Help with Swiss Half Fare Card and booking tickets

Nocoalee35

I am trying to understand how this half fare card works for those not living in Switzerland (we are from Canada, two adults age 62 and 67). If go on the Swiss Railways website where I can buy a Swiss Half Card, I could book a train ticket if I wished - for example, for two adults, 1st class, a train from Basel to Wengen, June 6, 11:30 - 14:11 costs 129.60 CHF (no options appear for Saver Day Pass, etc.). On the SBB website, I am advised to unclick the Half Fare card default (which I understand is meant for residents) and click Full Fare, options appear for Supersaver @ 113.20 CHF and Saver Day Pass 122.00 CHF. No where does it ask to factor in a Swiss Half Fare Card discount. I am rather confused, what should I do in this situation? Am I meant to buy a Swiss Half Fare Card and enter a discount code, etc.?

RolandP

Hello Nocoalee35

Good day …

The Swiss Half Fare Card and the Half Fare Card are both the same, the former is for tourists, the latter for residents. In terms of validity, when it comes to ticket purchases, they are absolutely identical. Yet, they differ in the duration of validity (1 month vs. 1 year), and cost (130 vs. 190).

Consequently, whenever you read Half Fare Card, it includes the Swiss Half Fare Card, too. The Swiss Half Fare Card is not specifically mentioned.

You can purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card from here:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/offers/swiss-half-fare-card

→ We suggest creating an SBB customer account before purchasing the SHFC and tickets. By doing so you will benefit of better ticket cancellation options. Simply choose ‘no account’ when being prmpted to enter your account information.

After purchase, you have to alter your traveler profile to take into account the HFC/SHFC. Simply click the pen next to your name to do so. See the screenshot in this reply:

https://community.sbb.ch/d/26418-how-can-i-save-the-info-of-swiss-half-fare-card/2

I personally suggest to download the SBB Mobile app for purchasing tickets. Use the same SBB user account.
The SBB Mobile app is very self-explanatory, purchasing tickets is a breeze as it will always suggest the cheapest train ticket possible for your trip. Under ‘Shop & Services’ you can also purchase the Saver Day Pass, instead of using the timetable for ticket research. The Saver Day Pass is normally being promoted if its cost is lower than a single or a single-and-return trip, all depending on the length of the trip.

Let us know if we can assist you any further.

Kind regards,
Roland

Nocoalee35

Thank you for your quick reply, RolandP. I created an account and loaded the app. I must admit I find the app less confusing than on the website. I experimented between choosing Full Fare and Half Fare Card. I see that regular vs half fare is pretty straight forward, it is half the fare. But once I get into offerings of SuperSaver, Saver Day Pass, unless I am not understanding correctly, paying for two Half Fare cards does not appear to justify the savings based on train travel alone. Here are my trips: Basel-Wengen June 6, 11:30-14:11 Full fare 1st class Saver Day Pass 176.00 CHF; Half Fare Saver Day Pass is 129.60 (44.00CHF difference); June 8 Luzern - Wasserauen 10:09-13:13 - this is a panoramic train, first class is full, I booked second class seats, Regular Point to Point 68.00, Half Fare Card 34.00 (34.00CHF difference); Luzern-Wassterauen June 9 Full Fare 1st class Saver Offer 136.00 Half Fare Card Saver Offer 71.20 (55.20CHF difference); Wasserauen. Tirano June 10 1st class Full Fare Saver Day Pass 240.00 Half Fare Card Saver Day Pass 196.00 (44.00CHF difference); Tirano-Fussen, Germany June 11 I see no savings between Full and Half Fare 137.00 CHF. For all train trips, total difference is app. 177. Cost of Half Fare Card for 2 people is 300. Unless there is something I am doing wrong, I would better off buying without the card. I realize that the Half Fare Card gives attraction discounts, like if I wanted to do Jungfraujoch, it would cut that ticket in half. But based on pure travel, it does not appear to pay for itself. What do you think?

RedBaron

Nocoalee35 Basel-Wengen June 6, 11:30-14:11 Full fare 1st class Saver Day Pass 176.00 CHF; Half Fare Saver Day Pass is 129.60 (44.00CHF difference)

Not sure how you determined those prices. Today, a half fare Saver Day Pass for June 6th is 49.00 in 2nd and 66.00 in 1st class.
Note that a Saver Day Pass only means saving money if travelling a lot on that day. The regular point-to-point ticket for Basel - Wengen (half fare 2nd class ) is 39.50, therefore cheaper than the SDP, and there would also be even cheaper supersaver tickets available (warning: tied to the connection, and no refunds).

‘Half fare’ generally relates to regular tickets, not for saver offers where the discount is usually less than 50%.

Also note that Luzern - Wasserauen leaving 10:09 means two different trains IR 70 and S23 (1 transfer with gauge change), Therefore seat reservations are not available in both, thus first (or 2nd) class can NOT be already ‘full’. Not sure what made you believe that those are ‘panoramic’ touristic PE trains, this is mass transit like the vast majority of connections. You might want to check our blog article about seat reservations:
https://community.sbb.ch/blog/23887-demystifying-seat-reservations-on-swiss-trains-a-comprehensive-guide

Nocoalee35

I was gathering these prices from the SBB app.
Please note I am quoting for two adults, not per person. For Interlaken- Luzern, I booked seats on the PE Panoramic Express - I understand that this has the extra windows above. The first class seats for my date were unavailable, I took second class seats by the window. Thanks for the referral for the blog, I will check this out. I’m learning !