When I was a student in Germany, I used to take the train into Frankfurt every few weeks.  The only trouble was, that the ticket machines at the station were often out of order.

I remember that the first time this happened, I asked another passenger what I should do, and they told me to write down the serial numbers of all of the ticket machines, and if anyone wanted to see my ticket I should tell them what had happened and prove it using the numbers.

I was reminded of this the other day, as – just as I was in the process of paying – the only machine at our local station decided that it was not going to issue me with a ticket.  (Incidentally it had also locked in my bank card!)

Out of order - Außer Betrieb

So what should you really do in such circumstances?

Writing down the number of the machine is certainly a good idea.  Apparently, if you are checked by a ticket inspector, they write down your name and address and send someone to see if the machine really was faulty (and presumably fix it).

However, I have since heard of people who then received a bill for the “erhöhtes Beförderungsentgeld” (that’s the fine for travelling without a ticket), because the machine was allegedly working.

I always wondered how such things happened – now I know!  Having retrieved my bank card and noted the machine number, we waited for our train to arrive.  After a few minutes, the machine reverted to its normal state and the “Außer Betrieb” notices disappeared.  We bought our tickets with cash and the train eventually came.

Now, supposing the train had been a few minutes earlier and we had been unable to buy those tickets. Anyone going to check the machine the next day would not have found the problem.  (Or do they have audit trails in the software?)

After making some enquiries, I still do not have anything official, but I do have some new advice.  Not only is it wise to note down the number(s) of the machine(s), but you should advise the train driver as well.  It is then up to him or her to either let you travel without a ticket – something they can then vouch for when the ticket inspectors get on the train.  Or they can let you off at the next stop and wait while you buy a ticket there.  I emphasise the wait because normally the time at a U-Bahn stop would not be sufficient.

Finally, if ticket inspectors do get into your carriage, it is important to make yourself known to them straight away and get them to talk to the driver.  Do not wait for them to come to you!

By the way, the machine really does have to be out of order.  If you don’t have the right change, and the machine is not taking notes or bank cards, then that is not considered sufficient to travel without a ticket.

The alternative is to travel a different way – if you can!

Frankfurt Airport (Frankfurter Flughafen) is located to the west of the city and is easily reached by train (S-Bahn or Regionalbahn) or car.  It even has its own inter-city train station (ICE).

The airport is split into two terminals, with Star Alliance airlines in Terminal 1 and One World airlines such as British Airways in Terminal 2.  In fact, Lufthansa occupies a large amount of Terminal 1.

The two terminals are connected via a monorail called the Skyline and there is parking available at both terminals.

There is also an airport called “Frankfurt-Hahn”, which is located 126km away and is used by budget airlines, Ryanair being a prime example.  There is a bus transfer available between the two airports.

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Yesterday evening I was flying back from Madrid to Frankfurt with a Spanair flight, which was already an hour late, when the flight was suddenly diverted to Stuttgart!

The reason for the diversion was an unusual event in Frankfurt – the airport was closed for all starts and landings.  This was due to a thunderstorm over the airport.

What this meant for me was that instead of landing at 21:05 in Frankfurt, the plane landed at around 21:30 in Stuttgart, having circled over Frankfurt-Hahn for a while.  Here it re-fuelled, and later flew on at 23:30 to Frankfurt, arrived just after midnight and coming to a stop far away from the terminal, leaving the passengers to be taken by bus and wait another 45 minutes for the baggage to arrive.

Whilst I appreciate that it was better to continue the journey on the same aircraft to Frankfurt rather than being put onto a train or even a bus, the information available to the passengers could have been better.

Firstly, when we landed it was announced in Spanish and English that we would be going to the terminal and then await further instructions – which was translated into German as “wir fahren erstmal zum Terminal und dann… keine Ahnung”.  Keine Ahnung did not go down well!

Then at 22:25 we were told to fasten our seatbelts as we would be flying in 4 minutes – those 4 minutes turned into an hour.

JK127 from Madrid - via Stuttgart

What really took the biscuit was the answer given to a passenger who asked – in Spanish – about compensation for the late arrival – I don’t know whether they missed a connect flight, or were just enquiring.  They were told that it was a weather problem, and so not covered by the usual rules.

BUT if we had taken off on time, we would have landed before the storm, but we didn’t even board on time!  How do you explain that, Spanair?

I have filled out a EU complaint form (Regulation 261/2004 being the important number to know at such times!) and see what happens.  I didn’t find “I hope you had a pleasant flight” quite so appropriate last night.