The federal government continues to advise urgently not to travel. But at Christmas, many Germans shouldn't let themselves be deterred from going to their family, relatives or partner. But for those who don't own a car, "Driving Home for Christmas" is a special challenge this year.
Because it's not just price, availability and cancellation conditions that are currently decisive when choosing a traffic – but also the question of where the risk of infection with the coronavirus is lowest.
FOCUS Online has made the big traffic check. What is the current state of train, rental car, long-distance bus, carpooling or plane?
In the big traffic check: Deutsche Bahn
Availability: Since more people are staying at home due to Corona, many trains are currently driving significantly emptier than usual through the landscape: According to Deutsche Bahn, long-distance trains are only 20 to 25 percent busy. In normal times it is an average of 60 percent.
However, around Christmas this picture could change. Deutsche Bahn expects that the demand for rail travel will then pick up again. The group has therefore announced that it will be expanding its range of services over the holidays and offering 100 additional trips between December 18 and 27. "That is twice as many special trains as are normally driven at Christmas," said Berthold Huber, Board Member for Passenger Transport, when presenting the plan. Above all, the main routes between the big cities should benefit from this increase. For example, the Hamburg-Berlin route is to be driven every half hour.
Corona check: In Corona times, travelers often have a queasy feeling when they are using public transport. Whether the risk in the train cars is actually higher than elsewhere is difficult to say and, according to experts, depends on a number of factors. The Bonn-based infectious disease specialist Peter Walger recently said in an interview that the duration of a trip could be a factor in the risk of infection. "But those who consistently adhere to the AHA rules can just as easily travel six hours as 30 minutes on the train," says Walger.
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In any case, Deutsche Bahn wants to ensure with the now expanded offer for Christmas that the people on the trains can keep a distance from one another as much as possible. For this reason, the group had already changed its reservation system at the end of November. Since then, only window seats can be reserved. Those who get on the train without a reservation should also be assigned their own window seat.
In addition, the mask requirement, which is also checked by security teams on board, continues to apply on trains and at stations. According to Deutsche Bahn, however, more than 99 percent of travelers now adhere to the obligation. Around the holidays, even more cleaning staff should ensure cleanliness and hygiene in trains and at the station.
Costs and cancellation: With the timetable change at Deutsche Bahn on December 13, 2020, prices will rise as every year. Long-distance tickets will be 1 percent more expensive on average, but will still be below the previous year's level. The reason: As of January 1, 2020, they were reduced by around 10 percent due to the VAT reduction for long-distance tickets (from 19 to 7 percent).
Apart from that, there are no “special Christmas prices” at Deutsche Bahn over the holidays. In other words, compared to the rest of the year, tickets are not generally more expensive. Nevertheless: If you want to take the train for Christmas, you shouldn't wait too long. In principle, train tickets never get cheaper the closer the day of travel gets, but more expensive. In addition, the saver fare tickets are decreasing every day. Shortly before Christmas Eve, train travelers can often only book connections at the flex price.
The more expensive flex tickets have one decisive advantage: they can be exchanged or canceled free of charge up to one day before the trip. Saver fare tickets can also be canceled up to the first day of validity – but only for a fee of 10 euros. Customers then receive a cancellation voucher that is valid for three years. You can use this for later trips. Tickets with a super saver price, on the other hand, are completely excluded from exchange or cancellation.
Is a rental car worth it – and are there any?
Availability: During the festive season, rental vehicles are generally in short supply every year. This year the situation is getting worse because many landlords have reduced their fleets as a result of the corona pandemic. "The availability of rental cars for Christmas is currently still high," says Andreas Schiffelholz, managing director of rental cars at the price comparison portal Check24. "But we are already seeing a significant increase in bookings nationwide, possibly because many consumers are switching from the train to a rental car due to the corona pandemic."
According to an evaluation of the portal, which can also be used to book rental cars, customers have already booked around 45 percent more vehicles for the holidays than in the same period last year. The car rental company Sixt is also observing something similar: "We can also determine an increased demand for the Christmas holidays this year," said FOCUS Online. Sixt assumes that this demand trend will intensify until Christmas and that offers could become scarce in the medium term. "We therefore recommend booking as early as possible," says Sixt.
Corona check: For everyone who wants to have as few contacts as possible in the run-up to Christmas, the rental car is certainly the first choice. Since the outbreak of the corona virus, the car rental companies are cleaning not only the rental cars themselves, but also the counters and counters in the rental stations. "All vehicles in our fleet are professionally cleaned in a multi-stage process," says Sixt. In addition, Sixt has equipped all of its branches with spit protection to protect employees and customers, and employees are urged to comply with the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).
Costs and cancellation: According to data from the comparison portal Check24, a rental car in the Christmas week currently costs an average of 36 euros per day, which is roughly the same as last year (Ø 38 euros per day). But: "Due to the much higher occupancy, we expect prices to rise the closer the holidays come," says Andreas Schiffelholz. “Consumers shouldn't wait too long to book. In this way you secure the lower price and remain flexible at the same time. ”With Check24, for example, a cancellation is possible free of charge up to 24 hours before collection. And Sixt also emphasizes to FOCUS Online that cars can be rebooked at any time until the end of the year without additional costs.
Traveling to the family by plane?
