Glacier Express: upgrading to 1st class
Nancy Calille is planning to take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to St. Moritz and wants to upgrade her Swiss Travel Pass to 1st class for the trip. She needs clarification on ticketing and whether she should pay for both a seat reservation and the upgraded pass, which she successfully did for her journey.
- Upgrade your Swiss Travel Pass for 1st class if you're traveling in that class on the Glacier Express.
- You must pay separately for the mandatory seat reservation in addition to the upgraded fare.
- Your Swiss Travel Pass serves as your ticket for the journey, so only the seat reservation fee is required after the upgrade.
AI-generated summary-
I would like to book the Glacier Express with a 1st class ticket. I currently bought a Swiss Pass with 2nd class. I am able to upgrade my Swiss Pass to 1st class for the Zermatt to St. Moritz route. The price was $232 CHF for 2 people.
The next step is to buy the Glacier Express 1st class tickets as an additional expense. Is this how this works – one is the Swiss Pass seat charge and the second is for the Glacier Express? Thank you for your help.
Nancy Calille
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Hello Nancy Calille,
Welcome to MySwissAlps. That’s lovely to hear you will be traveling on the Glacier Express.
In case you were not aware but reservations are necessary for the Glacier Express.
If you would like to travel by the Glacier Express 1st class, you will need to have 1st class seat reservation + 1st class ticket OR rail pass. So you have to upgrade your Swiss Travel Pass for 1st class for that day or that route. You can read about this here: https://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/2nd1stclass
It doesn’t matter which one you book first, the seats or the upgrade. The point is that at the time of your travel you have to have both. Reservations for the Glacier Express as well as upgrades 2nd to 1st class can also be made online. See below link for details and also purchase options.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, The 1st class ticket on the Glacier Express is $49 CHF for the seat reservation plus the $268 CHF reservation.
I do have a Swiss Rail Pass. I am upgrading my Swiss Rail Pass to 1st class for this route. Do I still pay the $49 CHF for the seat reservation even though I have a Swiss Rail Pass?
Please let me know. Thank you.
Nancy Calille
Hello again Nancy Calille,
Just so we are on the same page. Both a seat reservation and a ticket are necessary for each passenger traveling on the Glacier Express. So yes, you need to pay for both. If you were remaining in 2nd class, you would only need to pay for a reservation as your Swiss Travel Pass is your “ticket”.
So, as you are wanting to travel 1st class – with a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass , you will need to upgrade to 1st. This will cost half of the difference between the 2nd and 1st class fare for the route you wish to travel. In this instance, your route is Zermatt to St.Moritz.
(More details regarding the Swiss Travel Pass please see: https://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/2nd1stclass Scroll to “Traveling in 1st class with a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass”)
I hope this clarifies.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you, Yolanda. Very clear direction!
Nancy Calille
Hi Yolanda,
I was able to purchase the Glacier Express seat reservation for first class of $49 CHF on September 5, 2023 using the reduction “Swiss Rail Pass”. How do you purchase the additional reservation fee of $268 CHF?
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Great you have your seat reservation 🙂
Just so we are on the same page, do you mean the additional upgrade cost for the ticket or in your case the Swiss Travel Pass as you will be traveling in first class? This can be done at any staffed rail office, a ticket machine, online or even whilst on board the train.
If you scroll to “Information on other websites” at the bottom of the below link, you can find more information.
I hope this clarifies or let me know if I have misunderstood incorrectly.
Thanks Nancy,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda, I already purchased a one day first class seat upgrade for taking the Glacier Express. My question is that when I went to book the glacier express with first class, it only displayed the seat reservation of $49 CHF. I thought I could make the additional reservation fee of $268 CHF as well. The site only charged me for the seat reservation fee of $49 CHF. I don’t know how to make the reservation fee corresponding to the seat reservation as now the route is completely booked.
I already purchase a Swiss Rail Pass for second class for 3 days inclusive of the Glacier Express trip on September 5, 2023
I hope this helps.
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Many thanks. The 268 CHF that you are reading are the rail ticket prices, which in your case you do not need as you have your Swiss Travel Pass. Your Swiss Travel Pass is your ‘ticket’ to travel the Glacier Express. In this scenario, all you need is the mandatory seat reservation which you have successfully purchased. So you are now all set 🙂
As you are opting to travel 1st class, you have upgraded accordingly for the route Zermatt to St.Moritz. So, yes all set to travel in 1st.
I notice there are two upgrades that you purchased, I assume there were two seat reservations purchased too? Just double checking.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda,
I have already purchased 2 Swiss Travel Passes for 2nd class travel for three days inclusive of the Glacier Express travel date.
In answer to your question about upgrades, I purchased a one day ticket upgrade for two people on the day of travel via Glacier Express. In addition, I purchased two 1st class seats on the Glacier Express.
I did not understand that the 3-day Swiss Travel Pass covered the reservation fee of $268 CHF.
I think I am all set. Do you know if I will be sent the 2 seat reservations in a separate email or is the attached sufficient?
Thank you for all your help.
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Yes, the letter confirms your seat reservations in 1st Class for 2 pax. You can just show this to the ticket inspector on request.
Enjoy your trip!
Regards,
Anna
Thank you, Anna!
I purchased Swiss pass first class and I was hoping book the First Class seats on Glacier Express for Early September.
However, It looks like I was late in booking by one day. All the first class seats are taken.
I just booked second class seats today for our trip: ( Andermatt to Zermatt)
Here are my questions:
1) Is there a waiting list for first class seats if someone cancels?
2) On the day of travel, how can I check if there is first class seat availability?
Hi Sohigs,
It may be possible to upgrade to 1st class when a seat becomes available but I am not aware of any waiting list.
My advice would be to show up at the station early (at Andermatt or any SBB station) and enquire directly at the ticket counter.
Regards,
Anna
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