Avoid Rail Ninja. Book directly with the train operator instead.
Our experience with Rail Ninja was extremely disappointing, expensive and frustrating.
We booked two train tickets through Rail Ninja believing we were purchasing legitimate rail tickets at a reasonable price. We paid A$598 (€367) for our booking.
When the tickets were eventually issued, the official carrier tickets showed a value of only €39 per passenger (€78 total). This left an unexplained difference of approximately €289 (A$471) between the value of the carrier tickets and what we paid.
We contacted Rail Ninja multiple times requesting an itemised breakdown explaining exactly how the total price was calculated. We were repeatedly told that the pricing breakdown had been displayed during the booking process and that it explained the difference. However, our booking confirmation and invoice show only a single total amount of A$598. They do not itemise the underlying ticket fare, service fees, processing fees, taxes or any other charges.
During our correspondence, Rail Ninja provided a generic example from a completely different booking showing a service fee of only around 11% above the underlying ticket price. However, applying that same logic does not explain the enormous difference between the €78 value of our carrier tickets and the €367 we paid. Despite repeated requests, Rail Ninja has refused to provide the equivalent itemised breakdown for our booking, leaving approximately €289 (A$471) unexplained.
Our concern is not simply that Rail Ninja charges more than the train operator. Our concern is the lack of transparency. If there is a substantial premium, customers should be able to clearly see the underlying ticket price and every fee before deciding whether to proceed. That was not our experience.
If you are travelling in Europe, save yourself the money and the frustration. Book directly with the train operator (such as SNCF, Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn or the relevant national rail operator) or through an official retailer. You’ll know exactly what you’re paying for and avoid paying a substantial premium without a clear explanation.
Based on our experience, we cannot recommend Rail Ninja. We are continuing to pursue this matter with our card issuer and the relevant consumer protection authorities, and we will update this review if Rail Ninja provides the transparency and resolution that has so far been lacking.
