Some airlines are offering combined air-rail tickets which that allow passengers to explore on one booking.

An increasing number of airlines are now letting travellers add a train ticket to their booking, to save them the hassle of trying to work out travel plans. Air-rail tickets allow travellers to arrive at an airport and head straight to a train for their connection. In addition, when booked all together, airlines protect the passenger in case a flight delay means they miss their train.

Several European already offer combined ticketing, with some even transferring luggage from the plane to the train for the passenger.

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France

offers two ways to combine flights with a rail trip.

For trips that include a train within France, the Train + Air tickets are available for any international travellers, including those arriving from or going to a French territory overseas. France benefits from an expansive train network, including connections at Orly and in Paris, to multiple other destinations across the country.

Passengers wishing to book these tickets need to enter the name of the train station as if it were an airport. The airline will then organise the train booking, and the tickets will be delivered as a downloadable e-ticket 30 hours before the trip. However, baggage will not be transferred between the plane and the train, s o passengers will need to get their luggage and check it in for the train.

Brussels

For those heading to or departing from Air&Rail offers similar perks. Here, passengers can purchase a combined ticket which will put you in first class on the TGV INOUI, and bags will be checked at the rail station on departure. But, for those arriving to Paris via plane, they will need to get their bags and drop them at the Air&Rail agency before boarding the train.

Italy

Italian airline ITA Airways offers a combined air and rail ticket with AccesRail technology, which covers nearly all of Europe. Launched in 2023, travellers can book train tickets at both ends of their journey, including in the UK.

The Italian combined air and rail ticket is available for any international or intercontinental flight, and passengers can book trains with several rail partners, including Trenitalia in Italy, Renfe in Spain, SNBC in Belgium, and Deutsche Bahn in Most of the UK’s train operators are also included.

Travellers will need to book via the ITA Airways website, with separate boarding passes issued for each mode of transport. In addition, travellers will be responsible for picking up their luggage and taking it with them to the train.

Austria

Through its AIRail program, Austrian Airlines offers onward travel from any of its international flights to Linz, Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck, according to Arriving into Vienna, travellers can head directly onto ÖBB Railjet trains and head to their final destination.

To book, travellers need to head to the Austrian Airlines website and select their desired train station. The rail section will even have an Austrian Airlines flight number. Anyone who is faced with a delay during their trip will be provided with a new booking. Luggage is also transferred by the passenger, and check-in needs to be carried out online for both the train and the plane.

Portugal

In Portugal, TAP Portugal allows passengers to book onward rail travel across many major cities in Europe. Its partnerships with several rail companies mean cities in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland can all be reached with just one booking. The train ticket must be booked at the same time as the flight and travellers will need to self-transfer their baggage.

Germany

For Germany, Lufthansa’s Rail&Fly tickets offer connections to more than 5,600 train stations nationwide through its partnership with Deutsche Bahn. also allows travel up to one day before or after the flight, which helps for trips at unsociable times.

Despite that the partnership is with Deutsche Bahn, passengers are limited to DB stations not the operator, which means onward travel can also be carried out via InterCity, EuroCity and ICE trains. Rail&Fly tickets can be added to a booking under the 'additional services' tab on the booking page or booked as part of the trip at the same time as booking the flight. Travellers will need to self-transfer their bags, but they do not have to take the train that is specified on their booking.

Switzerland

SWISS passengers can book Air Rail connections to any SBB station in Switzerland, from both and Geneva airports. The ticket additionally includes some stations that are close to the border outside of the country, such as Bregenz, Austria and Munich, Germany.

In the case of SWISS, the Air Rail connections are fully integrated into the booking system, meaning that there is a seamless booking experience. Only one check-in is required and passengers will only have one boarding pass for their whole journey.

The train ticket will be valid for one day before departure and up to one day after the arrival of the flight. However, SWISS notes that you must try to get the specific train service you booked, particularly for services that cross the border. Luggage is self-transfer. However, for an extra fee, SWISS does offer a baggage transfer service throughout Switzerland called AirPortr, which will let you travel luggage-free.

Amsterdam

KLM was one of the first airlines in Europe to venture into air-rail tickets, and has been offering onward transport to Brussels from Schiphol Airport for more than 20 years. Travellers can choose to head to or from either Brussels-Midi/Zuid train station or Antwerp Central station with their air-rail ticket.

Brussels-Midi/Zuid station also acts as a connection for the air-rail service to Paris Charles de Gaulle for Air France, KLM’s sister airline.