Family from Aboard (2 kids under 16)

Saidoumaf57

Hi,
I have not purchased any tickets or travel cards, and trying to get familiar with the app and website before we travel. Wife and I will purchase Half-fare card (not purchased yet). I have encounter the following issues:

1) Not able to add children as co-traveller on the website after I registered and added my wife as co-traveller. The error message is “The date of birth is outside the validity range for the product selected” However, the SBB App, kids were add as co-traveller.

2) I am able to add wife and kids as co-travellers on SBB app, but it charges the kids (birthdates were input on SBB app) for CHF 19 (Basel to Interlaken Ost). Should I leave them out as co-traveller? what should be done here?

Thanks,
Kevin

RolandP

Hello Saidoumaf57

If you plan to purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card (note, Swiss Half Fare Card, not the Half Fare Card is for residents), then you can apply at the same time for the Swiss Family Card for each child.

When you hold the Swiss Family Card, you do not have to purchase any tickets at all; thus you do not have to add your children as co-travellers. With the Swiss Family Card, they travel for free when accompanied by a parent and the parent holds a valid ticket for the route. The Swiss Family Card is also recognised by most cable care and mountain train operators.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/planning/transport-accommodation/tickets-public-transport/swiss-family-card/

Does that make sense?

Kind regards,
Roland

Saidoumaf57

Appreciate for your answer. Just to confirm my understanding, we do no put children as co-travellers when buying the tickets on website/mobile app. We show the adults’ Swiss Half Fare Card + valid adult tickets and Swiss Family Card (for kids) to enter the train station/platform.

Coupe more questions:

The seats on the trains are free seating, or we need to pick the seats? [Just to ensure the children sit nearby]
If we decide to purchase 1st class, and it becomes full. The parents will need to share seats with the children?

Thanks,
Kevin

RolandP

Hello Saidoumaf57

We show the adults’ Swiss Half Fare Card + valid adult tickets and Swiss Family Card (for kids)

Yes, for the kids, you do not need other documents than the Swiss Family Card plus their passport.

In Switzerland, there are no gates to access the platforms / trains; one can access the trains even without a ticket (although they risk a hefty fine for travelling without a valid ticket if caught on the train).

No, the trains are free seating. Fellow travellers often swap seats to allow a family to sit together. For us, using trains is like riding a bus in other countries. Hop on, find a seat, have a ride, hop off.

You do not have to free up seats if you hold a ticket for your kids. And the Swiss Family Card is their ticket. Certainly, when you ride a train or bus and an elderly person enters the bus or the train and is desperately looking for a seat, it is considered gentle to offer your own seat to the person.

Kind regards,
Roland

Saidoumaf57

Great! Thanks for your help! This clarifies a lot.