Swiss Half Fare Card - Tourist

richamalpani · 2023-02-12T06:42:44+00:00

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richamalpani

Hello,

I have a few queries on Swiss Half fare card and if you would be kind enough to answer, I would be very grateful.

1. Can I purchase a Swiss Half fare card at Paris Charles De Gaulle international airport? Is there a Swiss Travel System Sales Point there?

2. If not at the airport, is it possible to purchase Swiss Half Fare card at any of the main train stations in Paris, like Gare De Lyon or Gare du Nord station?

3. Can you mention/attach a list of all sales outlets of the Swiss travel system(outside of Switzerland) where I can buy the Swiss Half fare card and get it activated too?

Thanks in advance.

RolandP

Hello richamalpani

See my answer given here: https://community.sbb.ch/t5/Travelcards-and-tickets/Actual-tickets/td-p/55234. Please kindly refrain from asking the same questions multiple time, as it will create additional effort to us (we are all volunteers).

No, there is no SBB travel center in Paris.
No, you don’t have to validate your Swiss Half Fare Card when purchased as online ticket. It is active from the chosen validity start date. Kindly note, it is a card not a pass, it does not grant free access to the Swiss public transport network.
If you need the complimentary Swiss Family Card, you can get it at the first station in Switzerland when arriving from Paris, being Basel SBB, Geneva, or Lausanne.

We are unable to provide you with a list of all worldwide travel centers marketing the Swiss Travel Pass. You can contact the Swiss Travel Center organisation here: https://switzerlandtravelcentre.com/en/che/contact. My advice: don’t overdo things, have it arranged once you have arrived in our country. You will anyway need to change trains at a Swiss station, where you can have arranged your Swiss tickets.

Best regards,
Roland

Hotshot

RolandP

Hi Roland,

I have bought the Swiss half fare card for 12 Aug mistakenly, although I m.travelling on the 7th Aug.

I have bought SDP from 7th to 12th as well.

My Question is is the Swiss half fare still valid or do I need to change the dates?

Thanks

richamalpani

Hi Roland,

Sorry for that. I did not realise that I posted the query twice. Thing is I need to book all things in advance to plan accordingly. After arriving in Switzerland, it will be very hectic for us to stand in ticketing queue or spend time at the information centre at the stations, etc. Will be better if we have everything in advance given that we are travelling with a kid too and a fussy one at that.

RolandP

richamalpani

Well, going to Paris you will have to get used to queues; Paris is famous and the number of tourists countless.

As I wrote, come to Switzerland and have it sorted here. You will be served faster at an SBB counter (waiting times less than 10 minutes) in our country than anywhere else - there is no other viable option.

Best regards,
Roland

richamalpani

RolandP That’s good to know! Ofcourse, yea, I have been to Paris a couple of times and it’s way too crowded. But I need to book the tickets also in advance with Half fare discount and for that I have to buy the half fare card online to show it to Ticket Inspector as I will be availing the discount and hence all the questionnaire. 🙂

RolandP

richamalpani Had you mentioned your France-Switzerland itinerary (point of departure, point of entry in Switzerland, point of destination) I could have told you at which station you can have your tickets sorted. I still don’t know why you need to have your Half Fare Card in Paris already. And yes, I am a ticket inspector 🙂

richamalpani

RolandP

Oh Wow! If you had mentioned TI earlier rather than Volunteer, I would have also told you already all the details 🙂
Anyway, I need to travel from Paris, Gare De Lyon to Interlaken West. The train departs at 7:20 AM from Paris to Basel SBB and then from Basel at 11:26 AM reaching Interlaken West at 13:22. We can get our Swiss Half fare card online along with Complimentary Family card but for booking the actual tickets there is no option at the SBB website to book this connection by getting the child discount for the Switzerland connection(Basel to Interlaken).
In other words, I can add half fare card discount on SBB website while adding the passengers as adults. But for the child passenger, how do I get the discount of the Swiss family card? There is no option to select the child discount from the dropdown and it charges 19.90 CHF from Basel to Interlaken for the child at the payment page, which should ideally be 0, considering Swiss Family card for the child.
Please help with this.

RolandP

richamalpani

Have you already bought the Swiss Half Fare Card online?

Possessing the Swiss Family Card you do not need a ticket for the child. The Swiss Family Card *is* the child’s ticket and valid when travelling with you having a valid ticket. No separate ticket is required for the child.

richamalpani

RolandP

I have not yet bought anything. I was going to but I am doubtful as when it should have charged 0 CHF for Basel to Interlaken for child ticket(with Swiss family card), it is charging 19.90 CHF. Below is the copy/paste of the SBB ticketing screen

2 × STANDARD - Partially flexible fares offer, Paris Gare de Lyon – Basel SBB

Valid: Tu, 30.05.2023Departure time: 07:20CHF 218.00
1 × STANDARD Enfant - Partially flexible fares offer, Paris Gare de Lyon – Basel SBB

Valid: Tu, 30.05.2023Departure time: 07:20CHF 77.00
3 × Seat reservation, Paris Gare de Lyon – Basel SBB

Valid: Tu, 30.05.2023Departure time: 07:20included
2 × Discounted International Extension Ticket - Partially flexible fares offer, Basel SBB – Interlaken West

Valid: Tu, 30.05.2023Departure time: 11:28CHF 39.80
1 × Discounted International Extension Ticket - Partially flexible fares offer, Basel SBB – Interlaken West

Valid: Tu, 30.05.2023Departure time: 11:28CHF 19.90

Total price:

CHF 354.70

If I don’t enter the child passenger, how will reserve the seat for the Paris-Basel connection? And if I enter the child passenger, it doesn’t show me a valid option to put in the discount from the dropdown for the Swiss Family card. I hope you got my question?

Also, why are non-refundable fares not available for this journey when I am booking so early? That was the whole point to book it early to get cheap fares but this ain’t cheap. 🙂

RahelW

Hello richamalpani

You have two different options for your online booking. You can either choose the Junior-Travelcard discount for your child or you can book one ticket to Basel for the whole family and than check if you find some supersaver ticket for your trip from Basel to Interlaken for the adults.

The price for the tickets from Paris to Basel are as high because there are several national holidays and also school holidays in May. That’s why many people take the opportunity to go on a trip. Some of the trains are already very busy.

For more information, please call our contact center +41 51 225 78 00.

I wish you an unforgettable time in Switzerland.

Kind regards, RahelW

RolandP

Hello Hotshot

That’s unfortunate. You have to see a SBB Travel Center upon arrival to alter the validity, or call +41 51 225 78 00, as your Swiss Half Fare Card is not valid before 12 AUG.

Kindly yours,

Roland