Trenitalia modifiable tickets

[FrankNatoli]

I buy all my Trenitalia tickets well in advance of my trip except for the day of arrival because the airlines are unpredictable.
I'm watching trains from Roma Fiumicino to Venezia Santa Lucia for a late September trip.
I see that same day tickets show early morning Frecciarossa sold out and then mid-day or afternoon trains with ticket prices over 105 euros per person, i.e., 3 times the advance purchase price.
Does it make sense to buy "economy" tickets, which appear to be modifiable, in advance?
All the cheaper tickets, "super economy", "frecciayoung" or "frecciasenior" or "frecciadays" appear to be not modificable.
The "economy" tickets appear to be 1.9 times the price of the unmodifiable tickets.
And you will get on a morning train, not have to wait until mid-day or afternoon.

 

[Andrew]

See the terms of the Economy tickets:

Info_Tariffe_en_LeFrecce

www.trenitalia.com

As I read it, you need to be able to get online before the train departure time to change it and pay the difference to the Base fare. So it's fine to do if you can take the risk that you'll be on a plane without working wi-fi at the train departure time; you can change it if the delay is clear before the flight takes off. Don't include the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini in an advance booking; that adds complications if you're delayed, and you can pay that fare by tapping a credit card on the turnstile at the airport station.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Good points, thanks.
I think it's highly unusual for a severe delay to develop after takeoff, so I think I'll take that risk for an "economy" advance purchase.
Didn't know you can RFID a credit card to board the Leonardo Express, thanks.
Does the turnstile issue a receipt?
How does the conductor know you've paid for a ticket?
I didn't think a ticket for a Leonardo Express train had explicit times; it does?

 

[Andrew]

The turnstile doesn't issue a receipt; you show the last 4 digits of your card number at inspection, and the conductor has the "tapped" numbers on their device. Information here . No tapping is needed at the end of that ride. As I read the rules, the tickets bought online for the LE are marked for specific times.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Thank you, Andrew.
In all likelihood, I'll buy "economy" tickets in advance for the Frecciarossa from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia for the date of my arrival.
And I'll either RFID an LE ticket or use the Trenitalia app to get from Fiumicino to Termini.
Curiously, at this time, the one train I want to reserve, Frecciarossa departing Roma Termini at 09:35, on the date of my arrival, is showing "Soluzione non acquistabile al momento per la data selezionata".
All other Frecciarossa, earlier and later, can be purchased, but not the one I want!
We'll see if that changes in the coming weeks.

 

[NancyLU]

We purchased economy tickets for a day trip and then changed them to an earlier time at the ticket window while at the train station. There was a glitch with the app, which stopped us from changing it online. But the attendant at the ticket window was very helpful with the change. (I forget if we were in Naples or Verona when this happened but it was within the last 2 years.)

Also this message: "Soluzione non acquistabile al momento per la data selezionata" may mean you are trying to purchase them too early. If you are searching for Sept, they may not have released the train schedule yet for the dates you chose.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Nancy, thank you.
The online information appears to indicate if you have "economy" tickets, then attempt to modify anything, you must pay the "base" fare, which is more expensive.
Did you pay extra for the modification?
As for "soluzione non acquistabile", only the one Frecciarossa I want to reserve, the 09:35 departure from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, says "soluzione non acquisitabile".
All other Frecciarossa departures for that itinerary that day can be purchased now.
Just checked, and "soluzione non acquistabile" for the 09:35 is still in effect.

 

[NancyLU]

Nancy, thank you.
The online information appears to indicate if you have "economy" tickets, then attempt to modify anything, you must pay the "base" fare, which is more expensive.
Did you pay extra for the modification?
As for "soluzione non acquistabile", only the one Frecciarossa I want to reserve, the 09:35 departure from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, says "soluzione non acquisitabile".
All other Frecciarossa departures for that itinerary that day can be purchased now.
Just checked, and "soluzione non acquistabile" for the 09:35 is still in effect.

Yes, if we had done it online we would have paid a lot extra for the modification. But when we did it at the window, the attendant charged us almost nothing. (I forget the exact fee.) I don't know if that is the rule or if we just got lucky that day.

 

[FrankNatoli]

Pleased to report that Trenitalia is now permitting purchase of all Frecciarossa from Roma Termini to Venezia Santa Lucia, no longer making 9414, the 09:35 departure from Roma Termini, "soluzione non acquistabile".
I sent them an email at areaclienti@trenitalia.it a few days ago, asking about 9414, which they never replied to, but maybe my email triggered a correction to the "soluzione non acquistabile".
When we get a month out from our trip, I'll buy the "economy" tickets for 9414.