Dutch Railways trick tourists into buying first class ticket

Puffin13 · Post by **Puffin13** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 06:24 am

Dutch Railways trick tourists into buying first class tickets on Amsterdam airport
February 22 2010

Train ticket vending machines on the Amsterdam airport are designed so, that most tourists buy first class train tickets, without realizing it.

The news was published in the newspaper 'Haarlems Dagblad'.

A second class ticket is E 3,80 and a first class E 6,50, a difference of E 2,70. This is not very much, but given the large number of unsuspecting tourists that arrive on Schiphol airport every year, the Dutch Railways makes millions of euros.

About 5,000 tourists per day take the train from Schiphol to Amsterdam CS.

The dozens of vending machines on Schiphol Plaza show an Amsterdam canal, and invite people to buy a 'comfort class' ticket (which means first class). In a corner, there is an option to buy a second class ticket, overlooked by many. Apparently, a lot of tourists travel second class.

The difference between first and second class is not very large. The most important difference is that you have a bit more space in first class. For the 20 minute rail ride between the airport and Amsterdam Central Station it is not really necessary to travel first class.

The Railways claim that tourists mostly ask for first class tickets, but the tourist office on the airport says it has hardly any demand, and mostly sells second class tickets.

The Consumentenbond, the main Dutch consumer organization, has demanded that the Dutch Railways change the opening screen on the vending machines, to make them less misleading.

Source

colinzeal · Post by **colinzeal** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 07:19 am

don't fool me!

cantona7 · Post by **cantona7** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 10:25 am

i never bother with the ticket machines. i just jump in line.

ohm sweet ohm · Post by **ohm sweet ohm** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 10:29 am

I've never noticed any 'splash' screen with a canal?! It always looks exactly like the online demo ticket machine.

http://webdemo.ns.nl/webdemo.e2000/

Kingdoc · Post by **Kingdoc** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 02:59 pm

I just get it at the counter.

Kermit · Post by **Kermit** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 07:52 pm

Never fooled me, but the E1 charge for card is just crazy.

Ash333 · Post by **Ash333** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 10:12 pm

Kermit wrote:Never fooled me, but the E1 charge for card is just crazy.

Why? They cost money to make, and you only need to ever buy one, same as an Oyster in London.

Kermit · Post by **Kermit** » Tue 23rd Feb 2010 10:18 pm

Ash333 wrote:
Kermit wrote:Never fooled me, but the E1 charge for card is just crazy.
Why? They cost money to make, and you only need to ever buy one, same as an Oyster in London.

I will take an oz of that shit your smoking, read the whole thread twice and am still confused.

Maybe i should have put E1 charge for Credit/Debit card is just crazy.

Do i only need one train ticket?