We fly from New York to arrive Geneva 31 Aug 2018 @ 14:00. We need to get to Martigny that evening. I found railway tickets but I am concerned if the plane is late, and we get to railway station after our purchased ticket time for departure , what happens? Do we simply get on the next train, using our tickets? We were allowing four hours after arrival for, clearing customs , getting our bags and getting to the Gare Comavin Central Railway station. Any advice will be most helpful. Thanks Kate
Posted by
Chicago
7811 posts
If you buy the Super saver tickets which usually sell out they are only good for the specific time.
A regular ticket is good for anytime during that day on that route. Also you could wait to buy until you get there as the price is not going change, it is fixed price.
Posted by
Green Bay
20032 posts
Yes, just buy tickets at the airport train station when you arrive and have your luggage. There are direct trains from the airport to Martigny at 2 and 20 past the hour.
Posted by
Grand Rapids, MI
768 posts
Really, this is just a risk calculation.
Suppose I offer you a bet that for $1 of your money you have a 1 in 20 chance of winning $1000.
Or, suppose I offer a bet that for $10 of your money you have a 1 in 100 chance of winning $20.
You should take the first bet and skip the second. Not only are the odds in your favor in the first, but you only risk a very small amount. Same here with the "advance" ticket. What are the odds that you're flight will be delayed more than 2 hours? Very low I'd say [and I'll add that Customs has always been fast for me in Geneva]. What is your reward? How much can you afford to "risk"? What is your tolerance for risk? How much will you kick yourself for guessing wrong? Most of those are personal decisions.
In any case, here is a sure bet: as you leave the baggage area in Geneva airport, on your right is a machine that will give you a ticket for 80 free min of transportation in Geneva. As you leave on street level, there is the #10 bus on your left that will bring you to the town center (Cornavin), or you can look further left for the entrance to the underground mall where there's a train to the city center.
Posted by
Green Bay
20032 posts
But you don't have to go to Cornavin, since the train to Martigny originates at the airport.