With some tour operators it is included, with others an extra charge has to be paid, but there is now a profound change in the Rail & Fly offer of Deutsche Bahn AG. In the future there will no longer be a voucher in the travel documents, but a code instead.

DB started the changeover in November 2021, but the change in GDS systems used by travel agencies only became effective a few days ago. Until now, it has been customary for a voucher to be handed over on paper or as a PDF. What is new is that a code with which the tickets can be purchased via the DB homepage is issued. For example, this can be printed on the organizer's booking confirmation.

For passengers, however, there is now a serious change: With the voucher, you can simply board a train and show it at a ticket inspection. The conductor then printed out a ticket. What is new is that the code no longer entitles you to board the DB trains, but that an online ticket must be “bought” in advance.

According to a spokeswoman for Deutsche Bahn, you now have to go through the regular booking process of a normal ticket purchase and then enter the code received from the organizer, the airline or the travel agency as a means of payment. An online ticket will then be issued. DB emphasizes that the timetable is now also printed, so that travelers no longer have to worry about their travel plans themselves.

However, the change also has disadvantages. As already mentioned: You can no longer simply board any train and then receive the ticket from the conductor by handing in the voucher. The online ticket solution also means that you have to commit to certain connections. As a result, an important part of the previous flexibility is lost.

We are currently in a transition phase. In concrete terms, this means that vouchers and codes can still be issued by DB's cooperation partners until the end of October 2022. From November 2022, the previous vouchers should finally have had their day. Package travelers in particular should therefore look carefully in their travel documents to see which form of Rail & Fly was issued, otherwise it could be the case that you could unknowingly and unintentionally be considered a dodger.