About Swiss family card

Hi, one is 8 and the second one is 3. I found that the 3 year old does not need a ticket. Trying to work it out to find the advantage of a pass, so wanted to know if the child does not get a free travel if we don't buy a pass. Thanks in advance!

Hi resmi,

Indeed the 3 year old travels for free in any case. The 8-year old travels for free if the parents have one of the Swiss Travel System passes listed here. If they don't have such a pass, the child gets a 50% discount on tickets. Or, if you buy a Junior travelcard, which is listed on the same page, the child gets free traveling.

So it's best to focus on the pass for the adults. This page explains how to choose. There's a cheap way to travel for the 8-year old in any case.

Thanks Arno. It seemed from the sbb web site that a 'Swiss Travel System Ticket' means any ticket taken by a parent. Wondering why they don't make it clear, mentioning a list of the tickets/passes included.

So, if we buy a Swiss pass flex, we will have to pay half fare for the child on those days in which we don't use the pass and opt to take p2p tickets (assuming we don't have a junior card or any other pass)? We are focussing on the passes for adults only, but have to factor in the total cost, to make the choice of which pass to buy.

Hi Resmi,

If you're interested in a Swiss Travel Pass Flex, then consider the Combi option: the Swiss Travel Pass Flex Combi. Then you'll get 50% off tickets on the days in between, and children travel for free. Please see here for all the details. No Junior travelcard required, just the free Swiss Family Card.

In most cases a regular Swiss Travel Pass works out more convenient and cheaper than a Swiss Travel Pass Flex. Be sure to do the math!

Arno

Since this seems to apply to the problem we were having trying to understand the Family thing. When I read your replies I see the word, "parents"....does that imply both father and mother must be traveling with the children/child or can it be only one parent as in our case the mother? Thanks.

Hi Fognorth,

One parent is sufficient.

Hi Arno,

For us, the swiss pass works out better than the flex, so we will go with the swiss pass. Even though we are there only for 6 days, the pass for 8 continuos days works out as the best option for us.

Still out of curiosity about the subtle point - in case someone takes the flex pass and family card - do they have to pay the child fare for kids on the days in which they don't use the flex pass??

Hi Resmi,

Glad to hear you found the right pass. Yes, in that case one would pay for the children as the Swiss Family Card is only valid if the parents travel with the pass. A Junior card would be an alternative.