Is it possible to purchase the (Italian) Carta Argenta at the Zurich airport? We are flying into Zurich, then taking the train to Milan, and I think our rail tickets may require the card.
Posted by
Rome, Italy and Province of Foggia, Puglia, Italy
16 posts
If we are talking about the Carta Argento issued by Trenitalia, it is not possible to purchase one abroad unless you visit an authorized Trenitalia Travel agency, and you probably won't find one there. By the way, the Carta Argento is a card issued to people aged over 65 years with a yearly subscription of €30, or to people aged over 75 for free. Its holder can purchase tickets with a discount ranging from 10% to 25% of the base fare. It is not compulsory to have one in order to purchase a ticket (and most of the times it is more convenient just to get an ordinary cartafreccia via internet, which is free, and use the under 26/over 65 fare, or the super economy fare). It is compulsory to have a Carta Argento if you purchased the ticket with the Carta argento fare (which I guess might not be your case).
Hoping I have properly answered to you, I wish you a pleasant journey :-)
Posted by
OP
3 posts
So, the tickets I already bought online have “Carta Freccia” printed on the ticket. Is that always the case, even if the ticket was just a regular economy ticket? We aren’t even eligible for Carta Freccia, since we do not live in Italy. I just need to know whether we will be able to use these tickets. I don’t want to have to buy more expensive tickets (I bought these way in advance) at the Zurich train station.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
CartaFreccia is Trenitalia's fidelity card. You can't get CartaFreccia fares if you don't have one.
It's not a matter of being residents or not, it's that trenitalia.com asks you to open the "other offers" menu or enter the number of your CartaFreccia card.
Economy tickets are not regular tickets, but discounted ones that come with restrictions and that are capacity controlled. Regular tickets are called BASE on trenitalia.com
If you are travelling on a direct Eurocity you must have purchased either a Smart or a Mini Swiss discounted fare.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11835 posts
You cannot buy Cartafreccia tickets unless you enter the codice that is on your personalized card. I think you must have just purchased super economy fares in which case you will need no additional passes or memberships.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you so much. I feel more secure about being able to use those tickets.