12% discount on Swiss train tickets until April 7
A traveler named Traveljet shares their experience planning a trip to Switzerland, focusing on booking train tickets. They are trying to understand the use of a 12% discount code on the Omio website and comparing prices with the SBB site. Traveljet seeks clarity on applying the discount code and understanding price discrepancies between devices while planning their travel from Zurich Airport to Lucerne on June 4.
- Use the voucher code SPRINGDARE12 at the payment page on Omio to get a 12% discount on train and bus tickets.
- Always compare ticket prices on multiple platforms like SBB and Omio, as they may show different prices due to additional service fees.
- If using a discount card like the Half Fare Card, ensure you apply it correctly on the Omio site to see the appropriate ticket prices.
AI-generated summary-
Hi everyone,
Omio currently offers a 12% discount on train and bus tickets. This can easily save you CHF/EUR/USD 10 per person on longer trips. It works for Saver Day Passes and Supersaver tickets as well.
Use the voucher code SPRINGDARE12 on their website: https://www.omio.com/trains/switzerland
Please note:
- The code needs to be filled out in the last step of the purchase process, where you’ll fill out your payment details.
- The code works for trips in Switzerland, and it may also work for other countries. It does not work for France and most trips in Germany.
- This promotion expires on 7 April 2023.
- The discount works for any travel date as long as the ticket is already available.
- Omio does not sell passes.
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Hi Arno, I checked the price on the OMIO site for Zur Flughafen to Lucerne and it’s significantly higher than the sbb site even after the 12%.
I was looking at the one way 1st Class Standard Pt to Pt Zur Flughafen to Lucernes on SUN JUN 4th 11:15am.
Omio is EUROs and Sbb CHF where there is not much difference in the exchange rate.
OMIO shows Euros 56.85 but the SBB site is only CHF 26.50
Am I checking it wrongly?
Hello traveljet,
I also researched and here our my findings:
1. SBB – 1 way standard 53 CHF
2. Omio – 1 way standard, with discount 50.04 Euro
Perhaps the price displayed on the SBB website was a Supersaver price?
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda,
I forgot to mention that CHF 26.50 on SBB is with the Half Fare Card which I will be purchasing. For Omio I can’t seem to find the option with the Half Fare Card.
Hello again Traveljet,
Where you indicate the number of passengers, there is also an option to indicate /apply your respective discount card.
Hope that helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda,
I turned on the selection to indicate I have a discount card and chose BahnCard 50, 1st class – is that correct? But the price on Omio still shows up as CHF 53 discount yet. Is there a reason the Discount card was not factored in although I selected and confirmed it?. So even with the promo of 12% it is still more expensive that SBB CHF26.50 (Pt to Pt 1st class) with the Half Fare Card.
Would you mind trying again using the SBB app Pt to Pt 1st class ONE WAY with Half Fare card from Zur Flug – Luzern and check again? I see it as CHF 26.50 The earlier price of CHF 53 you mentioned was without the Half Fare card. I am checking via my iPhone / iPad.
Apologies for the need to figure out what’s wrong.
Not a problem traveljet,
Via Omio, I am applied “CH – HalbtaxAbo (without RAILPLUS)” and the discount was applied. Total price Euro 25.01, with the 12% discount factored in.
The price you indicate for SBB is same as mine. CHF26.50.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
HI Yolanda,
Many thanks. I finally managed to get it right as I could not understand which pass to apply and chose the wrong one. I finally got it to work.😁 The oddest thing is when I select the 3 tickets with same time eg 11:15am and details, the total amount (before 12%) is CHF 79.50. However, I did the same thing on my iPad and the total is CHF 83.48. I don’t know why.
2 more questions:
1) I add the SPRINGDARE12 code for the 12% only when I get to the payment page? I could not see that option when checking the details.
2) Expiry of this offer is 7 April 23:59pm Europe time?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Yolanda, I attach the two screenshots showing slightly variation in price depending on the iPhone or iPad. The iPhone displays the prices you were sharing with me in our earlier email. Strange that the iPad differs even when I input the same details using CHF, 3 passengers, 1st Class with Half Fare card Zurich Airport to Luzern 11:15am. 4 June.
Anyway I will stick to the iPhone when booking. Just need to know whether the SPRINGDARE12 code is only input at the payment page as I didnt see an option to key it at the beginning.
My country Singapore is 7hours ahead of Europe so just to confirm that the offer expiry is 7 April 23:59pm Europe time. My bank is having a slight better exchange rate of SGD – CHF on 7th april itself so once I change the currency, I will buy the tickets.
Hi traveljet,
You can apply the code on the payment page. After the billing address , you will see a box that is titled “Use a discount”.
That’s interesting you had different pricing depending which device you used, assume it was the same web browser?
Perhaps to be on the safe side, purchase your tickets sooner, rather than later. As you are 6 hours ahead, if the website reads you are already into the 8th April, it may not allow you to take advantage of the offer even though it is still 7th April in Europe.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, yes same browser and details-interesting that there was a slight difference in price.
I realised with the SBB app when I am looking for 2 months in advance eg for swiss travel 4 June, it will only allow me to buy the tickets on the 5th June in Singapore and not 4th.
So I was assuming if I buy from Omio on 7 April Singapore date @ 10am, it will still show 7 April 3am Europe time. .But you may have a point whether its worth taking the risk waiting for the bank exchange special rate on the 7th if I don’t expect a big difference. I was just hoping to kill 2 birds with one stone i,e, enjoy a better bank exchange rate which will only be offered on the 7th itself and buy the Omio tickets on the same day the 12% expires. Food for thought for me.
