Swiss pass order

Ckowheero25

Hi! I just signed up for Swiss Pass and I’m wondering whether or not the card is going to be sent to me? I did put in my address details, but didn’t get any confirmation of it being ordered.

Also, on the SBB app it says my Swiss pass can’t be displayed at this time.

RolandP

Hello Ckowheero25

The SwissPass is not a ticket. What did you order in fact?

Kind regards,
Roland

Ckowheero25

I thought the card that you put the tickets on is the Swiss pass? I want to receive this card before I buy a ticket for it

RolandP

Hello Ckowheero25

The SwissPass card is destined for locals; so far only travel cards (tickets as subscription) can be saved on the card.

If you are a tourist, you do not need this card at all.

Can you give us more information about you and whether you are a local (resident) or a tourist? So we can advice you accordingly.

Kind regards,
Roland

Ckowheero25

RolandP I am a resident. I wish to get the card to get a GA ticket for it later on, for my commute.

RolandP

Hello Ckowheero25

I see.

You could have ordered it at the same time you order the GA. When doing so you will receive a temporary SwissPass until the red card has arrived.

Did you upload a picture as well? If not, the card is not sent to you. Otherwise it is sent to your Swiss address within 10 days.

The Swiss Pass Mobile on the SBB Mobile app can only be used once you have received the physical card.

Kind regards,
Roland

Ckowheero25

RolandP Thank you, Roland. This is just what I needed to know. Guess I’ll order the GA card first then!

Finally, the temporary card is on the SBB app if I understand it correctly?

RolandP

Hello Ckowheero25

Happy to hear.

No, the temporary card is a paper ticket that is solely valid with your identity card or passport.

Some people use an ‘empty’ SwissPass card to purchase e-tickets and to use the card as proof of identity (instead of taking their government identity card with them all the time) as e-tickets are personal.

In your case, it is the most convenient if you go to a counter, ask for the GA card, and tell the agent that you have a SwissPass account already. The agent will order the GA, the SwissPass card and, if the GA’s 1st day of validity is within the next 10 days from purchase, the agent will even issue the temporary ticket.

Once you have got the red SwissPass card you can enter it in the app and use the GA on your mobile phone, too.

Does that make sense?

Kind regards,
Roland

Ckowheero25

RolandP

I understand! Thank you once again, Roland.

This whole thing is very confusing, and there isn’t a whole lot of info on it online, but thankfully your responses have been stellar.

Since I won’t need the GA for a few weeks, I will order the GA soon so that I’ll have the physical card before I actually need it.

Thank you so much, once again.

RolandP

Hello Ckowheero25

I totally agree, even as an SBB employee.

The entire online purchase of travel cards is still not well done. Especially, when you purchase it online with instant validity, the temporary travel card is still not provided, one has to see a counter for this. Lately, a customer asked me how to renew an existing travel card for the ZVV network through the app. I simply failed to help him; it is not self-explanatory.

Also, many tourists try to purchase the SwissPass, instead of the Swiss Travel Pass. This is why I have initially asked you whether you are a tourist. It would have been a pity to explain the entire GA purchase process to ultimately find out you wanted the Swiss Travel Pass, the tourist equivalent 🙂

However, our conversation here has motivated me to start another internal inquiry to improve the online purchase process. It has to be more self-explanatory.

Kind regards,
Roland