Half Fare Card and Day pass

Sheesooxe52

I intend to buy today, the 1month Half Fare Card (to be effective from Feb 1, 2025) before buying the Day pass for travelling on Feb 8 and 9th. Can the mobile app detect straight away I’m entitled to buy the discounted day pass for travel on Feb 8 and 9 since the Half fare card is only effective from Feb 1. Alternatively, when do I purchase the discounted day pass as the price will go up towards the day of travel

RolandP

Hello Sheesooxe52

To purchase tickets it is not mandatory to have an active Swiss Half Fare Card. The system does not actively check whether you are entitled to purchase ½ tickets, that’s my job and the one from my ticket inspector colleagues on the train. In order words, you are fine to purchase ½ tickets now and the Swiss Half Fare Card later. The first day of validity of the latter shall not be later than the first public transit journey.

To benefit from half fare, you have to make the necessary settings in your passenger details. How? See the link with my instructions below:
https://community.sbb.ch/d/26418-how-can-i-save-the-info-of-swiss-half-fare-card

Kind regards,
Roland

Sheesooxe52

RolandP - I followed your suggestion (I indicated mysef as a Half Fare card holder) but 2 quotes were given. For Saver Day Pass on Feb 8 - it quoted 49CHF. For ‘Day Pass for the Half Fare travelcard’ on Feb 8, it quoted 78 CHF (more expensive??). What is the difference between the two Day Pass. Unfortunately I do not know how to attach a screenshot of the options given in SBB mobile app

RedBaron

Sheesooxe52
There’s basically no difference between the two.

The Day Pass for 78.- is the standard offering (for HFC holders) whenever the price of a regular point-to-point ticket exceeds those 78.-. In other words, you’ll never pay more than that in case of a very long journey. This day pass is also fully refundable until the day before travel, same as with point-to-point tickets.

The Saver Day Pass is the discounted alternative, which is getting more and more expensive the closer the travel date is approaching (it even might sell out in case of high demand). Downside: No refunds in case of a change of plans (excepted medical reasons with provided doctor’s certificate).