Swiss Half Fare Card at Grindelwald station?

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    10 June 2018 at 20:58:31 #816565

    Hello,

    Does anyone know whether I can purchase a 50% swiss fare card at Grindelwald station for same day travel?

    Thanks

    Kristian

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    rockoyster
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    8889 posts
    10 June 2018 at 21:18:48 #887948

    Hello Kristian and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

    If you mean the Swiss Half Fare Card (http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard) then, yes. What do you plan to do with it? Have you read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass)?

    Removed user
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    11 June 2018 at 5:48:30 #887949

    Hi Kristian,

    I find it a lot simpler to buy the Swiss Half Fare Card online and then print it at home so you have it on you ready to use as soon as you arrive in the country (I would guess your taking a train to Grindelwald as well).

    If that sounds like a good idea, have a look at the online retailers here: https://www.myswissalp s.com/swisshalffarecar d/price

    Removed user
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    16 June 2018 at 0:04:04 #887950

    Thanks so much for your help. We will be driving to Grindelwald and stay there for 3 days while hiking and going up/down by cable car / train. Not sure yet how many trips we plan to take so rather buy at the station if we decide we really need the card.

    Best regards

    Kristian

    Removed user
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    17 June 2018 at 14:31:14 #887951

    Hi,

    I also couldn’t decide on Swiss Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass (8-day) to use for Zurich airport > Lucern 2 days > Grindelwald 4 days > Bern 2 days. Meanwhile I saw this promotion link – http://www.gleis7.ch/abos-billette/abos/schnuppe r-hta/

    Is above link for tourists or locals?

    Thank you.

    Removed user
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    17 June 2018 at 14:43:36 #887952

    Yes, I believe it is valid for tourists as well. It comes up from time to time as a special and I believe tourists have bought it before. It is geared to residents but I don’t think there is anything reason they wouldn’t sell it to you.

    You need to print the coupon from the link on that site and bring it to an SBB office in Switzerland and they should be able to give you a 2 month half fare travelcard for 33chf.

    Removed user
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    20 June 2018 at 0:51:33 #887953

    Lucas, thanks. SBB has replied to my query that “The offer is not applicable for the Half fare card of the Swiss Travel System.” (screenshot attached)

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    20 June 2018 at 3:54:35 #887954

    Hello May,

    I would be interested to see the question you actually asked SBB. Their answer seems a bit odd to me.

    Removed user
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    20 June 2018 at 4:03:24 #887955

    Rockoyster,

    My email to SBB as attached. Thank you.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    20 June 2018 at 4:14:36 #887956

    Thanks May,

    That’s what I thought. You asked the wrong question. It definately doesn’t cover the Swiss Half Fare Card. A better question would have been “Can I use this coupon to buy a 2 month trial Half-fare card even if I am not a Swiss resident”.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 June 2018 at 4:19:24 #887957

    Ok, I’ll email SBB again using your question. Thanks.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 June 2018 at 5:20:06 #887958

    Yes exactly.

    The Swiss Half Fare Card (tourist product) and Half Fare TravelCard (resident product) are different passes but offer similar discounts. The Half Fare Travelcard used to require a Swiss address but this rule has been loosened and therefore some tourists have (I believe) been able to take advantage of these types of discounts.

    For the Half Fare Travelcard you’ll also have to register on the SBB website for the SwissPass card (basically sign up for an account with SBB) a few hoops to jump through for tourists so only a few bother when these promotions come up from time to time 🙂 Let us know how it goes for you.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 June 2018 at 6:33:38 #887959

    Thanks Lucas. If SBB’s 2nd email reply to me is okay to buy discounted Half Fare travelcard valid for 2 months (ie I need not buy SHFC anymore), may I assume that train journey (eg Grindelwald Grund to Jungfraujoch) and cable car rides are half-price too? (ie it works the same way as SHFC)

    Removed user
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    20 June 2018 at 6:35:21 #887960

    Yes. 🙂

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 June 2018 at 6:36:58 #887961

    Oops! re-read your reply again… already mentiined “are different passes but offer similar discounts” 😝

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    21 June 2018 at 13:48:33 #887962

    Hi Rockoyster & Lucas,

    Looks like both of you are right. I cannot grab existing Half Fare Card of CHF33 of 2 months validity because of my travelling date from Sept 17 which is after 30 August 2018.

    SBB too would not commit an exact direct answer like “promotion applies to both residents and non-residents”. Too complicated with too many types of passes of different validity areas and various mountain rides discounts…

    Thanks.

    May

    Removed user
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    21 June 2018 at 13:51:28 #887963

    SBB replies attachment.

    Removed user
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    21 June 2018 at 13:55:25 #887964

    Hi Kristian,

    For your info.

    http://www.gleis7.ch/abos-billette/abos/schnuppe r-hta/

    May

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    21 June 2018 at 16:30:35 #887965

    Hi May,

    Thanks for keeping us up to date.

    This is geared towards locals/residents so it isn’t surprising they won’t say anything specifically. 🙂
    You probably could have done if if your travel date fell within the requirements.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    21 June 2018 at 22:16:10 #887966

    Thanks May for the follow up. I agree with Lucas’ conclusion.

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