Benefits for you:
- Board and relax straight away ("One less thing to do."): Take your seat and check in via the DB Navigator app. Then simply sit back and relax. In most cases, the train attendant will no longer inspect your ticket. Then simply sit back and relax. In most cases, the train attendant will no longer inspect your ticket once you have checked in at your current seat.
- Immediate confirmation ("Everything is fine."): No need to search for the ticket. With just one click, you receive immediate confirmation that your ticket inspection was successful on your display. Our train attendants will be informed of this.
- Get the most from your journey ("You decide."): Komfort Check-in gives you more time to enjoy your trip. You can use this to read, watch films, work or enjoy something from the bistro car.
- Be sure of keeping your seat: Many of our ICEs have seat occupied displays, so your fellow passengers will be able to see that your seat is taken. That way you won't have to worry about getting up and can keep your seat for the entire journey.
What you need:
- Latest version of the DB Navigator app
- Mobile phone or online ticket for a saver fare or flexible fare ticket
Komfort Check-in in the DB Navigator app
Tutorial - Komfort Check-in in the DB Navigator app
Call up your ticket
Call up your current ticket via "My journeys".
Start Check-in
If the ticket fulfils all the requirements for Komfort Check-in, the "Komfort Check-in" button will appear. Tap it as soon as you have taken your reserved seat or found a free one. You can now check in.
With reservation: Check your seat
If you did not purchase the reservation together with your ticket, tap "Use reservation" and select the corresponding reservation.
You may be asked to enter the 12 or 14-digit reservation number from the confirmation mail or the reservation information.
Without reservation: Enter seat
If you do not know the coach number, you can find this out using a QR code.
Enter BahnCard (optional)
Did you buy the ticket with a BahnCard? Then enter your BahnCard number.
Tip: If you save your BahnCard in your customer account, the check will happen automatically.
Finished
You are now checked in for this seat and this section of your journey.
Tip: You can change your seat later.
Finding a new seat and checking in again
Finding your coach number via QR code
Are you travelling without a reservation, or would like to check in for a free seat, but do not know your coach number? In DB Navigator, you can easily find the coach number via a QR code.
Details step 1
Start the check-in process in DB Navigator and tap the QR code scan icon next to where you enter your seat. You may need to grant the app permission to use your camera.
Details step 2
Centre the QR code in the indicated part of the camera screen. If the sticker has two QR codes, please scan the one on the right.
The position of the QR code sticker may vary depending on the train and seat.
Seat in a row of two seats:
The QR code is located on the back of the seat in front, or on the separating panel in front of the seat.
Seat in a group of seats:
The QR code is located above the table on the side wall or by the window.
Seat in a compartment:
​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹The QR code is located on the wall behind the respective seat, or above the table on the side wall or by the window.
Details step 3
Once you have found the coach number, enter your seat and tap "Check in now" to go through the Komfort Check-in process.
Komfort Check-in in your browser
FAQ - Komfort Check-in
51ÇàÂ¥ Bahn's Komfort Check-in function lets you check in for your rail journey yourself. This means that you can validate your ticket digitally and inform the train crew of where you are sitting. By doing so, your ticket will generally not be inspected during the journey, allowing you to relax. In addition, the check-in is shown on the reservation display on most trains. This will indicate to other passengers that your seat is occupied, even if you are absent for a short time.
To use the Komfort Check-in function, you always need a mobile device and the DB Navigator app, preferably in the latest version. Your journey must also allow the Komfort Check-in function. This requires a valid ticket, an occupied seat and a train connection that supports Komfort Check-in, among other things.
The requirements in detail are as follows:
1) A mobile device with an internet connection (e.g. a smartphone or laptop with a mobile data plan)
2) The current version of the DB Navigator app (alternatively: access to the ICE Portal or online at www.bahn.de/jetzt-einchecken)
3) An approved digital DB ticket (e.g. recognisable by the "Komfort Check-in" button in the itinerary for your connection)
- Flexible, saver or super saver fare
- With and without BahnCard discount
- Up to five passengers (no dogs or bicycles)
- With or without reservation
4) Authorised travel conditions
- Train connection that supports the Komfort Check-in function (recognisable by the addition "Komfort Check-in available - please check in if possible" under the further information section in the itinerary for your journey)
- Occupied seat that supports check-in
- Correct time (function is activated shortly before departure and your ticket must not already have been inspected by the train crew)
- Journey according to the itinerary in the ticket
We activate the Komfort Check-in function shortly before the train departs. It is therefore best to check in as soon as you have taken your reserved seat or one that is available. If you check in later, your ticket may still be inspected. Once your ticket has been inspected by the train crew, you will no longer be able to use the Komfort Check-in function.
Yes, you can also check in to an unoccupied, unreserved seat without a reservation. Please also read "At which seats can I check in and what do I need to bear in mind?"
