Renfe vs iryo vs OUIGO: Prices, Luggage & Tickets
Planning diagram; check the current conditions of your selected ticket.
Choose a train in Spain by comparing the complete journey and ticket, not the operator's reputation alone. Renfe operates AVE and Avlo; iryo and OUIGO España are separate operators. On routes with competing services, check the actual departure, station, luggage allowance and flexibility. A low headline price may change once you add the services you need.
A practical comparison for a small bag or a large suitcase
Compare two baskets for the same departure window: the fare with your actual luggage, and the fare with the flexibility you need. A low-cost offer can suit a traveller with a small bag and fixed plans; a larger suitcase or an uncertain return date can change the comparison. Read the dimensions and item count for the exact product before paying.
Then compare the station and arrival time. A fare that requires a less convenient city transfer may cost more overall. There is no operator that is always cheapest, and a familiar operator name does not make every fare flexible. Use the luggage and change guides for the detail, then confirm the conditions attached to the specific offer.
Compare these four products
| Product | What to compare | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Renfe AVE | Básico, Elige/Elige Confort and Prémium; Standard or Confort seating where offered | A fare name and a seat type are different things. Included meals depend on the product purchased. |
| Renfe Avlo | Basic price plus luggage, seat and flexibility extras | Avlo has its own rules; the AVE luggage allowance does not apply. |
| iryo | Inicial, Inicial Superior, Espacio Silencio, Infinita and Infinita Bistró | Infinita Bistró includes a meal; ordinary Infinita does not. |
| OUIGO España | Esencial, PLUS, FULL and any purchased extras | PLUS does not automatically include FLEX or cancellation. Spanish rules differ from OUIGO France. |
Services and fare options depend on availability. Do not assume every operator runs directly between every pair of cities on its map. Use our Spain High-Speed Trains: AVE, Avlo, iryo & OUIGO for the main corridors.
Check luggage before choosing the cheapest fare
AVE: Renfe allows up to three items, subject to a combined 25 kg and 290 cm limit, with each item no larger than 85 × 55 × 35 cm. These are published limits, not optional guidance.
Avlo: the included allowance is one hand bag up to 36 × 27 × 25 cm and one cabin suitcase up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm. A larger additional item requires the appropriate extra, subject to its limits and availability.
iryo: Inicial includes a hand bag up to 36 × 27 × 15 cm and cabin case up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm; additional luggage cannot be purchased with that fare. Larger-case entitlement depends on the higher fare and, where required, advance reservation. Check the fare's allowance before selecting it.
OUIGO España: a hand bag up to 36 × 27 × 15 cm and cabin suitcase up to 55 × 35 × 25 cm are included. Additional luggage must be included or purchased; each extra item is limited to 200 cm across its three dimensions and 25 kg.
Understand what “flexible” actually includes
Renfe's AVE Básico permits one change for €10 plus any higher fare difference, at least 24 hours before the original departure. It is normally non-refundable. Elige includes a first change without a change fee, but any higher fare difference remains payable. Avlo's basic rules are different.
iryo conditions depend on the fare: Inicial is non-refundable, while higher products offer different refund levels and change options. OUIGO FLEX removes the change fee, not any higher fare difference; PLUS alone does not provide it. Where offered, OUIGO's refundable-ticket extra or FULL has specific refund or voucher conditions. Read those conditions instead of relying on the word “flexible”.
These are operator product descriptions. Extras and servicing conditions can differ by sales channel; confirm what is included in the offer you purchase. See Spain Train Refunds & Changes: Renfe, iryo, OUIGO for the practical checks.
Stations and boarding can decide the choice
Madrid's Atocha and Chamartín are different stations. Barcelona services commonly use Atocha, while many Valencia and Alicante departures use Chamartín. Confirm the station on the dated itinerary rather than treating all Madrid departures as interchangeable.
OUIGO requires arrival at the boarding area at least 30 minutes before departure and closes access five minutes before. Renfe access control and iryo doors close two minutes before departure. Allow additional time for security and unfamiliar stations; carry a valid issued ticket and matching identification.
What booking with SpanishTrain means
SpanishTrain is an independent intermediary operated by WISE UP LIMITED. It does not guarantee that every operator or departure appears in its results. Current bookings accept up to four adults aged 18 or older. Payment is followed by manual review and fulfilment; wait for the official operator e-ticket before travelling. Compare the final offer, including any service charges and ticket conditions, before paying.
Continue planning your rail journey
Official sources and review
Reviewed on 11 October 2026. The conditions of your selected fare and sales channel apply.
