Fly and Ride: How European Airlines Are Making Train Connections Part of Your Flight Booking

Published by V.S. Journeys

You’ve landed after a long flight. You’re tired, the airport is busy, and the last thing you want is to figure out local buses, shuttles, or expensive taxis to reach your final destination. A growing number of European airlines now have a smarter answer: let you book a train ticket right alongside your flight, all under one reservation.

These combined “air‑rail” tickets mean you can step off the plane, head straight to the station, and continue your journey seamlessly. And if your flight is delayed and you miss your connection?

An airplane descending to land over a sandy beach

The airline takes care of it. Some carriers will even forward your luggage from the plane to the train.

Here’s how the offer works across Europe’s biggest airlines.

Air France: Two ways to add a train

Air France gives passengers two options to combine flying with rail travel. The first, called Train + Air, is for journeys that include a domestic French train. It’s available to international travellers, including those coming from or heading to French overseas territories. France’s rail network is extensive, with connections from both Paris‑Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports to dozens of cities. To book, simply enter the train station’s name as if it were an airport.

The airline handles the rest, and you’ll receive a downloadable e‑ticket 30 hours before departure. One catch: you’ll need to collect your own bags and recheck them for the train. Also, Orly isn’t walkable to Massy TGV station, but Air France provides a taxi transfer between the two.

For travellers headed to or from Brussels, Air France’s Air&Rail product puts you in first class on the TGV INOUI. Bags are checked at the rail station when you depart. However, if you’re arriving by plane in Paris, you must pick up your luggage and drop it at the Air&Rail agency before boarding the train. Miss a connection due to a delay? The airline will rebook you on the next available flight or train.

A high-speed TGV train stopped at a modern railway station platform

ITA Airways: One ticket for almost all of Europe

Italy’s ITA Airways launched its air‑rail service in 2023 using AccesRail technology. The ticket covers train journeys at both ends of your flight – including in the UK – and works with several rail partners: Trenitalia (Italy), Renfe (Spain), SNBC (Belgium), Deutsche Bahn (Germany), and most UK train operators. This means you could theoretically travel from a small Italian town like Orte to Rome’s airport by high‑speed rail, fly to London, and then hop a train to Edinburgh – all on a single protected itinerary. Book via the ITA Airways website, and you’ll receive separate boarding passes for each leg. You’re responsible for moving your own luggage between train and plane.

Austrian Airlines: Guaranteed connections to Austrian gems

Austrian’s AIRail program lets you book onward travel from any international flight to Linz, Salzburg, Graz, or Innsbruck.

An ITA Airways airplane flying overhead against a clear sky

Arriving at Vienna, you can step directly onto an ÖBB Railjet train. When booking on the Austrian Airlines website, select your train station as the final destination. The rail segment even gets an Austrian flight number. The connection is guaranteed: if you’re delayed, you’ll be rebooked at no cost. You’ll handle your own luggage, but check‑in is fully online for both modes. Bonus: a snack voucher on the train, Miles & More points for the rail portion, and a 20% discount on parking in Linz for loyalty members.

TAP Portugal: Reach dozens of European cities

TAP Portugal lets passengers book onward rail travel not just within Portugal but across many major European cities. Partnerships with rail companies in Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, the UK, Sweden, and Switzerland mean you can get almost anywhere with one booking. The train ticket must be bought at the same time as the flight – it can’t be added later. Baggage is self‑transfer, but the connection is guaranteed.

Lufthansa: Over 5,600 German train stations

Lufthansa’s Rail&Fly ticket, in partnership with Deutsche Bahn, covers more than 5,600 stations across Germany. Unusually, you can travel up to one day before or after your flight – handy for odd‑hour arrivals.

A Deutsche Bahn (DB) train standing at a railway station platform

Although the partner is Deutsche Bahn, you’re not limited to DB trains; InterCity, EuroCity, and ICE services are also included. Book either as an “additional service” after selecting your flight, or simply pick a train station as your destination. You’ll move your own bags, but you’re not tied to a specific train – the ticket is valid for any train on that route on that day.

SWISS: One boarding pass for plane and train

SWISS offers Air Rail connections from Zurich and Geneva airports to any SBB station in Switzerland, plus some cross‑border stops like Bregenz (Austria) and Munich (Germany). The network recently expanded to include Grindelwald and the Jungfrau region, home to Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454 metres. Unlike many rivals, SWISS fully integrates rail into its booking system: you get a single check‑in, one boarding pass for the whole journey, and the train ticket is valid one day before your flight and one day after. However, you must try to catch the specific train you booked, especially on cross‑border routes. Baggage is self‑transfer, but for a fee SWISS offers AirPortr – a service that will move your bags for you across Switzerland.

KLM: A pioneer from Amsterdam to Brussels

KLM was one of the first European airlines to offer air‑rail tickets, connecting Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport to Brussels for more than 20 years. Originally using Thalys (now Eurostar), the service has carried over 4.5 million passengers since 2001. Travellers can book to or from Brussels‑Midi/Zuid or Antwerp Central stations, with a high‑speed train link included. Brussels‑Midi also serves as a connection point for Air France’s air‑rail service to Paris Charles de Gaulle, as KLM and Air France are sister airlines. In March 2024, the group opened a refurbished lounge in Brussels where Air&Rail customers can check in, drop luggage, and relax before their journey.

KLM aircraft at airport, viewed through large lounge windows from inside an airport

Is booking an air‑rail ticket worth it?

For peace of mind alone, the answer is often yes. Every service mentioned here offers a connection guarantee: if a delay makes you miss your train or flight, you won’t be stranded. Cost savings vary, but fixed‑price rail tickets (like Lufthansa’s) tend to be great value. Loyalty members may also earn frequent flyer miles on the train portion.

The environmental upside is significant. Trains typically emit 40–50g of CO₂ per passenger kilometre, compared to 150–200g for a short‑haul flight. Choosing a train over a plane for a 500km journey can cut emissions by 70–90%.

A Trenitalia passenger train standing at a railway station platform

There are limitations. Not every rail operator is included, and you may see fewer schedule options when booking through an airline. Manual luggage transfer can also be a hassle. Still, the convenience of one booking – plus knowing you’ll be looked after if things go wrong – makes combined air‑rail tickets an increasingly appealing way to explore Europe.