SBB website bug. Arbitrarily changes DOB field

Posted by Issaqtrav (Seattle area) on 01/20/26 12:01 AM

Hello

I have been getting a 1-day shift in my DOB when attempting to purchase saver day pass, point to point tickets etc. on the SBB website. It seems to subtract 1 day from my birthdate on the ticket it issues. The change is not consistent. Sometimes it does it for both me and my co-passenger and sometimes only for my co-passenger. And sometimes it works just fine!

I guess that is why it is called a bug! BTW I always check my profile and co-passenger personal details before buying and it shows them correctly (most of the time). And yes I am aware of date format differences.

I have limped through it by cancelling (refund request instantly) and retrying and have managed to procure some saver day passes etc. with multiple attempts. I can continue with multiple attempts and cancellations but I thought I would ask here. Also, I am getting ready to buy the 1-month Swiss Half Travel Card and not sure immediate cancellation/refund if it changes the birthdate will work.

On searching for "SBB website DOB bug" I found some threads on reddit etc about this...some were about 2 years old. AI (Gemini) also seemed to be aware of it but so far I have found no real solution. AI theory was it maybe a time zone issue (I am in the US...Pacific Standard time).

Questions:

Has anyone found a solution? Is there a particular time when I should buy the tickets? Do I force my desktop to be on Swiss time for the purchase? Other workarounds?

Thx

PS I am going to post this on other forums...kind of desperate for a solution:)

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

01/20/26 12:05 AM

22997 posts

There may be a shift because of the time difference. Right now, it is Tuesday January 20 in Switzerland. Wait until the days are the same date, (after midnight in your time zone) and see what happens.

Posted by Issaqtrav OP

Seattle area

01/20/26 12:10 AM

4 posts

This morning (January 19) I tried to buy around 11 am Los Angeles time (8pm Switzerland time, January 19). It changed the birthdate for my co-passenger but not for me. I cancelled both and got a refund. As i said I will try again...multiple attempts and sometimes it works.

Posted by shoeflyer

Chicago

01/20/26 01:34 AM

1188 posts

As you noted, try setting your computer to Central European time for an experiment and
see if that works.

At the same time, I can't recall ever being asked to provide documentation for birthdate
when having my ticket validated on a train.

Posted by SwissNomad

Switzerland

01/20/26 08:54 AM

351 posts

Here are two other ways that you can purchase the Saver Day Pass, maybe one of them will work for you.

Use the SBB app.

Add your co-passenger(s) under your profile, then:

Go to ‘shop & services’. For me (iPhone) it is one of the options along the bottom row, directly beside the QR code symbol.
Under ‘Quick access’ (in red bar at top of screen) you will then see Save Day Pass as one of the options in the list. Choose this.
The next screen allows you to choose the passenger and the validity date of the pass. Click on them to change to another passenger and/or date.
Purchase one for each person traveling (must be done one at a time).
I usually just screen shot the QR code in case of connection failure for the app on my day of travel, you can also print out the email you will receive upon purchase if you want a paper copy.

Note: I purchase all of my Saver Day Passes either through the SBB app, or the website/app I will explain next. As a resident it has always worked for myself and any guests that I also purchase for. I assume it will also work for non-Swiss residents, but have no firsthand experience with that.

Use another Swiss train website/app. For example BLS. I also use this app occasionally. You might know BLS as they run the boats on the lakes of Thun and Brienz and many of the trains in the BO. They also sell the Berner Oberland Pass.

https://www.bls.ch/en/fahren/fahrausweise/billette/spartageskarte

One thing I like about their website is that you can view all of the available Saver Day Passes in one screen. Maybe not as helpful for travellers, but when I am looking for a cheap one, not really worried about the exact date, it is very helpful to have this complete overview.

https://shop.bls.ch/en/saverpass

Note on troubleshooting the issue:
I don’t think the time zone difference is the cause. A date of birth is a fixed calendar date and should not depend on the time zone of the user or the server. Time zones only come into play when a specific time of day is involved (for example, calculating an exact age down to hours or days). Since this is just a date, entering it from the US versus Switzerland should make no difference.

 Also, on the train people are often asked to show their passport along with their ticket. For this reason you are being wise to be sure that the birthdate is correct!