Connecting a Half-Fare Travel Card to my Swiss Pass

Whaizeattea80

I was recently approved for a Swiss Pass and just received my Swiss Pass ID number. I already have a half-fare travel card, but when I go to order discounted tickets on third-party sites, they ask for my Swiss Pass ID to confirm I have a half-fare card. However, it keeps saying that there are no travelcards associated with my Swiss Pass. How can I associate my pre-purchased travel cards with my new Swiss Pass so that I can now use the card? Thanks.

RolandP

Hello Whaizeattea80

Good day 🙂

What “third-party site”, other than Trenitalia wants to know your SwissPass ID?

Did you yet receive the red card as well? Without it, you cannot use mobile services.

Kind regards,
Roland

Whaizeattea80

Hi Roland - thanks for your quick reply. I am trying to purchase Glacier Paradise tickets from Matterhorn Paradise. In order to purchase the tickets, I must input my Swiss Pass ID so that they can confirm I have the half-fare travelcard. The red physical card has not yet arrived in the mail, but I can see all of my Swiss Pass information on the SBB mobile app and on swisspass.ch

RolandP

Hello Whaizeattea80

The card is required. As long as it has not been produced, you cannot use it as there is no card number yet. All online references are considered a replicate of the card, not a substitution.

But why would you want purchasing the Matterhorn Paradise tickets in advance? No local would ever purchase mountain excursion tickets more than two days out.

Kind regards,
Roland

Whaizeattea80

RolandP Thanks Roland. I was under the impression that the Swiss Pass ID # on my SBB account would be the same as the number on the back of my physical card. So I will wait to receive my physical card.

This is also good information. I am not a local, so was told that purchasing tickets in advance would be less expensive, and I was unsure if they would sell out. I travel in a few weeks.

RolandP

Whaizeattea80

Sorry, I wrongly assumed you are an expat as tourists having a Swiss Pass card are very rare. Most do use the Swiss Half Fare Card.

What if the weather is stormy on the day of travel and you will end up in a snow storm? It will become the most expensive trip to finally see: fog 😅

We have seen here people asking for help as the Matterhorn Paradise was closed due to severe weather and they had a hard time getting the money back.

https://community.sbb.ch/d/27612-glacier-paradise-cancellation

The guys there want to make money, no
matter the weather, as they hope that the tourists come visiting them even with bad weather. With booking in advance it is almost impossible to refund the tickets if the weather is bad and you decide to cancel the trip.
It woukd mean a waste of money for such an expensive trip. And, yes, it is expensive, also for us, the Swiss.

Wait and check the forecast a week ahead, then you will certainly have got the red card, too.

Kind regards,
Roland