Arriving in Basel SBB - Train to Lausanne Questions

question 1 - yes, if it is valid on that day

question 2 - no. Look up the platform ahead of time. Use the app and follow your first train (how are you getting to Basel?) and all others. Live platform and running information.

question 3 - I don't believe you can upgrade a Swiss travel Pass. You will need a new First Class Ticket. You buy it on the app before you board the train or in the station. You may not buy it once you are on the train.

question number 4 - see answer number 3.

1) Yes, if you have a Swiss Pass, or even if you have a normal ticket, you can hop on 14:59 to Bern, or any other train too Bern. There is one leaving at 31 and 59 minutes past every hour.

2) Obviously a train Newbie. There is no check-in on trains. You just look up your train's platform number on the big departure board, go to the correct platform and get on the train. You will not interact with anybody on your way to your train, no checks, nothing.
The "12 minutes" implies to me you are coming in on a different train. If you don't make it (or want to stop to buy a coffee), you can just get the 15:31, or 15:59, or . . . .
Click here for image of main hall at Basel SBB and departure board. You can see the 13:59 to Bern listed at the top (platform 5), and last but one the 14:31 (platform 12). You can see from the clock it is just before 2. If you pan you can see the rest of the main hall.

3+4) If you want to change to 1st class, you have to go to the Travel centre and buy a new ticket before getting on the train. No ticket sales on the train. If you want 1st class, buy a 1st class Swiss Pass.
I see no reason to pay for first class. The difference is 2+1 seating instead of 2+2.

Hi Chris and Nigel, yep I’m a newbie to Swiss train system, but not in other parts of Europe. In Spain, some train stations have an airline type X-ray for luggage.

My plan: 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass
1. Long distance travel with luggage —— upgrade the specific routes route to 1st class. I don’t mean upgrade to 1st Class Swiss Travel Pass. Just a particular long distance route (Basel to Montreux for example)
2. Not planning on 1st class upgrade on Short daytrips on Train or boats with no luggage.
For example: Lucern to Bern Train, or boat from Vevey to Lausanne.

I thought the 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass allows individual 1st class upgrades for specific routes and paying the difference between 1st and 2nd class pricing or rates.

In my past travels I had bought print at home 1st class train tickets: all advance purchases with big discounts from renfe, Bahn.com, Austrian rail OEBb, Eurostar, etc. TGV french trains etc. These countries train systems have similarities.

But Swiss Train system is about Swiss Travel Passes and regional passes.

Thanks.

Tjym, information on 1st Class upgrades is here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/class-upgrade.html
Looks like you want a "Route Specific Class Upgrade". You will need to buy this before getting on the train, NO ticket sales on the train.

Swiss Railways has a different business model to other rail companies. It is a flat fare, valid on any train. No reservations, no advance booking discounts, no surcharges for High Speed trains. It is designed to be a "turn-up-and-go" system. You buy a ticket and can travel on any train that day. Very egalitarian Swiss.
Except there are a few "Supersaver" tickets available on some trains only (the less busy ones) and online only.

If you are travelling a long-distance and don't have a pass those Supersavers can be necessary. I got a nasty shock travelling from Lausanne to Luzern - the walk-up fare from a machine was CHF65 each way but I managed to get it down to half that using a Supersaver two days before. Note that the Supersavers are only available online.

I’m an American with US credit cards all Chip and signature, which have been used all over Western Europe the past 5 to 10 yrs of travel,

Do you know if it is possible to pay on the SBB app for IPhone or IPad 1st class upgrade for “specific routes”? Which means I have to load my Chase Sapphire Preferred or other credit cards to SBB App and click & pay on the app as needed.

With 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, I will only upgrade my long travel routes when I have luggage.

Thanks all

TJym, You say "With 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, I will only upgrade my long travel routes when I have luggage." - I have never bought a first class upgrade. I am not sure why you want to upgrade to 1st class for longer trips or if you have luggage. I would see no need to.

I don't use the SBB App for buying tickets, just looking up times. I buy my tickets from station ticket machines. Or if not possible (foreign trips) from the manned counters.

I am sorry if that is a negative answer.

Hi Chris thanks again. I will read up some more about this. I guess my question is about the convenience of having the SBB App as a tool to purchase a specific route upgrade to 1st class. As an American tourist with USA credit cards to use on the SBB IPhone App.

Thus avoiding the inconvenience of going to ticket counter with long lines or buying from machine with the possibility of getting my US credit cards rejected.