.e. not the first train in a series of connections).

10. Outside of a couple of days each year, it's usually not necessary to book Trenitalia tickets in advance if one is not interested in saving money with a MINI or other promotional fare. Also, on popular tourist routes, fast trains usually run every hour or less.

11. MINI fares are the same for adults as for children. There is a separate child's fare, but it's not cumulable with the MINI discount. Sometimes, the regular child's fare (50% for children between 4 and 12) is lower than the MINI fare for the same train. (Toddlers under 4 ALWAYS travel free without a ticket and without a guaranteed seat).

12. MINI fares are available on all Trenitalia trains EXCEPT the unreserved regionale trains (which are non-discountable aside from children's fares).

13. As contrasted to the MINI fares, regular "Base" fares do NOT increase as the travel date approaches (UNLESS there is a system-wide tariff change).

14. As contrasted to the FAST trains, it's usually a very bad idea to purchase an electronic ticket for the unreserved regionale trains. Electronic tickets have significant restrictions which traditional paper tickets (purchased in Italy) don't have, and advanced purchases for the regionale trains don't generate any real benefits (aside for the convenience of not having to buy them in Italy).

15. People purchasing Trenitalia tickets through the Trenitalia website should read carefully the tariff rules for the ticket purchased ("base", MINI, etc.), as well as the rules on Electronic tickets:

http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4420c9c3aa3fc210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4aa9335a9a605210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

http://www.fsitaliane.it/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=4420c9c3aa3fc210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=38ae99e8e609a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

www.lefrecce.it (bookings)

www.fsitaliane.it

Edited: 9 years ago
Montreal
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17,790 posts
1. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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GAC, you are perfectly right, but I for one will continue to use the shorthand of "no change no refund". For most people asking here, it will be of no help at all that they can obtain a 50% refund or make a change until 11:59 pm the day before travel. If they are booking a train for just after arrival by air and miss it or a very early morning train, sleep in and miss it, it's "no change no refund".

Portland, OR
Destination Expert
for Positano
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2. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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Thanks GAC - another great and informative post!

ENGLAND
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1,706 posts
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3. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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Great post.

I have used the mini fare on all of my five train journeys so far and saved around 40%.

As long as you are sure of the date and time you want to travel they are great value.

The only time I wouldn't buy one is if arriving by plane, which these days often means a late arrival.

Other than that they are great, and put the train services in the UK to shame.

pittsburgh
Destination Expert
for Rome
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I agree with Zerlina. The majority of people asking about the mini fares are unsure of their travel plans or plan to use the train on their day of arrival from a foreign country. In these instances the mini fare is "no change, no refund". I do caution people that the fares have very strict rules and that they should be sure before they buy but you are right that people can receive a partial refund the day before travel.

Donna

GAC
Los Angeles, CA
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10,901 posts
23 reviews
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I have restated my points 1 and 2 above to provide even greater clarity:

1. MINI FARE TICKETS ARE NOT REFUNDABLE ON OR AFTER THE SCHEDULED DAY OF TRAVEL. Nevertheless, MINI fare tickets (with a face value of at least 10.01 Euros) ARE refundable, with a 50% FORFEITURE of the fare actually paid, IF the refund request is made no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. Refunds of PAPER tickets can be done at the train station ticket counter. Refunds of ELECTRONIC tickets can only be done via the Trenitalia LE FRECCE website, by e-mail, or via the Trenitalia call center.

2. MINI FARE TICKETS ARE NOT CHANGEABLE ON OR AFTER THE SCHEDULED DAY OF TRAVEL. Nevertheless, MINI fare tickets ARE changeable, ONCE ONLY, with a SURCHARGE to the "base" fare, IF the change is requested no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel. The new reservaton must be for a LATER-departing train (not an earlier-departing train). ONE booking change can be done at the train station ticket counter, electronic ticket machines, Trenitalia call center, Frecciarossa mobile desks at the station, or via the Trenitalia LE FRECCE website.

Examples of when MINI ticket refund/booking change requests will NOT be honored:

You MISS your scheduled train because of (i) a LATE-ARRIVING PLANE, ship, or connecting train; (ii) your alarm clock did not go off in the morning; (iii) the taxi taking you to the train station was caught in traffic; (iv) you forgot about the hour change with daylight savings; (v) you injured yourself walking to the train station, etc.

BUT, there are times when you MAY seek a (partial) refund of, or booking change to, a "MINI" fare ticket (no later than 23:59 (Italy time) of the day PRIOR to scheduled travel): (i) your travel plans change; (ii) you become sick and cannot/choose not to travel; (iii) you are injured and cannot/choose not to travel.

Cambridge, Canada
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6. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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Thanks for the very clear, informative post.You will be helping alot of travellers. I have saved your post for reference. I hope I can take advantage of some of these fares in the fall when I travel.

GAC
Los Angeles, CA
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10,901 posts
23 reviews
68 helpful votes
7. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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Another tip about the "MINI" fares:

16. Because the "MINI" fares always have an element of RISK (you never know whether you might need to change your travel date or cancel your trip at the last moment, due to illness, injury or other unexpected circumstance), many saavy travellers will NOT PURCHASE a "MINI" fare where the discount is only 10% or 20% (preferring instead to buy a regular "base" fare ticket, which can be changed (free of charge) or cancelled (with penalty) up to ONE HOUR AFTER scheduled train departure. It's important to be very circumspect and judgmental about "MINI" fares, especially when booking a long time out.

Edited: 9 years ago
Pescara, Italy
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76 posts
8. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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Very helpful post, if the MINI fare is appropriate for you it's well worth having a good search around. As you rightly say there can be a difference in price by just going an hour earlier or later on the same day. I've managed to make huge savings on longer journeys by booking well in advance with the MINI fare.

Sydney, Australia
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24 posts
9. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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I am trying to book train tickets from Rome to Genova on 17/06/12. Though I can see 19 Euro Minifare advertised in the Trenitalia site, I can not see anything even in April. I can find only Euro 41-55 tickets. Can anyone please help ?

When should Ilook for June tickets?

Le Marche, Italy
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37,771 posts
29 reviews
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10. Re: "MINI" Fare Misconceptions
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There is a schedule change in early June, and the new schedules won't be out for some time yet. Furthermore, for some mysterious reason, there are no schedules shown for any date after May 6th. We're all wondering about that; maybe it means there will be a fare increase.

In any case, it's too early to buy tickets. Even in the best of circumstances, they sell them only four months in advance.

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