If you always travel the same high-speed route, you can now know what you will pay before planning your trips. Iryo has unveiled its new 10-journey pass. It sets the fare per route and lets you travel for 180 days with no calendar restrictions and no need to book far in advance.
Two options
Depending on the class you want to travel in, the operator offers two types:
- 10 Gran Confort Pass: gives access to the Infinita cabin (good old-fashioned first class), with XL seats and a large suitcase included on every journey.
- 10 Confort Pass: gives access to the Inicial cabin (second class) and includes one piece of cabin baggage.
Both options include free seat selection.
What it offers
- It is named, meaning only the person it is issued to can use it.
- It is valid for 180 days from purchase.
- There are no blackout dates and no day-of-the-week restrictions.
- You can cancel tickets free of charge up to 30 minutes before departure. The amount goes back into the pass’s journey balance, so you do not lose the trip.
This new offer competes with Renfe’s Bono AVE, which offers the same conditions (although it is valid for 4 months) and is more expensive on the routes we checked.
How to buy and use it
The pass is on sale on Iryo’s website and through travel agencies. To buy it online, go to “Services and Rates”, then “Travel Pass” and click “Comprar” (Buy). Then choose the route you normally travel.
At present, for travel between Madrid and Barcelona, the Confort pass costs €660.00 and the Gran Confort €792.00. That works out at just €66.00 and €79.20 per journey, however far in advance you buy your ticket.
On another highly popular route, Madrid–Valencia, the Confort pass costs €385.00 and the Gran Confort €473.00. Right now, the next train costs €77.54 in Inicial and €87.93 in Infinita. So if you also tend to plan your trips at the last minute, this pass is for you!
To use it, you must redeem your journeys exclusively on Iryo’s website. Go to your profile, select “Manage your booking” and open “My Travel Passes”. From there you can see all your tickets and cancel them.
Words from the CEO
Fabrizio Favara, CEO of Iryo, says the company wants to be “a strategic ally” for SMEs, self-employed workers and individuals. According to him, locking in travel prices six months ahead allows people to plan their costs while keeping flexibility.