Despite Komfort Check-in, the train crew may still carry out ticket inspections to make sure that the check-in data is valid and accurate. This provides additional security and quality assurance. Here are some reasons why your ticket may still be inspected despite Komfort Check-in.
- You are not sitting in the checked-in seat.
Check-in is linked to your seat. If you are in the aisle, bistro or another seat, the train crew will not be able to recognise your check-in. If you have moved, change your seat in the itinerary in the DB Navigator app using the "Change seat" button.
- Your check-in has not yet registered.
It may take a few minutes before your check-in is visible on the inspection handset. Therefore, if possible, check in as soon as you have sat in your reserved seat or one that is available.
- A random inspection.
Train crews are also required to carry out occasional spot checks on passengers who have checked in. The system randomly selects checked-in seats based on factors like the ticket type. Therefore, please have your ticket, a photographic ID and, if necessary, other proof of authorisation such as your BahnCard ready.
In principle, you can check in to all regular and freely available seats that do not overlap with other reservations. If you are a BahnBonus Gold or Platinum customer, you can also check in to the exclusive seating area. You can find details of seats that support Komfort Check-in below.
You can check in at any seats that meet the following criteria:
- The seats are free, i.e. not occupied by other passengers or a check-in.
- The seats are regular seats, i.e. not special seats such as those for the disabled, or seats in the bistro car or on-board restaurant.
- If you are a BahnBonus Gold or Platinum status customer, you can use seats in the exclusive BahnBonus seating area.
- The reservation display shows "ggf. freigeben" (express reservation seats) if you have reserved them.
- If the seats have already been reserved by other passengers, you can still use them if the reservation does not overlap with your journey.
- The seats are arranged facing forwards or backwards to the direction of travel. Komfort Check-in is not possible on seats arranged sideways, for example, such as those in the double-decker IC2 multi-purpose compartment.
You can use the Komfort Check-in function even if you booked your reservation separately. To do this, tap "Use reservation" when entering the carriage and seat, and select the relevant reservation. In certain situations, you must first enter the reservation number (Res. no.) to load your reservation. You will find this number either in the confirmation e-mail or in the booking information (PDF).
Note
When using a separately booked reservation, please note that the number of passengers on the ticket determines the maximum number of people that can be checked in. This means that if you booked a ticket for one person and then reserved two seats, for example, you can only check in for one person.
First check whether all the requirements for Komfort Check-in have been met (see: "What are the requirements for using Komfort Check-in?"). If the check-in function is still not available or does not work, there may be various reasons for this. Here are some possible reasons:
- The ticket is not in the app: Make sure that your ticket is loaded in DB Navigator and is a digital ticket. Older tickets or certain ticket types may not be compatible. Alternatively, try checking in via the ICE Portal or the website www.bahn.de/jetzt-einchecken.
- Ticket changed or cancelled: If you have changed or cancelled your ticket or reservation, Komfort Check-in is no longer possible.
- No internet: Check your internet connection and try again when you have a connection.
- Seat not available: The seat is either reserved, already checked in by another passenger or is a special seat. Check whether another seat is available.
- Function not (yet) available: The Komfort Check-in function is deactivated or not yet activated for this section of the journey. In the latter case, wait a few minutes before attempting to check in again.
- Already inspected: If your ticket has already been inspected, Komfort Check-in is no longer required.
The train crew on board only see that a passenger has checked in for a seat on a particular route. If the system suggests a ticket for a random check, the reasons for this are also displayed. Further ticket data will only be displayed if your ticket is inspected as usual.
Komfort Check-in is only valid on 51ÇàÂ¥ trains and within 51ÇàÂ¥. On cross-border journeys to other European countries, Komfort Check-in is only available to a limited extent and you should expect your ticket to be inspected as normal.
You can see whether your train or journey segment supports Komfort Check-in by the addition "Komfort Check-in available - please check in if possible" under the further information section in the itinerary for your journey.
If you change seats after check-in, please change your seat number using the "Change seat" button in your current itinerary in DB Navigator. Otherwise your ticket may be inspected by the train attendant. After the change, the new seat and carriage number will be displayed. You have to check in again every time you change seat.
The entitlement to a seat does not depend on Komfort Check-in:
- With reservation: You are entitled to your reserved seat if you take it within 15 minutes of departure. After this time, the entitlement expires and the seat can be used by other passengers.
- Without reservation: You are entitled to a seat that is not reserved if you are the first to sit in it. Therefore, please only check in once you have actually taken your seat.
No, unfortunately Komfort Check-in is currently not possible for BahnCard 100 holders, as this requires a digital ticket for a flexible, saver or super saver fare.
After checking in, the text on the reservation display automatically changes to "Belegt bis …", indicating that the seat is occupied until the displayed destination. The display is usually updated within a few seconds and remains in place until shortly before the destination. This is also the case if our train crew inspect your ticket as normal.
Note
The seat occupied display is not available in all trains.