Swiss Half Fare Card not applying to routes?

LaurenAstro

Hey All,

I’ll be in Switzerland with my partner in June. We’ve purchased a half fare card to start from the date we arrive, but wanted to book train rides in advance. How do I know if my half fare card is being applied?

I’ve tried booking the same trip/time both logged into sbb & not logged in, but it’s showing the same price on both. Can anyone explain what is happening?

Thanks so much!

Danhiel

LaurenAstro By default, without login, the half fare prices are already displayed. Most people in Switzerland have an Half Fare Travelcard.

If you make a login and define the passengers with Half Fare Travelcard, you get the same prices.

LaurenAstro

Thank you so much Danhiel! I suspected as much, but I just wanted to make sure :-) Much appreciated!

RomanoS

Hi LaurenAstro
We wish you a lovely trip in Switzerland!

I mark the answer of @Danhiel as best answer, as this is a common pain point for international clients.

Many thanks. If you need other tips, do not hesitate to contact us.

BR
Romano

Krist

There is no need to buy tickets in advance. Just buy tickets as you go, and when purchasing, just select the “half fare card” as reduction option. The reduction is not applied automatically, as it is possible to buy half fare priced tickets without having the half fare card (for example, for someone else) and your reduction entitlement is checked on the train.

LaurenAstro

Thank you Krist, I wish I saw your comment earlier as I just booked my trips in advance!!

This might go back to my original question- I bought these tickets whilst logged into the sbb.ch site. I have already previously purchased the half fare card and it’s listed in my account.. However, when I checked the tickets I just purchased, it says ‘Full fare’.

I can’t find any information as to whether ‘full fare’ just means an ‘adult’ ticket in this case OR, if it means I’ve actually purchased for these for the full fare?

Apologies if that is a silly question, I just want to make sure I’ve booked these tickets properly!!

Thank you in advance.

RolandP

Hello LaurenAstro

Before purchasing tickets, it is advisable to make yourself familiar with the ticketing system and options. We could have guided you. Don’t be afraid to ask before you proceed. We do answer your questions in no time. 🙂

I am afraid to say this, you indeed purchased full fare tickets, while you needed half fare tickets. All you can do now is to purchase the same tickets again at half fare, then request refunds for the full fare tickets claiming the half fare; to do so, you must be able to prove that you have purchased the half fare tickets; thus you have to repurchase the tickets first.

How to apply Half Fare in the SBB Mobile app? See here:

https://community.sbb.ch/d/26315-why-does-not-appearing-my-swiss-half-fare-card-in-my-sbb-mobile-app/2

Let us know if you need more help.

Kind regards,
Roland

RomanoS

Hi @LaurenAstro

Did you purchased while being logged in? I ask because you said, that you already tried with and without.

If yes, you could refound automatically from the account.

If no, then you can do it as said from @RolandP

BR
Romano

LaurenAstro

Thank you all for your responses.

Indeed I was charged full price. As mentioned, I purchased when logged in on the desktop site. As the first comment stated the displayed prices were the half price tickets by default, I believed the tickets I was purchasing were half price.. If you could mark please RolandP’s as most helpful answer, as I’m afraid others will make the same mistake I did.

I have now gone in and applied the half fare to myself and my co-passenger and can see the discounts applied. However, I have decided to sort out a refund when I arrive in Switzerland, as it’s too risky to buy new tickets and spend more money in case there is an issue or a refund is denied.

For those wondering, I purchased tickets in advance due to the exchange rate for my currency being at its lowest since last year.

Thanks very much,