Question regarding travel using the Swiss Travel Pass

Tmk63

Hello! I will be traveling with my wife through Italy and Switzerland in May. I’ve purchased a 2nd class STP (Swiss Travel Pass) for both of us. I’ve got confusion in areas of how to do this 7 what to expect. As I understand, I can hop on most any train without a reservation and grab a seat. If I jump on a 1st class car, then I would simply pay the difference between 1st and 2nd class. Can I reserve a 2nd class seat ahead of time? Also, when traveling from Como to Zermatt, do I need to purchase the 1st leg into Switzerland (Lugano?), then the remainder of the trip is covered by our STP?
Thank you!
Tony

Danhiel

Hello Tmk63

Yes, you can buy an Half Fare upgrade when you jump on a 1st class car, but buy it before you board. It is not always possible to buy it in the train.

You can find more information about seat reservations here:

https://community.sbb.ch/blog/23887-demystifying-seat-reservations-on-swiss-trains-a-comprehensive-guide

I suggest to take a regional train until Lugano, not an Eurocity, but you need only a ticket from Como to Chiasso (the border station).

Kind regards
Danhiel

RolandP

Hello Tmk63

If I jump on a 1st class car, then I would simply pay the difference between 1st and 2nd class

Small correction: with the STP, you have to pay the half of the difference between 1st and 2nd class.
You can simply activate the ½ fare option as part of the passenger information in the SBB Mobile app. See here:

https://community.sbb.ch/d/26418-how-can-i-save-the-info-of-swiss-half-fare-card/2

Kind regards,
Roland

Tmk63

RolandP Thanks Roland - I’ve ticked that box for both my wife & I on the SBB app. Still have some confusion though. My SBB app shows that I’ve purchased the STP under “Tickets & Travelcards”, but when I go to reserve a 2nd class seat it still shows a purchase price. Shouldn’t it be free because of my STP purchase? I know I’m missing something here… I’m thinking that the 2nd-class STP means I just show up and jump on a train - however I’m interested in insuring that I have seats reserved on a specific train.

Danhiel

Tmk63

You must select « Seat reservation only »:

Tmk63

That makes sense, however I’m not seeing that option…

Thank you for your continued support…
t

Danhiel

Tmk63

It works only in Switzerland, you must select the timetable from Chiasso:

RolandP

Hello Tmk63

You cannot upgrade international tickets.
Como is in Italy. You could only upgrade on the Swiss part, from Domodossola to Brig/Visp. But that makes no sense for such a short ride.

If you want to ride in 1st, you could do this for the Brig/Visp to Zermatt train, using a class upgrade with half fare option.

Kind regards,
Roland

Tmk63

Danhiel OK, now I got it…I assumed the app did more. This has cleared a lot of “issues” for me. I owe you a beer! Thank you very much.
t

Tmk63

Danhiel One more question - I’d like to travel from Como to Zermatt via Locano as I’ve heard this is a more scenic route (?). If so, according to the SBB app, Locarno would be the first stop, and therefore I must purchase the Como -> Locarno route outright, then the remainder of the trip to Zermatt would be covered via my STP. Am I correct on this, or would there be a shorter amount of travel that I would pay for when crossing into Switzerland with the STP?

Danhiel

Tmk63

You need only a ticket from Como to Chiasso, your STP is valid after this station. It doesn’t mean that you must change, you can stay in the same train RE80 and continue to Locarno. This ticket costs less as 2 CHF in the SBB app.

For the scenic route, the Centovalli, the STP is valid, but seat reservations are recommended, they are only available on this site:

https://www.vigezzinacentovalli.com/en/