SBB and Half Fare Card

There are detailed instructions on the SBB website for the Swiss Half Fare card (one month one for tourists) and how to purchase it so that it will be in your SBB app. To do so is a multi-step process.

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

If you do it this way, you will spend more time setting it up, but then it will be very easy every time you use it. The train conductor will see your HFC and ID when they scan your ticket in the app.

No, you were trying to make an account that’s meant for Swiss residents or long term visitors who get the year long Half fare Card.

They make it extremely confusing by naming them the same thing but you need the 150 chf month long HFC. You don’t need an ID validated account/customer number for that.

I see from your other post that you plan to stay in the Jungfrau region for 8-10 days. Most likely a reduced price Berner Oberland Pass + Half Fare Card is going to save you the most money, but if you post your itinerary plans here I can say for sure.

Thank you SwissNomad. The steps are in the link. I may attempt that path.

Hello wanderweg, Our plan is to travel from Zurich to Interlaken. We have three nights in Interlaken followed by four nights in Lauterbrunnen. We will then return to Zurich to fly home. I had been looking at the many various passes and the costs. orignally I thought as you suggested; combinging the HFC with the B-O 6 day pass. Three of us are travelling. The 6 day pass would be just under $1,000. I'm not sure if that would save us money in comparison to just using the HFC. We are thinking Heide Klum, Schynige Platte, Murren, Gimmelwald, Gindelwald, Shilthorn as possible destinations, aside from other possible hikes/waterfalls.
Thank you for your help and advice.
Sean

What’s your reasoning for staying in Interlaken for 3 nights? In July/August it can be extremely hot and from your list of planned activities I don’t see any benefit to staying there as opposed to doing your full time in Lauterbrunnen or a lovelier spot like Wengen, Murren or Grindelwald. Interlaken is a transportation hub and in July/August it’s absolutely swarming with people, so it lacks a lot of charm. If you have the ability to change your lodging for that portion, I definitely would. Also note that August 1st is Swiss National Day so it’s a big cultural party that you shouldn’t miss! Murren does a lantern parade through the village that everyone can participate in while the local men play massive cowbells on their legs throughout the walk (it’s an experience!) + alphorns, yodeling, cultural games, festival food & beer + fireworks.

For 7 nights, an example itinerary would be something like this….

July 27 - Zurich > Interlaken (or up into the mountains if you can change your lodging)

July 28 - Boat ride on Lake Brienz + Brienzer Rothorn for hiking or Giessbach Falls hike

July 29 - Grindelwald + hiking from Grosse Scheidegg or Busalp

July 30 - Lauterbrunnen + bike in the valley + waterfalls

July 31 - Schynige Platte + hiking

August 1- Schilthorn, Murren, Gimmelwald + hike from Murren using Allmendhubel + Swiss National Day festivities in Murren

August 2 - Wengen + Mannlichen + hiking + Kleine Scheidegg

August 3 - Lauterbrunnen > Zurich Airport

I did very rough rounded math for you. With this itinerary, your Full Fare is around 725 chf per person. With the Half Fare Card it’s around 515 chf. With the Half Fare Card + 6 Day reduced Berner Oberland Pass, your total is around 495 chf per person, so the combo is saving you around 20 chf per person and for Days 2-7 you don’t have to purchase any tickets except one 50% off ticket from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, you just hop on/off whatever you want with your Pass, so if something looks interesting to you that you hadn’t planned on but is included, you can add that to your itinerary. For example, if it’s a rainy day, you could go to Bern for “free” or you could add in another boat ride or whatever looks interesting to you in the area of validity.

Excellent suggestions. Thank you very much. It might be nicer to be in the mountains longer, especially as we are flatlanders.

Hello Again Wanderweg,
I have been looking around at accomodations in the area; Murren, Wegnen, Grindelwald for adding two nights at the front of our stay in Lauterbrunnen. A quick question, would you suggest just adding those two nights in Lauterbrunnen and visiting those towns as they are nearby and we can stay settled in one location?
Viellen Dank.
Sean

I’d just stay in one spot. Everything is easily accessible from one base. I would have recommended staying in the car free village of Wengen for the whole time instead of Lauterbrunnen, but if you like the place you already booked in Lauterbrunnen it’s fine for convenience to day trips.

No, you were trying to make an account that’s meant for Swiss
residents or long term visitors who get the year long Half fare Card.
They make it extremely confusing by naming them the same thing but you
need the 150 chf month long HFC. You don’t need an ID validated
account/customer number for that.

Wanderweg, did you take a look at the link I posted? It does refer to the CHF 150 Half Fare Card. While this wasn’t possible in the past, things do change, and the link shows that you can now register online and have the one-month HFC directly in the SBB app.
Of course, tourists can still choose whichever option suits them best, but I personally see—and use daily—the advantages of having the HFC in my SBB app. No separate paper needed. Just show the ticket in your app and the conductor knows that you have a HFC.