Swiss Half Fare Card and Family Card, but Family Card discount not available

AlexS

Hello. I purchased a Swiss Half Fare Card and it came with the free Swiss Family Card. I did not purchase these on the SBB website.
When trying to book tickets online through SBB, I can select my co-travelers. For myself, I can check the box for Swiss Half Fare Card. However, for my son, who is age 12, there are no check boxes for Swiss Family Card. Essentially, his only check box option would be “no discount”. Because of this, the system does not seem to recognize he is a valid child traveling with someone (me) that has the Swiss Half Fare card, and he is not free. My understanding is that he would travel free, but it seems the SBB website does not recognize that. There are no solutions to this that I could find. I suspect it is because I did not buy my Swiss Half Fare card directly through SBB. However, if that is the case, why allow me to select from the checkbox options that I have a Half Fare Card, but not allow a checkbox option of Family Card for my son? Thanks for any help.

RolandP

Hello AlexS

Welcome to the SBB Community.

The truth of the story is explained in one sentence: for children holding the Swiss Family Card you do not have to purchase tickets, as they travel for free with their parents when they hold for themselves a valid ticket.

Why should you purchase a CHF 0 ticket? We Swiss like it efficient, we do not make ourselves extra work when it is not required. So easy, right? 🙂

And yes, since our trains are free seating (except of GEX, GPX, and GOPEX trains), a seat reservation is also not required and tickets do not come with seat assignments.

Google certainly would have directed you towards our SBB Community, your question is a frequent one, at least two times a week.

Kind regards,
Roland

AlexS

RolandP Thank you! Such a simple explanation, and one that totally escaped me. 😄 I suppose one additional question, more of a concern. I know that trains are generally free seating, so if kids are not purchasing tickets and just show up, there is no record of how many people are going to ride the train at that specific day and time. If a train is already very full, and parents have tickets, any problems cramming on the additional kids? It has been a while since I rode the SBB and I cannot recall if everyone had to have a seat or if standing was allowed.

RolandP

Hello AlexS

Children can occupy a seat even if they travel with the Swiss Family Card. It would be courteous to take a toddler on the lap in case the train is very busy. But, a 12-year-old can have their own seat. Swiss trains are very child-friendly.

A train might get very busy, and you have to stand between two stations. But, these cases are rare, very rare, especially on IC or IR trains. The expected occupancy based on statistics is shown on the timetable with three-men icons. It gives you a hint on how full the train can be.

Does that solve your concern?

Kind regards,
Roland

Krist

AlexS there is no record of how many people are going to ride the train at that specific day and time.

There never is. Train tickets are for a route, not a train. So SBB does not know in advance which train someone who has eg. bought a Zurich - Bern ticket intends to take. Nor do they really care. It is mass transit. You will notice that most of the time when you buy a ticket it will be valid for any train on the route, not just the one you selected during booking.

AlexS

All good now. Thank you so much!

Whuesejott64

Hi. Is this applicable for bus as well. So when i book a bus ticket, I will not book for my son and daughter. They are under the Swiss Family Card. I was under the assumption that in a bus, we need to book seats, unlike train which has plenty of seating.
I am travelling from Meirengen to Handegg by bus.
2 adults and 2 chidlren.