Swiss Half Half Fare Card and buying tickets ahead
A traveler, OrientPearl, is preparing for a trip to Switzerland in about six weeks. They want to know how to buy train tickets using the Swiss Half Fare Card and whether they will get discounts at the places they plan to visit. They are unsure about the ticket purchasing process and timing for their travel itinerary, which includes multiple destinations like Zurich, Zermatt, and Interlaken.
- You can purchase your Swiss Half Fare Card online, and you don't need it before buying train tickets; just ensure to have both ready before traveling.
- The normal ticket prices are the same whether purchased online or at the station, but consider booking SuperSaver Tickets online for better rates.
- A Saver Day Pass might save you money for extensive travel across the country and offers additional discounts with the Swiss Half Fare Card.
AI-generated summary-
Hi, how do I buy train tickets SBB ahead and using the Swiss Half Fare Card, travelling in 6 weeks time? Do I get discounts to all the places that I am interested in?
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Hi OrientPearl and welcome to MySwissAlps.com!
Here is the validity map of the Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/validity. Make sure to download the map AND browse the list. Where your Swiss Half Fare Card is valid, you can get a discount.
And here is how you can use your Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/howtouse.
For most of the trains, boats and buses you do not need to reserve your seats in advance or get your tickets in advance. Exceptions are the panoramic trains. For the details please check the specific trains page.
You can buy your Swiss Half Fare Card here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/price.
I hope this helps,
Ildiko
Hi,
Thank you.
If, after buying HFC, how do I order /purchase train tix from sbb ch website? how does it work? Do I wait for the arrival for the HFC card/paper first, and then I start to purchase train tix point to point? and pay via credit card for each. Is it more economical for me to purchase via sbb ch website for train tix than to purchase at train stations, when I arrive? It is really confusing. My plan is Zurich, zermatt, n d mountains n back to interlaken, mountain, lucerne n mountain/lake, 2 hrs in iseltwald, and back zurich airport. I am open for 8-12 days. I also wish to travel to dissentis via d train, but it’s too much work. I also wish to go to st moritz 1N, but see it would be difficult to see d train connections.
Hi OrientPearl,
you do not need to have your Swiss Half Fare Card at the time of the ticket purchase. You can buy it later too. The point is, that you have to have your Swiss Half Fare Card AND your valid tickets at the time of your travel. (Make sure to buy the tickets before your travel. If you buy your tickets via the SBB app after the train departure, you may be fined.)
If you buy your Swiss Half Fare Card online, you’ll receive a pdf file. You can print it if you want or you can store it on your phone. The PDF file has a code that train staff can scan from your smart phone. You may also receive a link to add the card to a wallet app on your smart phone. You can use this instead of, or in addition to the PDF file. Learn more: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/howtouse
It doesn’t matter where you buy your point to point tickets, the price of the normal tickets are the same online and also at the train station. You can buy SuperSaver Tickets in advance, only online. But be aware, they are not flexible as the normal tickets. You can read about the differences here: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/switzerland.
In case you are not familiar with the SBB timetable, make sure to start here: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable.
At http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass you can learn about how the train travel works in Switzerland.
I hope this helps, please, let me know if there are still unclear points.
Ildiko
Once you have a half fare card it isn’t really necessary to buy point to point (especially for short hops) tickets a long time in advance. However if you have some days where you will travel across the country on lots of different modes of transport then a Saver Day pass bought as far in advance as possible saves money.
Indeed, Saver Day Pass is a piece of great advice. You can have a look at the validity map here (http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass) and you can buy it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price.
Do not forget that you have a discount also on Saver Day Passes because of your Swiss Half Fare Card.
Buying them (Saver Day Passes) earlier means usually a cheaper price.
Ildiko
Great questions and answers, thanks to you both as this is confusing looking on line!
So we can book online or via the SBB App, have our tickets and half price card both electronic – hop on the train and someone then comes and checks both – correct?
We don’t need to line up or go through gates anywhere we can just hop straight on the train?
Thanks – Evan.
Hi Evan,
That’s right. There are no gates to go through to get to the platforms. You simply show up, get on the train and sit anywhere you like. When the ticket controller comes by to inspect, just present your tickets and railpass.
Regards,
Anna
Thanks Anna, too easy.
Oh, one last question – when looking at ticket prices online with SBB and on the App, the App was cheaper? For example the Super saver online from Geneva to Zermatt is CHF56.80 (2 people) but under the App is has a Supersaver Class Upgrade for CHF 38.80 (2 people) – does this mean only an upgrade of class on top of an already purchased ticket – I’m assuming this?
Is it worth 1st class for a trip like this?
Thanks again – Evan.
You also still have the option to buy a ticket from a standard Swiss transport ticket machine. At many rural stations these are adjacent to the open platform.
Hi Evan,
Yes, the Supersaver Class Upgrade is the price you will pay to upgrade to 1st Class if you already purchased a 2nd Class Supersaver ticket. Supersaver tickets and Saver Day Pass are only available online.
The difference between 1st and 2nd class travel is explained here: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/2nd1stclass
Enjoy your trip.
Regards,
Anna
Thanks you – all booked now.
Regards – Evan.
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