Swiss Card- purchase ahead or not?

Hello,

In December my family of five will travel from Zurich airport to Chur and then immediately on to Arosa. We will stay at the same resort for six days.

On our return we will take a taxi to Chur (xmas day, and very early trains from Arosa to Chur are limited), then, from Chur, we'll ride the train back to Zurich. It seems the Swiss Card will be my best choice, so I would like to purchase one for me and one for my wife--our children will then travel free (?)

My questions are:

1. How long, approx., will it take my family to make the transfer from the Zurich airport to the Zurich train station?

2. Should I purchase our Swiss Cards over the internet before we arrive, or can I simply do this when we get to the train station?

3. Do I need to make sure I also request the Swiss Family Card in order to have my children ride for free?

4. Should I reserve seats, or is this generally not an issue on the lines I'll be traveling?

5. I have heard about baggage transfer service... How can I go about arranging our bags to be taken from the airport in Zurich to Arosa so we don't have to deal with them ourselves on the train? Must I arrange this ahead of time, or can I arrange this once I arrive at the airport in Zurich?

Thank you!

rich

Hi
1.The train trip from the airport to the main staton takes 10-15 minutes and trains run frequently. I would allow 30-45 minutes for the transfer and connection in Zurich main station
2. You can purchase it on the internet before you leave or buy it at the airport station.
3 Request the family card at the time of purchase for children 15 and under.
4. You do not have to reserve seats as the train to Chur starts at the main station
5. You can buy baggage tags beforehand. Put them on your luggage before you check in at your home airport. When you get to Zurich airport your luggage will transfer directly from the plane to the train. You do not have to clear customs with your luggage. I have had my luggage on the same train I was on but often it is the next train.
You can also take your luggage to the rail baggae claim once you get to the airport however delivery will no be confirmed for the same day if you check it after 9AM

Dick

Thank you--very helpful information Dick. You've eased some of my trip-planning stress!

Arno - I'm a US resident living abroad in the middle east. It seems I cannot purchase via raileurope because my home address (middle east) and credit card information (u.s.) are different--no option for non-gcc countries from pull-down menu when I'm entering credit card info... Didn't get a reply from raileurope customer service to my query about this. Also, and maybe I never got that far, but I saw no way to add rail luggage tags or the Family Card to my order. A little frustrating.

Anyway--thanks for your help. We are looking forward to being in Switzerland soon!

I would like to ask if the Swiss Card entitles me to buy a "Tageskarte zum Halbtax" ? Or is this only for holders of the half fare card ?
I live in Philippines, and the DHL postage price is almost the same price as the Swiss Card, 85 CHF. This inflated price is VERY annoying
My air ticket from Malaysia to Paris is not so much more than this (100 EUR) !

Is there any way that i can reduce this postal charge , can it be delivered by normal post (I visit in April ) ?
I suppose that it would be better if i buy one at the airport station on arrival ?

Martin