Hello Reemasoni
Welcome to the SBB Community.
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In Switzerland, on public transit services, there are no systematic ticket checks but random checks. Passengers are responsible themselves for having a valid ticket and for the travel class (cabin) they are travelling in.
Passengers seating in 1st class must be in the possession of a 1st class ticket or an upgrade ticket. This is also valid for tourists. All people who fail to do so pay a surcharge, no matter if they are locals or tourists.
1st class seats are marked with the number “1” and there are signs everywhere. It is the same all over in Europe.
More and more tourists travel in 1st by intention and when a ticket inspector comes along, they say that they did not know. If no ticket inspector is coming, they travel for free in 1st class, benefitting from 1st class amenities without paying. On the other hand, local people who pay for travelling in 1st class, complain that tourists do not pay but still travel in 1st class. They find their behaviour unfair, too.
In order to treat all passengers fairly, everyone travelling with a 2nd class in 1st class is treated the same; consequently, everyone with the wrong ticket has to pay the surcharge. This is regulated by the tariff, which is based on the Passenger Transport Act, and that comes into effect when one uses public transit services.
Of course, it is unfortunate; however, the ticket inspector is not in the possession to make exceptions; all they want to know is whether you have a valid ticket for the route / day & time, and travel class. You might find it unfair; however, If they treated people differently, someone else would find it unfair.
Kind regards,
Roland