When the train replaces the plane, luggage often determines how much the trip really costs
In European travel, the train has in recent years become an increasingly common alternative to the plane, especially on routes where the total travel time must include getting to a distant airport, security screening, boarding, waiting for luggage and the transfer after landing. Such a trip can be calmer, more predictable and more comfortable, but only if the entire journey from door to door is compared, and not just the lowest ticket price shown in a search engine. In practice, the calculation can easily change when a suitcase, a seat, a transfer, a night arrival, accommodation before or after the trip, and public transport or a taxi to the railway station and the airport are added. According to data from the International Air Transport Association, airlines in 2025 expected significant revenue from ancillary services, which shows how much luggage, seat selection and similar surcharges have become an important part of the total flight price. On the other hand, rail often offers more luggage space and arrival closer to the city centre, but that does not mean that every train journey is automatically cheaper, simpler or more favourable in terms of time.
The comparison does not begin with the ticket price, but with the total cost of the journey
The most common mistake when comparing train and plane is comparing the basic price of an airline ticket with the price of a rail ticket without the additional costs that arise before and after the journey itself. On low-cost carrier flights, the cheapest ticket often includes only a small piece of hand luggage that must fit under the seat, while a larger cabin suitcase, checked luggage, priority boarding or seat selection are paid for separately. Ryanair, according to its own luggage rules, includes one small personal bag measuring 40 x 30 x 20 centimetres in all fares, while larger cabin and checked bags are added through paid options. easyJet also warns on its website that it is cheaper to add luggage in advance than at the airport and that passengers should check the permitted cabin-bag dimensions before travelling in order to avoid extra charges. Because of this, a flight that initially looks noticeably cheaper can, after adding a suitcase and transfers, end up as a more expensive option than the train.
With the train, the cost structure is different, but not always simpler. A ticket may include more luggage than the cheapest airline fare class, but the passenger must carry and stow the suitcase himself, and on some trains space for large pieces of luggage may be limited. On international routes, it should be checked whether all sections are on one ticket or bought separately, because this can change rights in the event of delays and missed connections. An additional cost also arises when the train arrives late in the evening or very early in the morning, when public transport is no longer running or accommodation requires earlier check-in, later check-out or an extra night. A comparison therefore makes sense only when the ticket, luggage, transport to the departure point, transport from the destination, possible meals, accommodation, connection risk and the time the passenger really loses are placed in the same table.
Luggage on the train is often more generous, but it is not without limits
A major advantage of rail is that many operators do not apply the airline model of charging for every additional piece of luggage. Deutsche Bahn, according to rules published on its website, allows passengers to take, in addition to hand luggage, one larger piece of luggage or item at no extra charge, provided that one person can carry it alone. Eurostar states that there is no weight limit for luggage on its trains, but the passenger must be able to lift and store his belongings himself, and on London routes in standard classes, two pieces of luggage up to the maximum permitted dimension are usually mentioned. Such rules can be considerably more favourable for passengers carrying a larger suitcase, sports equipment or more than one bag. Still, flexibility is not the same as unlimited freedom, because aisles, doors, safety equipment and space for other passengers must not be blocked.
The French SNCF shows that rail also becomes stricter when pressure on space in trains increases. According to SNCF Voyageurs rules, a passenger may take up to two labelled larger pieces of luggage of specified dimensions and one smaller hand item, and all luggage must be labelled. This is an important difference compared with the plane, where a larger suitcase is checked in before security screening, but then there is a risk of waiting, delays or lost luggage. On the train, luggage is usually constantly with the passenger, but that also means that the passenger is responsible for monitoring it, especially on night lines, in crowded trains and during shorter stops at larger railway stations.
