Should we buy First Class Rail Pass?

We always book very early to get the best deal on 1st class. We do prefer it. Check out this website for lots of great train info and photos - seat61.com

I agree with chinalake. The only time I had a problem with it was when I was on a regional train in IT and was the only person in the car. Someone walked through that made me uncomfortable so I joined the second-class passengers where I felt safer.
What I like about first-class is that you’re taken care of. All you have to do is show your rail pass in the business class lounge and the agent fills it out for you. There are snacks and when your train arrives the agent tells you where to go to get on.

Thank you. Good info

Since you are not taking any major train rides, like the Glacier Express, for me it would be a waste of money.
Zurich airport to Luzern 1 1/4 hours.
Luzern to Interlaken Ost 1 3/4 hours.
Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen 20 minutes
Lauterbrunnen to Muerren, 23 minutes and 2nd class only
Interlaken Ost to Basel, 2 hours

2nd class goes the exact same speed as 1st class, on the same tracks with the same scenery. 118 CHF extra per person for what?

Thanks, Sam. Also had not seen the travel times like that so I see your point.

We have traveled in Switzerland for a total of 5 weeks on 2 different trips and used public transportation exclusively, buses, trains and ferries. We liked first class train cars when traveling with luggage, even though we traveled quite light, it was nice to have more room for bags and always had 2 seats together. Not getting stuck in a crush of people getting off to get to our next connection was nice. Granted we traveled in August and September and before Covid. If you are going in the summer the first class on ferries are on the upper deck with nice views. Everyone’s opinion of ‘worth it’ is different. For us it was a little more quiet and easy, so that made it worth it for us.

The seat configuration in first class is typically more spacious. Luggage storage is often generous. It is a much more comfortable experience. Refer to seat61.com for photos and details for country specific trains. I always purchase first class when available including during my Switzerland travels two years ago.

All of the train routes listed begin at the point of origin and end at the terminus, except for the Airport-Luzern leg. That train originates in Chur and makes a big loop down to Lake Konstanz, then to St Gallen and Winterthur and stopping at the airport. A lot of the people on the early part will be going to the airport and getting off there. Then it goes to Zurich Hbf, Zug and ends in Luzern. As such the train should be pretty empty when you board at the airport and be picking up more people going to Luzern along the rest of the way. Nowhere will you be trying to get off at an intermediate stop. You stay on until the end of the line.

The question is really if that amount of money is significant to you, or not. Second class is perfectly fine for most people. I've been in Swiss rail first class and don't remember any special services, free drinks or snacks. Its not like first class on airlines.

I had the 2nd class pass for my Sept. trip and will be purchasing the 1st class pass for my June trip. While the seats and comfort of 2nd class is great, we ran into a problem with some very crowded trains. One was so crowded that we got off because we could not find any seats. So, if you can afford it, I would recommend 1st class.

All you have to do is show your rail pass in the business class lounge
and the agent fills it out for you.

I don’t recall any 1st class lounges in the Swiss train stations. And there’s nothing to fill out. Once you purchase your Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll just show it to the train conductor (from your phone or printed out paper) if they come by on the train. I found the train employees to be very helpful. This was our first trip to Europe so we were often asking for help 😊 Everyone was super helpful.

I don’t recall any 1st class lounges in the Swiss train stations.

I'd be very surprised if you had, SBB closed their two 1st class lounges a couple of years ago. And if the trips mentioned a bit earlier are the ones Cissy K is planning, a lounge pretty much a useless benefit as all the trips are direct.

One was so crowded that we got off because we could not find any seats

Repeat, all of the trains the OP is taking except one are boarded at the point of origin. They will be the first people on the train and have their choice of seats.

All you have to do is show your rail pass in the business class lounge and the agent fills it out for you.

In Budapest I handed my rail pass to the agent who entered the starting date exactly the way it needed to be entered.

MaryPat, I just didn’t want to confuse Cissy. With the Swiss Travel Pass, there is nothing that needs to be filled out. The pass comes with everything already filled out, including that start date. When the Swiss pass is purchased on-line, you have to know and provide your start date.

I don’t know how passes work in other countries, but since Cissy was asking about the Swiss Passes, I just want to make sure she is clear, that there is no need to fill anything out or show the pass to anyone prior to boarding the Swiss Trains. You just walk on the trains and if the conductor comes around, show him or her the pass. Super easy.

The information about being at the point of origin trains is great info. All of this is excellent info!!
Thanks for clearing up the info as I am only looking for the Swiss information.
Love this Forum!!!!

In Budapest I handed my rail pass to the agent who entered the
starting date exactly the way it needed to be entered.

That was very kind of the agent. But Cissy K is asking about the Swiss rail pass for a trip to Switzerland, Budapest is as you probably know in Hungary.

With the Swiss Travel Pass, there is nothing that needs to be filled out.

Got it sorry, I overlooked the word "Swiss". I’ve only bought multi-country passes so I just learned something.
Cissy, you won’t have the problem in Switzerland that I had in IT. Swiss trains are very safe.

Also, not mentioned, 1st Class is usually cleaner. That, and the fact that there are usually less people, might be a factor in regards to Covid.

For the Swiss Travel Pass, IF it is a Flexible Day Pass, I'm assuming one must write in the dates for which it is to be used. I've always had the Consecutive Day Passes, so am fuzzy on the Flexible Day Passes.

I've always used Second Class travel in Switzerland, and found nothing about which to complain.

Safe travels!

We usually do second class as on lifts class makes no difference; however due to the pandemic and wanting to distance ourselves from others as much as possible we did spring for 1st class this year. It was worth it as we usually had more space/fewer people around us. Just a thought.

I have been all over Switzerland on trains. I traveled first class because, well, I'm worth it. (LOL).

But seriously, you get more room, it's usually less crowded ( on a trip from Bern to Geneva, the top car had people but I was the only person in the bottom car and I loved it.) And in the days of Covid I'd rather be in a less crowded car.

Before you buy a rail pass--remembering your TA gets a nice commission--you might save money by purchasing point to point tickets.

You also have the option of a half fare card. If the purchase of your fare card is less than half the total fares you'll be paying for your entire trip, it might be worth getting.

Then compare all of that to the price of the Swiss Pass.

If you prefer not having to do the research, and want the convenience of just have to show the pass rather than individual tickets, then get it.

Heres a link to the Swiis Rail website to check ticket prices and schedules [it's in English):

https://www.sbb.ch/en