[Anonymous]

5 September 2022 at 18:44:34 #828267

I have the 1/2 Swiss Pass. I have my seats. We are seniors. I have read multiple comments on how to order the tickets. I have been on SBB, myswiss alps, trainline, etc. I cannot find the Glacier Express that leaves St Moritz to Zermatt at 9:48 AM, apply the 1/2 Swiss Pass, etc. I can only find trains that have 3 exchanges and go through Zurich. After hours of searching, I am at a loss. Thank you.

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 8 • 5 September 2022 at 19:20:56 #946504

Hi Kevans,

You can find more information about how to purchase tickets for the Glacier Express here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets

With a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can buy a Saver Day Pass at a discounted price.

Let us know if you need further help.

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 2 of 8 • 5 September 2022 at 20:10:38 #946505

I have been at that site 10 times and I still cannot get a ticket.

I selected:

Tickets for the Glacier Express (e-tickets)

Tickets for an independent trip with the Glacier Express

It takes me to Omio and there is no Glacier Express for 8:48 AM..Glacier Express does not show up – only the one that I mentioned before that goes to Zurich before with 3-4 transfers.

What am I doing wrong?

Thank you,

Kathleenm

[User]

Reply 3 of 8 • 5 September 2022 at 20:21:36 #946506

Is this what I am supposed to do?

Glacier Express Tickets and routes

Book travel across Europe

The 8 AM below on the website states departing after 8 AM.

Out21 Oct08:00

Add return

3 seniors3 Railcards

I cannot find 1/2 Swiss Pass on the list so I seleted the Demi Tariff.

I do not understand why I cannot find the 8:48 AM Glacier Express train, select it and pay after I select 1/2 Swiss Pass.

Thank you,

Kathleen

[User]

Reply 4 of 8 • 5 September 2022 at 21:37:38 #946507

The Glacier Express is operated by a joint venture between the Rhaetian Railway (RhB ) and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) railway, so go direct to the ‘horses mouth’ and visit the website of the actual operator of the service:

shop.glacierexpress.ch/gex_en/specials/daytrips/glacier-express

I have just tested following the ‘booking’ sequence starting with choosing ‘Classic Glacier Express’ and had no problem choosing the 09.48 departure from St Moritz on 20 October. You must then continue through the sequence to get the ‘choose reduction’ button and then ‘Half Fare Card’ discount (you should avoid referring to the Swiss half fare card as a ‘Pass’)

[User]

Reply 5 of 8 • 5 September 2022 at 22:44:51 #946508

I already have my seat – I can’t get through the sequence because I have a seat and I am guessing that you selected a seat and moved on through the sequence. Sure – I can now go through the sequence if I want to buy another fake seat. Obviously I do not want to but another one. I just tried it again – I can’t get anywhere.

How do I get a ticket without buying another seat?

Should I just wait until I am in the country at a train station?

I still cannot believe that the seats and the tickets are separate due to timing.

Thank you

Kathleen

[Anna]

Reply 6 of 8 • 6 September 2022 at 6:19:53 #946509

Hi Kathleen,

With a Swiss Half Fare Card, you can get a Saver Day Pass at a discounted price. The Saver Day Pass is valid on the Glacier Express. You can find more information here: http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price

Regards,

Anna

[Arno]

Reply 7 of 8 • 6 September 2022 at 12:38:21 #946510

Hi Kathleen,

Good to hear that your Glacier Express seat reservations have been made. Yes, seat reservations and tickets are entirely different products. A ticket or pass pays for the ride. A seat reservation pays for the “right” to have one particular seat during that ride. Seat reservations are usually not necessary in Switzerland, but the Glacier Express is an exception. Maybe the paragraph “The difference between tickets, passes and seat reservations” at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/reservations/howtouse helps to understand how this works.

A normal 50% discounted ticket St. Moritz-Zermatt would cost CHF 76 in 2nd class and CHF 134 in 1st class. I agree with Anna that a 50% discounted Saver Day Pass is your best bet. That’s explained in the introduction text at https://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets. Prices fluctuate, but it will probably be cheaper than a normal 50% discounted ticket, especially if you buy the Saver Day Pass as early as possible. A Saver Day Pass is valid all day long and on all routes, so you don’t have to search for particular connections or departure times. Just get one for your Glacier Express travel date and you’re all set.

The page mentioned by Anna (http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price) shows where you can buy a Saver Day Pass. This is the direct link: http://www.happyrail.com/en/pass/europe/switzerland/swiss-saver-day-pass. Once you’re at that website, you can select your travel date and choose either 2nd class or 1st class (depending on whether you booked a 1st or 2nd class Glacier Express seat) and pick the fare “With Sw. Half Fare Card”.

Another option is the Day Pass that can be used by Swiss Half Fare Card holders: https://www.myswissalps.com/onedaytravelpass. It comes at a fixed rate of CHF 73 (2nd class) or CHF 125 (1st class). This too is valid all day long, so no need to get it for one specific connection/departure time. And this too will be cheaper than a normal 50% discounted ticket. Purchase options are listed at http://www.myswissalps.com/onedaytravelpass/price, and here’s the direct link: https://www.happyrail.com/en/pass/europe/switzerland/1-day-travelpass.

As for the Omio and Trainline websites you were using: selecting “Demi-Tariff” would indeed work. That would equal the Swiss Half Fare Card discount for your ticket. But you’re right that the 09.48 Glacier Express from St. Moritz doesn’t show up, or does show up but without available tickets. I’m not sure why. These websites depend on info from the SBB, so there might be a technical glitch going on there.

I hope this helps you out.

[User]

Reply 8 of 8 • 6 September 2022 at 19:40:12 #946511

Thank you both so much. I used the Saver Day Pass and saved an additional 38 Euro per ticket.

Kathleen