Airline surcharges change the impression of a cheap ticket
In air transport, the lowest price is often only the starting point. In its 2025 estimate, IATA stated that more than one trillion US dollars in total airline industry revenue was expected, with 705 billion dollars in passenger revenue and an additional 145 billion dollars in ancillary-service revenue. These add-ons do not mean only luggage, but luggage is among the most visible items that a passenger feels when buying a ticket. In 2025, the European Parliament, in discussions on passenger rights, raised the issue of free hand luggage, and the Committee on Transport and Tourism supported a clearer definition of the right to hand luggage in order to reduce unjustified additional costs. Airlines, according to reactions from industry associations, claim that mandatory inclusion of larger cabin bags may increase basic prices and reduce choice for passengers who travel light.
For the passenger, this means that the decision cannot be reduced to the question of whether the plane is generally cheaper than the train. If someone travels only with a small backpack, does not need to choose a seat and has good public transport to the airport, the plane may remain more affordable. If the journey includes a larger suitcase, equipment, family travel, a late arrival or a distant airport, additional costs can quickly erase the advantage of the lowest airline price. At the same time, the time of arrival before the flight, possible waits at security screening, boarding, disembarkation and luggage collection should also be included. On many routes, the train allows a shorter arrival before departure and arrival directly in the city, but that advantage applies only if the railway station truly suits the travel plan and if connections are not excessively risky.
Connections are the key difference between a simple journey and a logistical problem
The train is often perceived as less stressful than the plane because there is no classic airport security procedure, and during the journey the passenger can move around, work, read or eat. But on international rail journeys, the biggest problem is often not the journey itself, but changing between several operators and different ticket-sales systems. On 13 May 2026, the European Commission presented a proposal by which it wants to simplify European travel booking with the principle of one journey, one ticket and full passenger rights. According to the Commission's announcement, the aim is for passengers on multi-leg rail journeys with one ticket to have protection in the event of a missed connection, including assistance, rerouting, refunds and compensation. That proposal still has to go through the legislative procedure, but it shows that fragmented booking is one of the main obstacles to wider use of the train instead of the plane.
The current EU rules on rail passenger rights are based on Regulation 2021/782, which has applied since 7 June 2023 and regulates rights in cases of delays, cancellations and missed connections. The European Commission states that these rules have strengthened passenger protection, but practical differences still exist between journeys purchased as a single ticket and journeys assembled from several separate bookings. For a passenger who combines several trains himself, the most important thing is to check whether the connection is protected and what happens if the first train is late. If two sections are bought separately, the second operator does not necessarily have to automatically assume responsibility for the missed onward journey. That is why the cheapest combination of trains is not always the best, especially when the gap between arrival and departure is short or when it is the last train of the day.
A night train can replace a hotel, but only if the arrival time suits the plan
Night trains often look like an ideal solution: the passenger boards in the evening, sleeps through part of the journey and arrives in another city in the morning, thereby saving one night of accommodation and part of the daytime. ÖBB Nightjet, according to the operator's information, offers several travel categories, from seats to couchettes and sleeping cabins, and reservations are generally possible months in advance. In couchette and sleeping compartments, the passenger pays for a higher level of comfort, but in return gets a real opportunity to rest, which cannot be compared with sitting in a crowded night train. For family trips or journeys with more luggage, a private compartment can be more practical, but also more expensive than the basic ticket. If it is compared with a plane, one should compare not only transport but also a possibly avoided hotel night.
The problem arises when the night train arrives in the city at a time that does not fit accommodation check-in, a business meeting or the continuation of the journey. Arrival at six in the morning can be useful if luggage can be left at the hotel, at the railway station or in a left-luggage office, but it can be unpleasant if the passenger has to wait for several hours with a suitcase. A late-night arrival can also increase the cost if public transport is no longer running, and a taxi or app-based ride becomes the only realistic option. In such cases, a plane with a daytime arrival can sometimes be more practical, even if the ticket itself is more expensive. On night lines, the type of accommodation on the train, the possibility of locking the compartment, rules for bicycles, pets and larger items, and refund conditions for cheaper fares should also be checked.
