Buy Half Fare Card Online without a public transport travelcard before.

Hausooshouk55

Hello! I am moving to Switzerland and I am trying to buy my Half Fare Card Online but I don’t have a public transport customer number. The website redirects me to an identity check where I have to enter my phone number to receive a code. I have never received the code even though I have tried several times. Am I the only one with this problem? I am in Turin at the moment and I would like to have my half-fare card discount on my train trip to Switzerland next week.

RolandP

Hello Hausooshouk55

Wait with the purchase until you have arrived in Switzerland and purchase it from a travel office at the station. You can use it instantly.

Kind regards,
Roland

Llaloipough84

RolandP It would be great if this could all be done before arriving. My wife and I are arriving next week and were looking to set up our travel accommodations before we arrive. It is our first time in Switzerland, and we will be immediately departing from Zurich to Lucerne after a twelve hour flight. We are concerned about jet lag and were really counting on moving directly from the plane to the train and getting to Lucerne before succumbing to jet lag. In the past we’ve had trips with as little as 6 hours virtually knock us out after arriving. Waiting in line to purchase a ticket is concerning, especially when you’ve got a train trip in a country you’ve never been to on the other end of the process. I’ve heard nothing but praise for the Swiss public transportation system, so it is strange to see that it is so difficult to set up a Swiss Travel Pass using standard web site and mobile app platforms. Is there no other way to set it up before arriving?

Sincerely,
Aron the Anxious Traveler

RolandP

Hello Llaloipough84

Are you the same traveller as the one that created this discussion? If not, it would be helpful if you started your own discussion and are not hijacking another one. It is confusing because the first question was about the resident’s half fare card, while yours is likely about the Swiss Travel Pass for tourists. The answer is not the same, obviously.

What concerns your comment: Who said that one cannot purchase the Swiss Travel Pass online? The Swiss Travel Pass can be purchased ahead of travel from two web shops, SBB or the Swiss Travel Center, an agency which is partially owned by SBB:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-travel-pass-info.html

https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/ticket/swiss-travel-pass

Let us know if you have got further questions.

Kind regards,
Roland