Swiss Family Card and Free Travel for Child - Ticket Still Charged

Viperjet

Hi everyone,

I’m seeking advice regarding the Swiss Family Card for my son’s travel in Switzerland. My wife and I each purchased a Swiss Half Fare Card for Tourist, and our 13-year-old son received the obligatory Swiss Family Card, which should allow him to travel with us for free as long as he’s accompanied by a parent.

However, when booking tickets from Bern to Geneva, my wife and I received a half-price discount with our Swiss Half Fare Cards, but my son was still charged for his ticket, even though he has the Swiss Family Card, which should allow him free travel.

The discount options during booking for him were:

No Discount
Half Fare Travelcard
Junior Travelcard
Children’s Co-Travelcard

Since the Swiss Family Card wasn’t an option (No Discount was selected), I’m wondering if I selected the correct option or if there’s another process to ensure his free travel. Should my son’s ticket be free with the Swiss Family Card, or is there a specific booking process I might have missed? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

RolandP

Hello Viperjet

This is a recurrent topic here. It seems to me that the use of the family card is not entirely clear.

The Swiss Family Card allows free travel on all public transit services that accept the Swiss Family Card for free travel with the parents. The same is valid for the Children Co-Travelcard.

The Swiss Family Card is the ticket for your child when accompanied by at least one parent. There is no need to purchase additional tickets.

Train tickets in Switzerland never include seat reservations, as our trains have free seating. If a seat reservation is needed (mandatory), you have to get it for your child as well, regardless of the free travel with the Swiss Family Card.

Does that make sense?

Kind regards,
Roland

Viperjet

Thank you for replying to my question

Hope my understanding aligns with your explanation.

A child with the Swiss Family Card doesn’t need a train ticket within Switzerland, as the Swiss Family Card acts as their ticket for any ride that accepts the Swiss Half Fare Card for the parent.
If seat reservations are mandatory, the Child with Swiss Family Card need to purchase the additional train ticket.