[Removed user]

26 April 2016 at 21:20:21 #809025

We are a family of four (two adults, two 16 year olds) who will be traveling in Switzerland in June. We are trying to figure out what makes the most sense in terms of purchasing rail tickets in advance or waiting until we are in Switzerland. We know that we want to purchase half fare cards for each of the four of us, and we have already purchased seat reservations for four on the Glacier Express. Here’s what we’re struggling to figure out:

(1) Do we need to purchase the GE tickets now or is it sufficient that we have purchased the seat reservations and we could just purchase the tickets once we are in Zurich? We would want to purchase the half fare cards before purchasing the GE tickets. So if we should buy the GE tickets now, we would also need to purchase the half fare cards now.

(2) We will be riding the GE from St. Moritz to Brig, then taking regular rail from Brig to Wengen. Should we purchase the Brig to Wengen tickets now so that we are sure we have seats on the first train available after we arrive at Brig?

(3) If it is recommended for us to purchase the half fare cards, GE tickets and/or Brig to Wengen tickets now from the US, what is the best way for us to do that? It appears that we could purchase the Half Fare Cards with print at home delivery via the SBB website. What about the other tickets – is there a way to purchase those with print at home delivery? Physical delivery of tickets from the SBB website seems quite costly.

Thanks very much for any help!

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[Arno]

27 April 2016 at 4:11:36 #851283

Hi aktbko616, welcome to MySwissAlps!

You don’t have to buy tickets in advance. You can buy them in Switzerland and they do not sell out. You can buy your Swiss Half Fare Cards in advance and print them at home. That will save you time as it allows you to skip staffed ticket desks and get tickets straight from the ticketing machines after arrival. You can go to http://www.swissrailways.com/ en and pick “Online Ticket” once the delivery options are presented. You’ll receive the cards through e-mail.

You don’t have to worry about seats. Booking seats is very uncommon and not required in Switzerland, apart from a few tourist trains like the Glacier Express. Please see myswissalps.com/ train/reservations.

Enjoy your trips!

[Removed user]

29 April 2016 at 18:03:37 #851284

Thanks, Arno. We’ll purchase the Half Fare Cards now and will wait to buy tickets when we arrive in Switzerland.

But just so I am clear regarding the Glacier Express — if I have the seat reservations for the Glacier Express, I do not need to worry about buying the Glacier Express tickets in advance?

Thanks again!

[Arno]

30 April 2016 at 11:46:55 #851285

Yes indeed, no need to worry. The reservations secure your seats. The ticket can be purchased at any time, even a minute before departure.

[Removed user]

30 April 2016 at 21:02:36 #851286

Thanks for clarifying! I appreciate all of your help!