Some questions about the Swiss Half Fare Card

Sergio2379

Dear All,
Good morning !
I’m from Argentina and next May, we’ll make a family trip (4 adults) to visit Interlaken, as well other cities of Switzerland like Zurich and Luzern.

I’d like to have your help to clarify the following 5 doubts, please.

Q1. If I purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card, can it be used to purchase tickets for :
Harder Kulm (Funicular).
Grindelwald First (Railway).
Grindelwald First (Flyer).
Grindelwald First (Trottibike).
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz boat cruise.

Q2. In case I purchase the transportation (train) tickets online at the SBB site.
How it is used the Swiss Half Fare Card ?

Q3. Our trip will be from May, 25th . And I know that the Swiss Half Fare Card is valid for one month.
So, can I :

Purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card today, stating that the START date will be May, 25th .
Purchase the train tickets for May 26, 27…June 9, 10, etc. And enter the code of my Swiss Half Fare Card.
Is this way how it works ?

Q4. The Swiss Half Fare Card is also valid for the ‘Cabrio’ at Stanserhorn. Am I correct ?

Q5. I’ve to book a train from Interlaken to Milano Centrale (Italy).
Can I do it and use the Swiss Half Fare Card for the whole rute or only for the section inside Switzerland ?
Can I do that ?

Thank you very much in advance for your help.
Best regards.
Sergio

RahelW

Hello Sergio2379

With the Swiss Half Fare Card you can purchase half price tickets for Harder Kulm, Grindelwald First (railway), for boat cruises on lake Thun and Brienz as well as the Stanserhorn Cabrio cablecar is also included.

It is not valid for Grindelwald Flyer and Trottibike. Please find more information here

You do not need to have your Swiss Half Fare Card or enter any codes of your reduction card to be able to purchase half price train tickets online or over the SBB Mobile application (recommended for national tickets). Please choose the half fare travelcard reduction in the ticket option step of your order to get a half price ticket. You will only be asked to show the Swiss Half Fare Card to the controller on the train.

You can purchase your Swiss Half Fare Card today (here) and choose May 25 th as its first day of validity. Under the same link you will also find all routes on which the Swiss Half Fare Card entitles you to purchase half price tickets. (check the box on the right side “downloads”)

The Swiss Half Fare Card is not valid to travel to Milano. You will need two seperate tickets (half price from Interlaken to Brig and full price from Brig to Milano).

Hope I could answer all of your questions properly. Let us know if I did not! 😉

I already wish you an unforgettable time in Switzerland.

Greetings, RahelW

Sergio2379

RahelW
Hello Rahel,

You have been so kind and helpful !
Thanks a lot ! Muchas gracias !!

Best regards,
Sergio

Sergio2379

RahelW
Hola Rahel,

Sorry to bother, but I’ve some other additional concerns.
In relation with our stay in Interlaken, it’ll be of 3 days.
I do not know your opinion, but I’ve analyzed/considered the price of the experience of ‘Jungfraujoch’ versus all what could be enjoyed at Grindelwald-Fist, and we concluded that for us is worth it Grindelwald rather than the Jungfraujoch (too expensive),
So our plan is to purchase the ‘Adventure Package’, that includes the unlimited gondola plus 2 activities.
BUT, my concern is what I read in relation that if there is too much people, you could loose the opportunity to do the activity, regardless you have purchase it and you were waiting in the line.

What are your thoughts about that ?
Any recommendations ?

Thanks a lot in advance.
Saludos
Sergio

Sergio2379

Hola Rahel,

What are your thoughts about that ?
Any recommendations ?

Thanks a lot in advance.
Saludos
Sergio

RolandP

Hello Sergio2379

Everything which is offered in the Jungfrau area, especially in Grindelwald, is not in the responsibility of SBB. You would have to ask advice from the company in charge:

Rail Info Interlaken
Höheweg 35
3800 Interlaken
Telefon: +41 33 828 72 33
E-Mail: info@jungfrau.ch

We Swiss rarely use these tourist packages; yes, the crowd is everywhere nowadays, perhaps less in May. However, snow in May is still possible 🙂 requiring a change of activities. My personal advice: never purchase mountain excursion tickets in advance.

