After I make advance seat reservation (CHF20 per person) on Golden Pass Express train at their website, is it possible to change that reservation to another date if need be? I tried searching everywhere but couldn't get an answer. Hopefully someone here can advise it it is possible to do that and how to do that. TIA
Posted by
Wengen
1654 posts
Reservations cannot be changed, they are also not refunded.
The solution to "I do not know yet when I want to travel" is to not reserve a seat. Reservations are not mandatory on these trains, and if you do want one (I find the 20,- CHF they ask quite a lot) you can also just get them here at the station.
To you the GPX may be a fancy tourist train, for many people on that train it will just be a way of getting where they want to be.
Posted by
OP
US
6 posts
Hi WengenK The issue is not that I do not know when I want to travel. Say, for example I make reservations right now for our group of 8-10 people out in May for a particular day when we will be there but then if weather is not conducive (or any other reason) we decide that we want to do GPX next day or previous day? Do I loose all the amt (CHF 20 x 10) in that case?
Posted by
Green Bay
20094 posts
Certainly sounds that way. You have agreed to take seats on a certain train. Now the train company cannot sell those seats to anybody else. You cannot wait until you look at the weather forecast a few days before and change your mind.
You could always buy seat reservations for several days and take your pick. It's only money.
Posted by
OP
US
6 posts
Hi Sam - I wish I could do that way, but CHF 20 is steep charge esp when you multiply with number of people in your family. I heard many people travel without seat reservation, so I assume it's not that they would sell less tickets because of existing reservation. I was hoping there would be a way to change to reservation day/time without giving refund.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32761 posts
the other problem is that you don't know the exact number of people who will need the reservation. You say 8-10. Do do you get 8 and if 2 more go you need them elsewhere in the train? Or do you buy 10 and waste two if only 8 go?
I suggest to wait until you have a firm handle on things and then go for it.
(me, I never have had a reservation on a train in Switzerland or surrounding countries)
Posted by
Wengen
1654 posts
The GPX does not require reservations. So you can just get on when you want, with a valid ticket (or pass) and ride it.
Posted by
OP
US
6 posts
We will be having swiss travel pass, so tickets are covered for GPX. However, everywhere I read, says seat reservation highly recommended. I have never been to Switzerland before, hence I am not sure how busy GPX is around May 20th. As we are group of 9 family members, if I don't make seat reservation, then I am afraid all will get distributed across different seat and probably different compartments depending on where open seats are available when we all board the train w/o any reservation. I appreciate all your expert opinions.
Posted by
Thun, Switzerland
485 posts
I saw this in the Swiss news earlier this year and it made me wonder if the GPX is going to be busier this year because of it. National Geographic luxury train list with GPX toping the list:
Yes, for sure getting seats all together for a larger group would not be easy without reservations.
If there will be 10 of you, there is also this to keep in mind:
In Switzerland, ten or more people can travel together as a group and thus benefit from a reduced fare. Group travel must be announced in advance and requires a group ticket and a compulsory seat reservation. Announcement of group travel is mandatory.
As found on the GPX website here: