Questions About the Swiss Travel Pass for Tourists

Laura94

Dear Community

I’m planning to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass for Tourists directly through the SBB website and had a few questions I hope you can help me with:

Cancellation Policy:
I’ve read that the pass is cancellable up to one day before the start date, but I haven’t found a clear official confirmation. Could you please clarify the exact cancellation policy, especially when purchasing via an SBB account?

Activation and Usage:
Once I purchase the pass, can I simply activate and use it from my iPhone, or is any additional step required before traveling? Do I need to book or reserve individual routes in advance, or can I just board trains with the activated pass?

Timing of Purchase:
My trip is planned for mid-August. Is there any advantage to buying the pass now, or can I wait a bit closer to my travel dates?

Thank you very much for your help!

Laura

RolandP

Hello Laura94

Welcome to the SBB Community.

Cancellation Policy:
Numerous frequent questions have been answered here, the official seller of the Swiss Travel Pass:
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/planning/transport-accommodation/tickets-public-transport/miscellaneous-provisions-swisss-travel-system/

Activation and Usage:
Provided you hold the Swiss Travel Pass continuous, you can simply start using it from the first day of validity. There is no need to activate the pass upfront.

If you hold the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you have to activate each travel day before boarding the first service through https://www.activateyourpass.com/.

Timing of Purchase:
The ticket price is the same, no matter if you buy now or upon arrival in Switzerland. Purchasing it online with an SBB customer account has the advantage that the travel pass will be available on the SBB Mobile app.

Regarding seat reservations:
Our public transit system features free seating. You go to the station, you look for your train/bus/tramway/boat, you get on board, and find yourself a free seat. Reserving seats is only mandatory for the tourist trains such as Glacier Express, Golden Pass Express, and the Gotthard Panorama Express. Other services often do not offer seat reservations, as our public transit system is mass transit; the locals use it to go about their daily business; imagine you had to reserve a seat every time you want to travel to the office or back 🙂

Keep in mind that you are required to carry your physical passport or government ID card whenever you use the Swiss Travel Pass. Passport copies and images on smartphones are not considered valid identity documents and are therefore not accepted.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.
Kind regards,
Roland

Danhiel

Hello Laura94

Cancellation Poilicy prior to the first day of validity if you buy the passes on sbb.ch, self-service only with an account:

Self-service automatic refund: handling fee CHF 0.00
Staff issued manual refund: handling fee: CHF 10.00

Activation and Usage:
When you buy the pass, you must indicate the first day of validity. Be careful, the current day is displayed by default. A further activation of the travel days is necessary for the Flex passes:

The Flex days of the STPF must be activated before the start of the first journey of the particular day. With STPFs on security paper, the holder must use a ballpoint pen to enter the travel days in the relevant fields. STPFs as e-tickets must be activated electronically at www.activateyourpass.com.

Timing of Purchase:
You have no advantage to buy the STP in advance, you can also wait to be in Switzerland. The STP are also available at the ticket offices (probably only on security paper).

Kind regards
Daniel