Seat Reservations - Swizterland Day Pass

Quoullauweess51

Does anyone know how I can book the seat reservations in advance for a Swiss Day Pass that is not linked to my SBB account (as purchased separately via my Travel Agent). Can it be done online or do I need to call SBB to arrange it?

RedBaron

Quoullauweess51
Please read this excellent => blog post first which explains everything. This kind of information could actually be also expected from a good, customer oriented travel agent…

Seat reservations might be completely unnecessary (just a waste of money) or even not possible at all for your intended trip.

Quoullauweess51

RedBaron
Thanks for your reply.
My Travel Agent has been amazing with the rail bookings and has already sent me that blog post to say that seat reservations are not necessary. I prefer to book the seats in advance and I know it is possible on the route Lucerne to Grindelwald (return day trip).
I just can not work out how to add the seat reservations to the ticket online, even though all the information on the SBB.CH website says I can do this. It’s all very frustrating. I might need to call SBB or wait until I get into Lucerne.

RedBaron

Quoullauweess51
Where do you know from that you can reserve seats between Interlaken and Grindelwald?
At any rate obviously neither from the online timetable (showing that particular connection as R trains only) nor that article which doesn’t list R trains (along with RE or most IR) as trains with any reservation option! The only reserved seat in those R trains is at the very front, and is intended for the driver.

Your “amazing” travel agent obviously didn’t tell you that:

PE (Panoramic Express) trains are operated by different train operators than SBB, and those operators manage those PE seat reservations (some mandatory, others optional) in their own booking system on their own website.
So assuming you’ll take a PE between Luzern and Interlaken via Meiringen operated by Zentralbahn (reservations optional, not all seats can be reserved), you’d need to reserve your seat => here
As soon an itinerary in the timetable or Mobile app doesn’t EXCLUSIVELY consist of IC or EC trains, a seat reservation purchase option will NOT be listed for it along with the regular ticket options!
E.g. should you choose to return from Interlaken to Luzern via Bern using a IC81 / IR15 itinerary: For the exclusive (but totally unnecessary) privilege of being the only person with a seat reservation in that IC81 train, you’d need to look up the IC81 Interlaken-Bern leg separately, and then the seat reservation only option for 5.- (random assignment) will appear below the regular tickets.

Krist

On Luzern - Grindelwald seat reservations are only possible for the Luzern - Interlaken part. They are not possible on Interlaken - Grindelwald.

You will in fact find out that the majority of trains in Switzerland do not take reservations. You should also believe us when we say that even where it is possible it is not necessary.

You can get a reservation for the Luzern - Interlaken train on the Zentralbahn website, but that is in my opinion not worth the money. Just do what everybody does: Go to the station. Board a train. Find a seat.