Availability: At many airports there has been an almost standstill since spring. Because of the corona crisis, almost a million passenger flights were canceled in Germany between March and early November. In a year-on-year comparison, this is a drop in passengers of 83 percent. The range of domestic German flights has also been drastically reduced.
For example, Lufthansa wants to add intercontinental and intra-European routes to its flight schedule, as the airline has noticed increased demand. The Germans' desire to travel is increasing again. However, it is still unclear whether more domestic German flights will be offered again. A Lufthansa spokeswoman said to FOCUS Online that the market is also being monitored in Germany in order to be able to adjust the flight schedule at short notice if there is sufficient demand.
Corona check: Airlines like Lufthansa consider the risk of infection with the corona virus on board a plane to be low. "Aircraft operated by Lufthansa Group airlines are equipped with filters that clean the cabin air from contaminants such as dust, bacteria and viruses," said a spokeswoman. A Harvard study also recently came to the result that the risk of corona infection is lower when flying than when shopping or in a restaurant. Nevertheless, an infection cannot be completely ruled out. For example, the safety distance of 1.50 meters in an aircraft can often not be maintained.
Costs and cancellation: Since there is rarely planning security at the moment, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines have fundamentally adjusted their ticket tariff structure by the end of December 2020. Anyone who books a ticket can rebook it multiple times and free of charge. If the rebooked flight is more expensive, customers only pay the difference in the ticket price.
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From Frankfurt to Berlin you can get with Lufthansa on December 23, currently for around 112 euros. However, with the so-called “Economy Light” tariff, only one piece of hand luggage is allowed and the ticket cannot be fully reimbursed. For a flight from Munich to Düsseldorf on December 23rd, customers only have to pay marginally more. Flights are available from 124 euros (as of Friday, December 4th). If you book just before the holidays, you should expect higher prices.
Long-distance bus: When Flixbus starts again
Availability: After the corona-related suspension of its offer in Germany, Europe's largest long-distance bus provider Flixbus announced that it would resume its business at the beginning of December. From December 17th, Flixbus wants to operate connections throughout Germany again. In addition to large cities such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg and Cologne, numerous small cities and rural areas are also part of the network of 150 destinations. The offer is initially limited to January 11th.
At Flixbus, many trips around Christmas Eve are still only slightly busy. However, it is likely that demand will pick up accordingly before the Christmas holidays.
Corona check: Flixbus assured the resumption of the offer that the modern ventilation technology of the entire fleet and the opening of the doors when boarding and alighting would ensure a regular supply of fresh air and air circulation. It is also mandatory to wear mouth and nose protection. A new information tool will enable passengers to see the load on a bus at any time.
Nevertheless, the same applies here: As with all other areas of public life, the risk of infection remains. Travelers should strictly observe the AHA rules.
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Costs and cancellation: According to Flixbus, connections around the holidays can be booked from 4.99 euros. Those traveling from Munich to Stuttgart should find a ticket from 15.99 euros, from Munich to Frankfurt from 24.99 euros and from Berlin to Hamburg from 14.99 euros. If you cancel your trip with Flixbus up to 30 days before your departure date, you don't pay anything. Thereafter, a cancellation fee may be charged. "After you have canceled your booking, a voucher will be generated. The voucher is valid for 12 months and corresponds to the price of your booking, minus a cancellation fee, if applicable, ”states the company on its website.
And what about other providers? BlaBlaBus, which have also ceased operations due to corona, do not want to resume traffic over Christmas. Accordingly, there are currently no offers. The company does not want to offer trips again until spring – at least that is the company's current plan. Bookings via the BlaBlaCar car pool agency are still possible.
How corona-safe is a lift?
Availability: In the According to the company's own statement, the online car pool agency BlaBlaCar says that the offer is comparatively low due to the current situation. "Our community follows our call to act responsibly and currently only travel when necessary," said a company spokesman for FOCUS Online. However, the offers could increase shortly before Christmas. In the past, the range of car-sharing opportunities on BlaBlaCar has always reacted very dynamically to current events. “Usually the offer on BlaBlaCar increases strongly in the run-up to Christmas, and despite the special circumstances, an increase in activity on BlaBlaCar in the days before Christmas can be expected this year as well. Experience has shown that 75 percent of all BlaBlaCar bookings are made three days before the journey. Of course, the offer depends on our community, ”the company continues.
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Corona check: Passengers and drivers are informed about the current situation in the BlaBlaCar app and website and are encouraged to adhere to the applicable health and hygiene recommendations. Anyone who has negative experiences with a passenger or driver can contact BlaBlaCar support at any time and report violations of the applicable regulations. "We take reported violations very seriously and can lead to exclusion from the platform," emphasizes the company.
Nevertheless, car journeys with several occupants remain a risk in winter. Because it's not just that social distancing in the car is difficult or even impossible. Continuous draft and driving with the window open is hardly an option in winter.
Costs and cancellation: The cost of a BlaBlaCar trip always depends on the route and the price set by the driver. On average, however, travelers can calculate with around six euros for 100 kilometers. At the same time, you remain relatively flexible with a lift: If you cancel your trip with BlaBlaCar more than 24 hours before departure, the entire amount will be refunded. If you cancel within the last 24 hours before departure, you will still receive 50 percent of the money for the booking with BlaBlaCar. Only those who do not show up for the trip without cancellation will not receive anything back.
With agency material