A railway station in the city centre is not always a sufficient argument
One of the most common arguments in favour of the train is arrival in the city centre. This is often true, especially in large European cities where main railway stations are connected with the metro, tram, buses and pedestrian zones. Such an arrival saves time and money because the passenger does not have to go through a long transfer from an airport that may be located tens of kilometres from the centre. But the rule is not universal: some international or high-speed trains use stations that are not closest to the final destination, and track works, replacement buses or platform changes can make the journey more complex. The passenger should therefore check not only the city name on the ticket, but also the specific station, the distance from the accommodation and the availability of public transport at the time of arrival.
The same is true of airports. In some cities, the airport has a fast, frequent and affordable connection with the centre, so the difference between plane and train is not large. In others, the transfer is expensive, infrequent or unpredictable in terms of time, especially late in the evening. When travelling with several people, a taxi from the airport may be more acceptable because the cost is shared, while when travelling alone it can significantly burden the budget. That is why it is useful to calculate the total price per person and the total price per group, because the same itinerary can give a different answer for one passenger, a couple, a family or a group. The comparison must also include physical effort: carrying two suitcases through the underground, stairs and transfers can cancel out part of the comfort that the train otherwise offers.
The environmental argument is important, but it is not the only criterion
The European Environment Agency, in its transport analyses, states that passenger mobility in the EU, after the pandemic decline, has again reached high levels and that the choice of mode of transport is also viewed through emissions, energy efficiency and broader environmental impact. In an earlier report comparing train and plane, the agency concluded that the train generally has a more favourable environmental impact than air transport, especially on comparable land routes, although the final picture depends on occupancy, the source of electricity, the length of the journey and other factors. That argument encourages many passengers to choose rail when it is reasonable in terms of time and money. Still, a more environmentally acceptable choice will not be accepted if the journey is too expensive, difficult to book or carries too high a risk of missed connections. That is precisely why European institutions are increasingly linking climate goals with passenger rights, ticket availability and simpler planning.
For the individual, the most practical approach is balanced. If the train takes two or three hours longer, but avoids arrival at a distant airport, extra luggage charges and an overnight stay before an early flight, it may be the better option. If the train involves three connections, a short gap between trains and arrival in the middle of the night, the plane may be more rational despite security procedures and surcharges. Travel is not just transport from point A to point B, but a series of decisions involving money, time, fatigue, luggage, reliability and availability of information. That is why more and more passengers are not asking only what is cheaper, but what is less risky and more pleasant in real circumstances.
How to make a fair comparison before buying a ticket
The most useful thing before buying is to make a simple calculation in a few rows. In the first row, the basic ticket price for train and plane should be entered, but immediately after that cabin or checked luggage, seat reservation if needed, public transport or taxi to the departure point and from the destination should be added. The third part should include time costs: arrival before the flight, security screening, waiting for luggage, connections, possible buffers for delays and the time of arrival at accommodation. Risk points should be marked separately, for example separately purchased rail tickets, the last train of the day, late arrival in an unfamiliar city or an airport without night public transport. Only after that can it be seen whether a difference of several dozen euros is really a saving or just shifting the cost to another part of the journey.
For journeys with luggage, the train often has an advantage because the passenger avoids checking in the suitcase, liquid restrictions and part of the airport procedures. But that advantage applies only if the luggage is reasonable, if it can be safely stowed and if the passenger can carry it himself. For short city breaks with a small backpack, the plane can remain competitive, especially when the airport is well connected and when no additional services are paid for. For longer journeys, families, equipment or multi-city itineraries, the train can offer a better ratio of comfort and price, but it requires more checking before purchase. The best decision is therefore not predetermined: train and plane should be compared as a whole journey, not as two isolated tickets.
Sources:
- European Commission – proposal on one ticket and passenger rights (link)
- European Commission – rail passenger rights (link)
- Eurostar – luggage rules (link)
- Deutsche Bahn – luggage rules on trains (link)
- SNCF Voyageurs – rules on luggage dimensions (link)
- Ryanair Help Centre – official luggage rules (link)
- easyJet – official luggage information (link)
- IATA – estimate of ancillary-service revenue in 2025 (link)
- European Parliament – proposal on passenger rights and hand luggage (link)
- ÖBB Nightjet – information on travel categories (link)
- European Environment Agency – data on passenger mobility (link)