We will fly into Geneva and stay in Montreaux for a couple of nights to get over the lag. We (2 of us) intend to buy a 4 day B O pass and 1/2 fare card for our time in BO (later in the trip), but will also use it to take the Golden Pass Express to Lucerne for a couple of nights before going to BO.
My problem that I need help with is this: Today I went on line to reserve seats for the Golden Pass Express from Montreaux to Interlaken Ost and there were no seats available on the date we leave for Lucerne in 2nd class (except for 2 separate seats that were rear facing and I can't do that for over 3 hrs.), so I had to book the seat reservations in 1st class ($20 each). I know I have to buy a 1st class ticket from Montreaux to Gstaad because that is not covered on the BO pass, BUT do I have to buy a 1st class BO pass for each of us in order to have a 1st class BO ticket for the portion of the trip to Interlaken covered by the BO pass ?? -OR- is there a way to buy upgrades to a 2nd class BO pass for the portion of the trip from Gstaad to Interlaken?? I think it is only $35 more each for the 1st class BO Pass with the 1/2 fare card, so it's not that big a deal, but not sure that my calculation of the difference in 1st and 2nd class BO Pass is correct - it could be more.
Also, I can't see anyway to book the trip all the way to Lucerne from Montreaux on the Golden Pass Express. I know we have to change trains in Interlaken Ost , so do I just separately book another train from Interlaken to Lucerne or is there one that is named Golden Pass from Interlaken to Lucerne??
Posted by
Thun, Switzerland
486 posts
Hi dwarren2
BUT do I have to buy a 1st class BO pass for each of us in order to
have a 1st class BO ticket for the portion of the trip to Interlaken
covered by the BO pass ?? -OR- is there a way to buy upgrades to a 2nd
class BO pass for the portion of the trip from Gstaad to Interlaken??
Buy an upgrade for that portion of the trip. You can do this on the SBB app. Enter the particulars for your journey and press the purchase ticket button which will take you to the second screen. There you have some further choices about what kind of ticket you want to buy, choose “point-to-point class upgrade”.
It looks to me like it is 13.50 for the upgrade with a half fare card.
You can also just ask for help with this at the train station if it is confusing.
I can’t help you with your second question re: booking the entire journey, perhaps someone else can. I always just get on this train without any seat reservation and have never had a problem finding a good seat. Yes, the Interlaken to Lucerne train is the Golden Pass.
Note: in your previous post I did actually answer your question - with one word ‘yes’. Then I went on in my second paragraph to give further information regarding which train I thought you would prefer for the journey. Obviously you did not understand my meaning…hopefully I am making more sense this time. :-)
Posted by
Wengen
1684 posts
Interlaken to Luzern is a separate company. But it is not necessary to reserve for that section.
One remark you are buying a 4 day BO pass, are using it to travel Montreux to Luzern and will stay there for a couple of day, then come back to the BO. That means that you will maybe have on day left on your pass. Does not look like good use to me.
You should maybe just get the Half Fare Card, and just buy a ticket Montreux - Luzern, which you can do at the station. Then just buy the pass for the days you are actually going to be in the Oberland.
With the BO pass you would still need to buy a 1st class ticket Montreux Saanen, and a 1st class upgrade for Saanen - Luzern.
Posted by
OP
84 posts
Thank you both for your help and especially for reminding me about the BO pass. I guess I forgot that the BO Pass starts on the first day of use, so with your help, I will not make the mistake of starting to use the BO pass until we are actually in that area to properly take advantage of the pass. I was originally going to use the Swiss Travel Pass for our entire trip, so I may revisit that option and forget the 1/2 fare card. It just seemed like you paid a lot more for mountain tickets in the BO area with the Swiss Pass vs. the BO, so I decided to go with the BO Pass.