Buying Swiss Half Fare Card and Tickets

camiesee

Hi all, I’m trying to figure out how to purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card. It asks for a valid date. If my travel dates are from May 1st to May 8th, should I set the valid date as May 1st? Also, if I select May 1st as the start date, will I be able to purchase tickets (such as point-to-point tickets or saver day passes) before the validity period begins?

When I tried to buy the tickets, it didn’t ask for my Swiss Half Fare Card details. Does this mean I can purchase half-fare tickets without having the card yet, and simply show both the tickets and the Swiss Half Fare Card during ticket inspection on the train?

Also, we are traveling as a group of four adults. Can I purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card and all our tickets for four people using a single Swiss Pass account and show them on one device/app during ticket inspections? This would save everyone in our group from needing to download the SBB app.

Thank you!

Krist

When you purchase tickets you are indeed only asked which discount you want to use. There is no check that you indeed have the Half Fare Card. So you can even wait with buying it until you are here. That you have the Half Fare Card is checked on the train.

And yes, you can buy 4 tickets for 4 persons on your SBB app. Just make sure you have their names right, and for each one select the half fare card reduction. (You will need a HFC for each person).

Note that it is not necessary to buy train tickets in advance. Trains are mass transit, used by people to go about their daily business. Most people buy their ticket shortly before travel. You must however buy the ticket before boarding the train.