You have been a great help and I really appreciate your assistance.
Hello again traveljet,
Omio was founded in 2013 in Berlin, it now has offices in Berlin, Prague, Beijing, London and New York.
I understand in regard to the exchange rate situation. I have been on the receiving end, whereby the next day it has been a better rate! Frustrating but then, you have a peace of mind, your tickets are purchased, no need to worry and it’s checked off the list!
It could be that is how the websites will interpret the dates when inserted.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi again Yolanda,
I realised the initial price seen on Omio did not include an additional service fee of CHF2 pp. This service fee is only seen later when we get to the passenger page. As a result, the final savings is very minimal (0.25 chf) when compared to SBB. I also realise the prices fluctuate because of the way algorithms work – when more searches are done and in demand, the price increases as and when. Hence there is sometimes a slight difference as and when the search is done.
Since the savings is so minimal, I will get the Pt to Pt tickets from SBB since I will be purchasing the BO Pass and Jungfrau TPass from them. That way everything is documented on SBB.
If I choose to use Omio should they have a better deal in the future, I just have to remember the service fee needs to be added to the initial price. When they say taxes included, it does not include the service fee yet.😔
Nevertheless thanks very much for assisting me navigate the Omio website.. If only there were similar websites and admin like yourselves for other countries. All of you at myswissalps are precious gems!
Have a good Easter weekend.😀
Hi traveljet!
Thanks for your kind words.
Yes, all resellers of rail tickets have their own pros and cons. An example: the international ones geared toward foreign tourists come with benefits that SBB doesn’t have, such as support in local languages and payment in your own currency. In some cases they’re a bit more expensive than SBB, in other cases they’re cheaper, due to exchange rates and other factors. Too bad the Omio deal didn’t work out for you. Savings are better for the more expensive tickets I think.
Here’s more about the several websites you can purchase tickets and passes from: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/wheretobuy.
Note that you can’t buy the Jungfrau Travel Pass and the Berner Oberland Pass from the domestic SBB website as far as I know, but I might have missed something? You can use the official SBB tourist webshop ‘Switzerland Travel Centre’ for the Berner Oberland Pass though. They’re fully geared to tourists and have an excellent helpdesk: https://shop.switzerlandtravelcentre.com/product/regionalBerneseOberlandPass.
Other recommended resellers for both passes, and for individual tickes, can be found below:
- https://www.myswissalps.com/regionalpassberneseoberland/price
- https://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrautravelpass/price
- https://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerland/price
I hope this clarifies things a bit. Good luck and keep your questions coming. We’re happy to help.
Hi Arno, thanks for all the links which I have taken note of re the purchase of passes. I do understand resellers of tickets taking a fee but I just wish they would be more upfront and show the full price with service fee at the beginning. Otherwise one goes through a few hoops only to find out it’s not really a savings. But I guess that’s how marketing works.
Actually I do have some questions and will post this one first:
I already have an account on the Sbb website which was opened on my last visit a few years back. My 2 co-passengers that I added on the last trip is still in the account and they will be travelling with me. So the account is still “alive” as I tried logging in.
Question:
Previously, there were 2 SBB apps available for download. I downloaded both of them on my iPhone 12 ProMax a few years back.
a) The 1st app is “SBB Mobile” is still available in the Apple Store for download.
b) The 2nd app is the “SBB New Online”. But it is not available in the Apple store anymore. Has it been discontinued?
c) Yesterday, I bought my tickets for travel on 4 June 2023 1st Class Pt to Pt Zurich Flughafen to Meiringen via Luzern (half fare) through the “SBB New Online app”. It was successful and I can see also see my tickets when I go to the SBB main website using my iPad safari Browser.
d) But I cannot see my tickets on the current “SBB Mobile” app (different from the “SBB New Online” app).
Is that because the “SBB Mobile” app does not sync with the SBB main website but the “SBB New ONLINE” app syncs?
If that is the case, any idea why have they then discontinued the SBB New ONLINE app from the Apple Store since it does sync with the main SBB website?
No issues if you are not familiar with the above but thought I would just ask in case anyone out there knows.
Hi Traveljet,
a) Mine has the same name, I’m using it on Android.
b) c) d) Sorry, I don’t know the other app. I checked in the Playstore but I can’t find it.
Hi Arno, yea that 2nd app cant be found anymore but it’s strangely still working as I bought my tickets through the 2nd app and the tickets and receipt shows up on the SBB main website as well when I log in.
I realised upon checking the 1st app when I logged in, I can also see my tickets. Apologies for the oversight.
But I noticed there is no option to print the tickets from the 1st app nor save them. I can only do that from the main SBB site.
Hi,
Can you advise if you are able to print your tickets from your SBB phone app?
I don’t see that option on my iPhone 12.
Hello traveljet,
I do not think you can print directly via the app. If you need to print tickets, you would need to sign into your account via the SBB website. Here you can search and view all your orders. Click on the order you would like to print and export as a PDF – save and print as necessary.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, thanks for confirming that. So if we buy tickets via the app on the go and there’s no printer available, we really need to ensure nothing goes wrong with our phone or else there’s no way of showing the inspector our tickets.
Out of curiosity, in case there happens to be a wifi issue when trying to access tickets from the app, does the inspector accept a screenshot of the ticket & QR Code if there’s no hardcopy? Eg someone buys an online ticket without an account and no printer was available at the time of purchase.
Not asking for myself but just wondering what would happen in such a scenario.
Hi traveljet,
I think a screenshot is acceptable as long as the QR code is readable or the route and time are visible.
Regards,
Anna
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