Changing Swiss Supersaver tickets after purchase
A traveler named Vishal is seeking advice about Swiss train tickets after purchasing point-to-point Super Saver tickets. He wonders if he can get a refund or discount by buying a Half Fare Card later and if it's mandatory to have the card before purchasing tickets. The thread includes tips on ticket policies and an itinerary for a trip to Lucerne and Interlaken.
- You can buy a Half Fare Card anytime, but you need it while traveling to claim discounted fares.
- Super Saver tickets are time-specific; if missed, you'll need to buy a new ticket.
- Consider contacting SBB directly for potential refunds on your tickets; there might be options available.
- Use resources like spreadsheets to compare costs of passes versus point-to-point tickets for better trip planning.
AI-generated summary-
Hi All,
Apology if this has been answered previously. Just direct me to the existing thread and I will be more than happy :). I search many posts but could not get a proper reply. Below is my question:
Suppose I am buying point to point super saver tickets online but at later stage I realized that buying half fare card would be more beneficial. Can I buy and claim the discount on already bought ticket?
For ex- I bought a ticket for 40 CHF and then I bought half fare card. So when I am boarding train with half fare card and point to point ticket then will I get 20 CHF refund? Or it is must to buy half fare card before buying any point to point card. And if it’s not then how I can get refund or pre-booked ticket?
http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/buy-half-fare-card-1st-p-to-p-tickets-later
This posts say I can do other way round but not clear on how I will get the refund.
Regards,
Vishal
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You can buy half-fare tickets anytime. You don’t need to be in possession of a Swiss Half-fare Card to get the discount when you purchase tickets but you do need the SHFC at your time of travel to prove to the inspector on the train you are eligible to use a half-fare ticket. See http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard/howtou se.
Word of caution with Supersaver tickets. They only apply to a specific train departure time. If you miss the train or your plans change you’ll need to buy a new ticket.
Hi Vishalsonkar,
I see you’re doing good research into the possibilities of train ticket and pass combinations in Switzerland.
As you say you’ve already bought the full fare Supersaver tickets I fear they might NOT be able to exchange the tickets for reduced ones. Read the third bullet point of the following link:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerlandHOWEVER, as it is before your trip, you might have a chance to contact them and settle things directly.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ab outus/partnersFingers crossed it works. Maybe another forum member has made a similar experience?
Get back to us for any further support.
Kind regards,
Steph
Thanx rockoyster and Steph for your valuable inputs. I believe since I didn’t apply half fare discount at the time of booking so now even if I buy swiss half fare card, it won’t help me in getting my money back.
And the only solution could be is to contact SBB directly, which I will try. 🙂
Had one anyone having some experience to case similar to mine please feel free to post your advice.
I misinterpreted your original post. I thought you were asking a hypothetical question about something that might happen. Not that you had already purchased the tickets.
Good luck trying to get a refund. How much do you expect to save if you do get the refund?
My itinerary is as below:
DAY 1 Zurich(2:30PM) Lucerne
DAY 2 Lucerne Mt Pilatus
DAY 3 Lucerne – Interlaken
DAY 4 Interlaken
DAY 5 Interlaken
DAY 6 Interlaken
DAY 7 GENEVA-11AM
I already bought tickets from Zurich to Lucerne and then from Lucerne to Interlaken.
I am giving a thought of buying Jungfrau pass for 3 days. And round trip ticket of Mt Pilatus and yet to buy Interlaken to Geneva ticket. When I did rough calculation, I found that with half fare card, it is going to cost almost same. So I thought it might be a better idea to buy swiss half fare card so it might give us more flexibility in case we want to do something unplanned.
Based on that I don’t think you are too much out of pocket if SBB won’t refund you. It may turn out that by the time you get the refund there will be no Supersaver fares left so you will be back at square one. I would let it go and move on.
Did you read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math.
Yes, correct so I am not waiting for refund and going with the plan to book next super saver ticket of Geneva from Interlaken. This is the last super saver ticket I planned because anyway Jungfrau pass and Pilatus tickets doesn’t hold good for super saver and would cost me same once I am Switzerland. But obviously it would have been nice to save few bucks as me and my spouse will be travelling on budget with little bit flexibility.
Yes, I have that spreadsheet and went though it. But do you think I missed something by option for Jungfrau pass. We are planning to visit Mt Pilatus peak and local in Lucerne. And in Interlaken, we will visit Murren, Gimmewald, Grindlewald, Schilthorn, Wengen and almost everything except Jungfrau peak.
Do you think any other pass could have done more justice to our plan? Or we should go for point to point tickets for those too as well?
I can’t really answer that question. I don’t have all the fares at my fingertips. You are the only one who can work out what is best for you.
Hello again Vishalsonkar,
To find the detailed answer to your question I’m afraid the only option is filling in the spreadsheet you already know and look at the outcome.
Happy calculating.
Best,
Steph
Hi Steph/rockoyster,
I will surely do that and is on my to-do list. I was thinking that if it turns out to be half fare card is cheaper then will there be an option for me to get refund on my three point to point tickets. Anyway, I think I got my answer that in that case only option is to mail SBB and check.
Thanx to you two for clarifying 🙂
Dear Experts!!
Taking liberty to post my question with a reverse scenario where I have booked super-saver tickets, with half fare pass discount, for Geneva to Interlaken, for two adults, with a thought of buying a half fare pass on arrival at Switzerland. Now what happens if I don’t want to buy half fare pass (because it would not make any sense if my travel would be limited, due to weather reasons, and I may not be able to go to Jungfrau)? Can I pay SBB the discounts availed? If yes, once I pay the discount amount back to SBB, still my tickets would only be valid for specific train or then the tickets would be valid for any train of the day.
Thanks
The short answer is – no. Supersaver fare are low for a reason. They are offered on routes and times which are expected to be quiet. They are a marketing tactic. Once you buy one, that’s that. Have you ever tried changing a super cheap airline ticket?
Hi Sonechas,
Indeed, very difficult to get a refund or change a super saver ticket. You can read more about it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/switzerland
Maria.
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