Keep in mind that Interlaken is a great travel hub. If you want to experience the mountains of the Jungfrau region, you should stay in either Grindelwald, Wengen, or Mürren.

Kind regards,
Roland

Sergio2379

Hi Roland,

Thanks a lot for your help.
I’ve another question, please.

The Swiss Half Fare Card is available as e-ticket.
But in case and for some unexpected reason, I’ve to cancel or change the date of my trip.

Could I change the date of validity (of course before start using it) ?
Is there a refund possible ?

Thanks and regards.
Sergio

RolandP

Hello @Sergio2379

Yes, it is refundable if returned to the issuing office before the first day of validity.
Yes, changing the date of validity is possible before the first day of validity.

Both cases are subject to a CHF 10 administration fee.

Kind regards,
Roland

Sergio2379

Hi RolandP ,

Thanks a lot for your help.

Just one clarification.
I’ll purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card online, at the SBB site. And I’ll get an e-ticket (if I’m not wrong).
So, you mentioned that “ it is refundable if returned to the issuing office before the first day of validity.”, but in in this case there is no physical office.
So, in this case, how I should proceed if I need to return it and get a refund ?

Thanks again !
Regards
Sergio

RomanoS

Hi @Sergio2379
We wish you a nice trip and all the best.
If you want and you have time, post how your trip was 🙂

Un muy buen viaje y felices vacaciones en Suiza.

Romano

Sergio2379

Hi RomanoS

I’ll do my best to share our experience.
Muchas gracias !

RomanoS

Hi @Sergio2379 absolutelly without stress and only if a pleasure 😎

BR
Romano

Sergio2379

RomanoS
Hello, I have tried to purchase the Swiss Travel Card on the site, but if I log in with my username, after I click on the Purchase button I get an error in the system.

But if I don’t log in with my username and make the purchase as a guest, I don’t get that error.
I would like to be able to make the purchase with my username.
Can you help me with this, please?

RomanoS

Hi @Sergio2379
Remembers me on an issue that we have.
@Nicole_B or @ChristianR any Ideas? Can you help?

Thanks

Romano

Sergio2379

RomanoS

I’d like to share that I read a post from @Hithiewheass80.

He/She was having the same error and thanks to his/her comment I confirmed that while I was doing the purchase, after removing my country of residence and setting it again (the same), I could go to the next step without any error.

Regards
Sergio

RomanoS

Sergio2379 we are struggeling finding out the problem.
Would you agree to a quick video call with our IT and our Customer Sucess Manager, Nicole?

We would appreciate it a lot.

Many thanks for your help!
BR
Romano

Sergio2379

Hi RomanoS

For sure, no problem.
Just let me know when and how.
FYI, I’m in Argentina time zone.

Regards,
Sergio

RomanoS

Many thanks Sergio2379 wounderful.

I write you in Private message!
Many thanks,

Romano

Sergio2379

Hello,

We have another concerns, please.

We’re a family of 4 and going to visit Interlaken from May 30th to Jun 1st (3 days).
We want to purchase the following tickets :
Harder Kulm
Grindelwald First – Adventure Package

We’ve the Swiss Half fare card.

My question is.
We’d like to purchase those tickets in advance, for some dates.
But in case the weather of the day we choose, can we use the tickets for other day ?

Looking forward to having your comments.

Thanks and best regards,
Sergio

RolandP

Hello Sergio2379

These tickets are not from SBB yet from the Jungfrau travel office, the local tourism organisation.

No, e-tickets cannot be used flexible. They all have a validity date and must be used on the date of purchase.

My personal advice: I would never purchase mountain excursion tickets in advance. The weather in Switzerland is not predictable for more than 2 days out. In the worst case, you end up in the clouds, without any views, and you spent a fortune on the tickets. Excursions to the Jungfrau area are expensive, even for us locals. I would definitely wait, and purchase the tickets on-site at Interlaken train station or wherever your base might be.

Kind regards,
Roland

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