Super saver ticket not accepted due to missing Swiss Half Fare Card

Coudembiett70

Hi there. I have purchased super saver tickets throughout my entire journey through Switzerland. On the train just before when the man scanned our ticket he asked for proof of our half fare card. I don’t have a half fare card and had bought this ticket as a super saver ticket (email shows the ticket is a super saver, however a few lines down it does say “2. Class, single journey, Reduced fare ½”).

I was then required to pay for another ticket. After searching online it says that anyone is entitled to a super saver ticket whether or not they have a half fare card. My question is whether my tickets are still valid or whether I am not eligible for the super saver ticket?

Thanks

RolandP

Hello Coudembiett70

The ticket inspector was absolutely correct.

You have purchased “Supersaver tickets, 2. Class, single journey, Reduced fare ½”. Important hereby is the Reduced fare ½ remark. This is a ticket for children or people having the Swiss Half Fare Card:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-half-fare-card.html

People without the Swiss Half Fare Card must purchase full fare tickets. I wonder how you were able to purchase reduced fare Supersaver tickets; someone has set the ½ fare option in your passenger details, as shown here: https://static.community.sbb.ch/2024-05-05/1714894351-86893-1714571102-503256-grafik.png

You can be lucky that the ticket inspector sold you a ticket; officially, there would be a hefty surcharge when travelling with a ½ fare ticket while you do not have the corresponding card for it. It is considered an abuse and is charged with CHF 190 surcharge, plus a new ticket.

For further travels, you either need the Swiss Half Fare Card or, if you already purchased further Supersaver tickets, you have to purchase another normal point-to-point ticket at ½ fare (not another Supersaver ticket). The Supersaver and the normal point-to-point ticket are valid together.

Please see an agent at the station to know what to purchase to avoid possible surcharges.

Kind regards,
Roland