1. We'll be visiting Switzerland from the US and plan to get Swiss Travel Passes for 15 days. Do we need to get ticketed seat reservations for each train or do we just board the train without a ticket and choose any seat in our class? 2. We'll be taking the train from Basel SBB to Frankfurt airport. Does the Swiss travel pass cover the cost of that entire train ride or do we have to buy tickets for the portion of the train ride that's in Germany? Thank you for any advice!

1. Yes, you can simply board the train and sit where you please. It is possible on a few trains to reserve seats but essentially nobody does that and it is really rare not to have a seat. The only exception are very few panoramic trains: For the panoramic trains 'Glacier-Express', 'GoldenPass-Express' and 'Bernina-Express' you need mandatory seat reservations. 2. You will need to buy a ticket starting from **Basel Bad Bf** which is the last station covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

@"RolandP"#p173566 Thank you Roland, very helpful

@"Danhiel"#p173573 Thanks very much

Tickets for Swiss Travel Pass holders/seat reservations

Zauchostez26

We’ll be visiting Switzerland from the US and plan to get Swiss Travel Passes for 15 days. Do we need to get ticketed seat reservations for each train or do we just board the train without a ticket and choose any seat in our class?
We’ll be taking the train from Basel SBB to Frankfurt airport. Does the Swiss travel pass cover the cost of that entire train ride or do we have to buy tickets for the portion of the train ride that’s in Germany?

Thank you for any advice!

RolandP

Hello Zauchostez26

For further information about seat reservations, see:

https://community.sbb.ch/blog/23887-demystifying-seat-reservations-on-swiss-trains-a-comprehensive-guide

Kind regards,
Roland

Danhiel

Hello Zauchostez26

I suggest to buy the tickets from Basel Bad Bf to Frankfurt Flughafen on bahn.de. You may have better saver offers as on sbb.ch. You can also see the likely occupancy of the train and decide if you need seat reservations or not. Trains in Germany are often delayed, arrive early enough at the airport.

Kind regards
Danhiel

Tafunge25

Yes, you can simply board the train and sit where you please. It is possible on a few trains to reserve seats but essentially nobody does that and it is really rare not to have a seat. The only exception are very few panoramic trains: For the panoramic trains ‘Glacier-Express’, ‘GoldenPass-Express’ and ‘Bernina-Express’ you need mandatory seat reservations.
You will need to buy a ticket starting from Basel Bad Bf which is the last station covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.

Zauchostez26

Tafunge25 Thank you, if I understand correctly, no portion of the train ride from Basel Bad Bf to Frankfurt airport will be covered by our Swiss travel passes so we need to pay for the entire train ride. Correct?

Zauchostez26

RolandP Thank you Roland, very helpful

Zauchostez26

Danhiel Thanks very much

Tafunge25

Zauchostez26 Yes that’s correct. The train between Basel SBB and Basel Bad. Bf is covered fully, no matter which train operator you use (SBB or DB).